Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Bill

Mr Chair, tēnā koe, kia ora tātau o Te Whare. Me pēnei te kī hei wāwāhi i wā tātau kōrero, nō te ata nei i tae atu au ki Hiruhārama, te wāhi e takoto nei tērā o ngā matakahi o te mahi pāpāho a Whai Ngata, ki te tuku roimata ki a ia. Ko ia tērā i ārahi nei i ngā kaupapa mahi ā-pāpāho. Ko tāku hei wāwāhi i wā tātau kōrero i tēnei pō he tuku i ngā poroporoāki ki a ia. Me te kī e Whai, kua ea te wāhi ki a koe. Oti pai i a koe ngā mahi katoa i a koe e takatū ana i te mata o te whenua. Ko Te Reo Māori ki te pūtake o ngā mahi katoa i roto i ngā mahi pāpāho. Nō reira ko koe, ko koutou, ko Hone Kaa mā te hunga kua ngaro atu i te tirohanga kanohi, e moe, e moe, e moe.

Ka hoki mai ki a tātau e hoa mā, huri noa i tō tātau Whare, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau katoa. I tuku au i tētahi kōrero ki tēnei tangata ki a Whai Ngata i te mea ko ia tērā i kawe nei i ngā kaupapa o te Television New Zealand? Ā, tērā wāhi. Ka mutu, i roto i wāna mahi katoa i tuhi ia i tētahi pukapuka Reo Māori, he papakupu. Ka mutu, nāna anō rā, nā rātau ko Ernie Leonard mā, ko Tini Fox mā, i tīmata nei i ngā kaupapa pēnei i a Te Karere, a Waka Huia, a Koha, te tīmatanga mai o te mahi nei o te pāpāho i Te Reo Māori ki runga i te pouaka whakaata.

Nō reira, i whai wāhi au mō te wā poto ki te kōrero ki a ia, me te tuku i te roimata ki a ia ko ia tērā kua riro, ka tahi, ka rua, e tātau mā, me mihi au ki a koutou katoa mō te ātaahua o wā tātau kōrero i te pānuitanga tuarua. Kātahi nei au ka rongo, tuatahi, ko ngā mea mōhio ki te kōrero Māori, ngā mea e ako nei i Te Reo Māori, ngā mea paku nei te mōhio ki Te Reo Māori ēngari, i kawe haerehia katoatia ngā mahi i roto i Te Reo Māori. Katoa o tātau i whakaae atu ki te tino pūtake o tēnei o ngā pire, ka mutu, tino mīharo au ki te āhuatanga o wā tātau nohotahi. Kotahi tonu ngā whakaaro mō te ātaahua, mō te aronga o tēnei o ngā pire. Me mihi rā ki a koutou, ka tika.

Ka toru, me kī ko tēnei pire he tīmatanga hōu ki taku titiro. Koinā te wawata, koinā te tūmanako. He whakakotahi nei i Te Karauna me Te Iwi Māori, ko Te Reo Māori te painga ake. He nohotahi o Te Karauna me Te Iwi Māori, he wāhi ki a tāua ki Te Ao Māori, ā, kaitiaki mō tō tātau reo. He ārahi i ngā kaupapa o Te Reo Māori ka mutu, kua whakatūria anō hoki ko Te Mātāwai. Ko tāna mahi, he whakatinana i ngā wawata o Te Ao Māori. Ko te wāhi ki Te Karauna, ā, he whakaora anō rā i tō tātau reo. Ēngari, kua āhua whāiti tonu tana titiro. Hoi anō, nā runga i tēnei āhuatanga o te nohotahi, kotahi te kaupapa. He whakanui nei i te āhuatanga o te hunga e kōrero Māori ana i te mata o te whenua.

Me tika te whakatū o Te Mātāwai i te mea, 13 pea ngā tāngata ka noho nei i Te Mātāwai. Ka mutu, ki te hē i reira, ā, kua raruraru katoa. Me whai wāhi te wahine, me whai wāhi te hunga e mōhio nei ki te whakarite rautaki mō Te Reo Māori. Kia kaua e kimi noa ake te hunga e kōrero Māori ana, he painga anō rā o tērā ēngari, me kimi i te hunga e matatau ana ki te āhuatanga o tēnei mea o te whakahaere i ngā kaupapa whakaora i Te Reo Māori. Nō reira, ā, kāti, me pērā rawa te kōrero mō ngā wāhanga ō roto, ko te reo tukutuku tāku e kōrero nei. Me pērā rawa anō hoki te āhuatanga o te whakahaere.

Nā, ko tēnei pire kai tōna pūtake ko Te Reo Māori te reo taketake o tēnei whenua. He taonga Te Reo Māori ki te iwi Māori, ki a Ngāi Māori whānui tonu atu, te tikanga ia, he taonga nō tēnei whenua. Me whakanui i a ia, me whakamana i a ia. Mā tēnei pire kāre he rerekētanga o tāna noho motuhake nei i tēnei whenua. Nō reira ka pai hoki, ka pai hoki. Ka pai tōna hanga i tēnei wā ēhara i te mea kai te whakaiti ēngari, me whakanui i te āhuatanga o tēnei o ngā pire.

