Estimates Debate — Vote Māori Affairs

Kia ora, Mr Chair. E mihi kau ana ki a tātou katoa, ki te Minita ka nui te mihi.

[Thank you, Mr Chair. I greet us all and you in particular, Minister. Huge greetings to you.]

Since the Government came to power another 16,500 Māori have become unemployed. The unemployment rate has nearly doubled, to a disgraceful 14.6 percent. The last time it was as high as this was when we took over from the previous National Government after it had done 9 years, and unemployment was running at 21 percent. One of the shocking things at the moment—and I can understand how the Minister of Māori Affairs has to struggle, because everybody ignores him—is that there has been no addition to the budget of the Minister of Māori Affairs. There is a mythical $600 million drifting around somewhere, but all that it is is a budget that is embedded in every other budget. What the Minister has done well is to follow on from us. He has had follow-on policies and follow-on expenditure, and he has done very, very, well.

But there are some things that really make one wonder what this Government has been doing. You know, between 29 and 33 percent of Māori aged 15 to 24 are unemployed—that is one in three. That is a disgrace, and it is the most shocking situation that our people have been in for generations. We know that from about 1945—the Minister was around then—though to 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980 most Māoris worked from the age of 16. They paid their taxes, and they made sure that they contributed to the growth of this country. What have we seen just recently? Instead of the Government supporting the budget of the Minister of Māori Affairs, a whole lot of rich people collected $16.7 billion, and that was offset against making life better for the working class. A lot of that working class is Māori. Mr Flavell understands that—a lot of that working class is Māori. He knows where they are in Te Arawa, he knows where they are in Whakatāne, and he knows where they are in Maraenui, I say to that gentleman over there. They have been done out of their work.

There are now 20,000 more Māori on benefits than when Labour was in power—20,000. For the first time since the previous National Government, there are 100,000 Māori on benefits. That is nothing to be proud of, and I do feel for the Minister in the chair, Dr Pita Sharples. He is being ignored as the Government’s supposed partner. His budget is not attributed to any of that progress. The people have been put asunder, all through this Government’s thing. [Interruption] No, the issue is not about the wages, because the Māori Party supported policies like the 90-day fire-at-will bill and the new sick leave policy. Nobody is trusted any more; they have to put a docket in. Where is the fairness between employer and employee?

The point I am making is that Māori suffer. The Government is preparing to launch new attacks on beneficiaries, and all sorts of things. We heard the Prime Minister today, when he was asked in relation to early childhood education whether he would continue the support for 20 hours’ free early childhood education, and he said yes. Then, when he was asked a second question about it, he said no.

One of the issues here is that there are great movements in this country—and I am pleased that the Minister continues to support them—like the Māori Wardens Association, like the Māori Women’s Welfare League—

💬 Hon Shane Jones: Not the kōhanga!

Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA:—but not the kōhanga reo—and like early childhood education. The Māori Party supported the differences in early childhood education; it did that. Shame on it—shame on it for doing that! The Minister of Education has flip-flopped twice in the last 48 hours, promising to amend the issues relevant to Playcentre.

Do members know that the kōhanga reo movement is one of the most solid, developed, historical organisations in this country, driven by the whānau and driven by the community? I would stand with the Minister to ensure that kōhanga reo are looked after, and that the whānau-led nuances are categorised and understood. They are no different from the 80 percent of teacher-led numbers that the Minister of Education was huffing and puffing about.

Why did I say that kōhanga reo are doing so well? I watched the Parliamentary Rugby Team practising outside there—there is a bit of hope for them. The only thing that Māori contributed to the “Māori World Cup” was that “Tupperwaka” up there. I will not say too much about that; Mr Jones made comments about that, and I will not. But I do want to say that the kōhanga reo needs a good flick. And Piri Weepu—who knows Piri Weepu? He is a great man. He was a kōhanga reo baby, Piri Weepu—he was a kōhanga reo baby. That is why the ball goes straight; that is why he shows ingenuity in putting the team together. He is well organised, he knows how to plan, and he knows how to ensure his team wins. Why? Because it was imbued in him in the kōhanga reo. Piri Weepu is no different from Desmond Allen, who is a famous architect now. He is very good at it. He is no different from Taika Waititi, and he is no different from all the other people who came through kōhanga reo. And what is happening?

I tell the Minister not to let the kōhanga reo be hung out and strung out. Everybody will want to claim Piri Weepu when the Rugby World Cup is won by the All Blacks—touch wood—but remember that he is a kōhanga reo baby. He has shown spirit, and we are treating the kōhanga reo at the moment as a second-rate organisation. The kōhanga reo is a great organisation—

The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): I have no doubt it is, but the time has expired. Members, the time for this debate has expired.

Vote Māori Affairs, Vote Community and Voluntary Sector, Vote Revenue, the preamble, clauses 1 to 12, and schedules 1 to 7 agreed to.

I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. I note, just for a point of clarification, that Vote Audit was part of that, and I note that you did not mention it. I wonder whether we need to include it in the vote. [Interruption]

The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): We are dealing with a point of order. I just say to the member that Vote Audit was handled. It was the first vote that we did, so Vote Audit has been done. [Interruption] I say to members that we are doing votes. There is silence when we are doing votes.

Bill to be reported without amendment presently.