Financial Review Debate — Ministry of Māori Development (Te Puni Kōkiri)

I would like to—

💬 Te Ururoa Flavell: I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. Tēnā koe, Mr Chairperson. Can I just confirm that the Labour Party has no further calls? I thought I heard you say that, but I ask whether you could confirm it.

The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Rick Barker): The member is correct. I will just make the point to the member that if, in the event that no other party takes a call and there is time available, members can take a call.

I am happy to take a call on the financial review of Te Puni Kōkiri for the last financial year. I acknowledge the work of the Hon Tau Henare and the Māori Affairs Committee in its examination of the performance of Te Puni Kōkiri. It is pleasing to read that in its judgment the ministry has increased its focus on working with other agencies in the State sector to benefit Māori. The committee’s report particularly acknowledges the complexity of the environment that Te Puni Kōkiri provides its advice in and the work of the ministry to improve its performance across a range of areas.

Since I became the Minister of Māori Affairs in 2008, Te Puni Kōkiri has supported me well in delivering on this Government’s priorities. Three things stand out for me in the 2008-09 year. Firstly, the Māori economic summit that I convened on 28 January 2009 stands out. This summit brought together Māori leaders and thinkers to devise responses from Māori to the recession. On 18 March I announced the appointment of the Māori Economic Taskforce to progress responses to the economic downturn. That task force is nearing a year in existence, and we will have a full report on those activities next time. That task force has had a busy year and it has commenced a number of initiatives that will enhance the Māori economy.

Secondly, I was able to announce my whānau social assistance programmes during the year. We now have Kaitoko Whānau, a network of whānau advocates in communities to liaise with whānau and community groups working with our families experiencing hardship in order to empower those families out there. This is a forerunner, of course, to Whānau Ora. Following on from that is our Maara Kai programme, our gardens programme; $1 million has gone out for our gardens all over New Zealand—to marae and to Māori organisations. And there is the Oranga Whānau programme—our elders working among the community.

Thirdly, 2008-2009 was a milestone year for the Māori Trustee. It was the last year that that office was part of the core Public Service. From 1 July 2010 the Māori Trustee will be a fully independent, sustainable entity with ongoing funding for enhanced services for Māori beneficial owners. [Interruption] I agree with the member Te Ururoa Flavell that it has been a really good year for Te Puni Kōkiri. Once again, I thank the Hon Tau Henare and the select committee for their performance review. All in all, it is not too bad for 7 months in office, and this year is even busier. Thank you.

I congratulate the Minister of Māori Affairs on a job well done, but it is a job that is only half complete. I think it is wonderful news that we have seen an increase in community assistance whereby the Government, or the Crown—call it what you will—is telling the community: “Here is some money, you know the problem, you know the issues, and you should go and sort it out.”, without the interference of every policy maker who is employed by the Government.

I congratulate the Minister, I congratulate the Prime Minister, and I also congratulate the Māori Party and National on being able to see through the last 9 years of what has been nothing short of a Fabian conspiracy. It is time to stop treating the indigenous people of this land as some sort of basket case, and to realise that they can do things for themselves. With a bit of leadership from our Minister of Māori Affairs, our Prime Minister, and the two parties involved in the coalition agreement, that is what we can achieve.

I will take just a couple more minutes to concentrate on national standards. I believe that this policy underpins the next 20 to 30 years of this nation’s development. It is undoubtedly—undoubtedly—the most important policy that we have been able to achieve in our short, short time on the Treasury benches. I congratulate Anne Tolley on her kaha, her strength, in the midst of some old-style, left-wing union politics.

I will finish by saying—well, not “finish”; I think I will go for my full 5 minutes—that driving around in a red bus with “Axe the Tax” on it, which has been paid for, mind you, by the New Zealand public and not by the Labour Party, is embarrassing. It is embarrassing to take all that money, which could have gone into national standards or into Whānau Ora but did not, and have only six or seven people turn up to hear those Labour members speak. I just thought that I would get that off my chest.

I think that these are important times for Māori. I tell members that we have seen much over the last few years in terms of Māori development. I must take off my hat to the previous Minister of Māori Affairs, Parekura Horomia. At least he tried. At least he gave it a bash. He was in the job for 8 years. There were some significant movements, and I take off my hat to the previous Minister. But, as a people, we cannot wait any longer. The clarion call that has gone out to our Minister of Māori Affairs is that he should get on with the job. He should not worry about what the Opposition says; he should get on with the job.

Without our development, the country does not go anywhere. Without our input, the country does not go anywhere. We can take any department we like, be tourism or education, and we see that Māori input is essential for the growth of this nation. Once we realise that, then we will be a better nation for it. The leadership is already out there in our communities. The Māori community has done it before and we will do it again. This is not something new. I wish the Minister well in his next 12 months and for however long he is in the job.

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