Ko tētahi wāhanga nui, whakaharahara, kua whakahokia mai tēnei i roto i Te Reo Māori, me te reo Pākehā. He mea nui tērā. Ēhara i te mea he wā tuatahi ēngari, i roto i tēnei kaupapa, ko Te Reo ka whai mana, mēnā ka noho tukituki ngā reo e rua nei, ko Te Reo Māori. Kai reira tonu te kaupapa nui. He āhua pērā tonu te tikanga ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Reo Māori, reo Pākehā, mēnā ka tukituki ko Te Reo te tikanga, ko te mea whai mana ko tērā ka tuhia i Te Reo Māori. Ēngari waiho tērā kōrero mō te wā. Ko tēnei kaupapa ko Te Reo Māori, koirā te mea whai mana. Hāunga ko te āhuatanga o Te Ture mō Mokomoko (Hei Whakahoki i te Ihi, te Mana, me te Rangatiratanga) 2013; i whakahokia Reo Māori mai tērā pire ki roto i tēnei Whare Pāremata ēngari mēnā ka puta te tohe, ko te mea whai mana, ē, ko te mea i tuhia i te reo Pākehā. Ēngari anō tēnei, e kāo! E kāo! Ko Te Reo Māori te mea whai mana.

Nō reira, nei au e tū nei ki te whakahīhī mō te āhuatanga o ngā mahi kua oti nei i ngā āpiha, otirā, ko taku rōpū i haere i te mata o te whenua, ka mutu, ki Te Komiti Whāiti Māori nā, ki te tiamana, otirā, ki ngā ringa raupā o tō tātau komiti, i mahitahi nei kia tutuki pai tēnei kaupapa. Nō reira, me pēnei pea hai whakatinana anō hoki i tētahi wāhanga o te pire hōu, arā, kua puta te kōrero o roto i ētahi tāpiritanga, i raro i taku īngoa. Me kī, he whakaaetanga mō ngā pēhitanga i rongo nei i Te Ao Māori i ngā tau kua hipa ake. I puta te kōrero i te mata o te whenua, ko ētahi i Te Tai Tokerau tonu. Ē, i wepua ētahi o ngā tamariki i te wā i a rātau e tamariki ana mō te kōrero i Te Reo Māori. I roto i tētahi pepa āpitihanga i tēnei pō, arā anō tētahi kōrero e mea ana ko Te Kāwanatanga, āe, i hē rawa atu! I te hē tērā āhuatanga! Ēngari, ko tāna ko te kī atu, āe, kua eke ki te wā kia mahitahi Te Karauna me Te Iwi Māori mō te oranga o tō tātau reo. Ka mutu, ko te wāhanga tuatoru, me titiro ki tētahi rautaki mō ngā rā kai mua i te aroaro. Koinei au e kī nei, ko te wāhi ki Te Karauna, he whakarite nei i tōna ake rautaki mō Te Reo Māori mō ngā tari o Te Kāwanatanga, tērā ka whakapūmau. Ēngari, me whakarite anō rā Te Ao Māori i tōna ake huarahi, mā Te Mātāwai tērā e whakatinana.

Nō reira kāre e kore, ka kōrerohia tēnei take mō te kupu whakaū, te kupu whakaū ka kōrerohia i te pō nei i te mea, kua rongo ake, ā, arā anō ētahi pepa kai mua i te aroaro. Ēngari, ko tāku ko te kī atu, he tīmatanga pai tēnei o ngā āhuatanga. He tīmatanga pai, me te mōhio anō hoki, he nui ngā mahi kai mua i te aroaro. Me pērā rawa te kōrero! Nō reira, koinei ētahi tīmatanga, me kī, whakatakotoranga kōrero ki mua i a tātau. Ki taku mōhio, kua eke tēnei pire ki tōna taumata. Taihoa ake nei, nā runga i te āhuatanga o ngā kōrero ka puta i te pō nei, kua mōhio mai au ko ngā nawe, ko ngā uauatanga, ko ngā whakaaro a tēnā, a tēnā. Koinei te painga ake, kia noho nei tātau ki te wānanga, ki te wānanga i tō tātau reo. Nō reira, koinā tētahi tīmatanga kōrero e Te Tiamana mō tātau i tēnei pō. Ka whakairia tērā kaupapa ki reira, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau katoa.

[Mr Chair, thank you, and greetings to everyone in the Chamber. I would like to begin our debate by mentioning that this morning I arrived at Hiruhārama to mourn the passing of the ground-breaking broadcaster Whai Ngata, who is currently there lying in state. He was at the forefront of Māori broadcasting. I open our debate tonight by acknowledging him and saying to him, my friend Whai, rest in peace. You achieved everything you set out to do in this world. Māori language was the premise of all your undertakings in broadcasting. And so I say to you, and all of you, Hone Kaa and others, to all our dearly departed, rest in peace, rest in peace.

Returning to us presently, fellow members, indeed everyone gathered here in our Chamber, greetings, greetings one and all. I mention this man Whai Ngata as it was he who championed the issues in the department of—what is the Māori name again for Television New Zealand? There, anyway. Wherever he worked he would write a Māori language book, a lexicon. Moreover, it was he and Ernie Leonard, Tini Fox, and others who were the vanguard of Māori language broadcasting on television through programmes such as Te Karere, Waka Huia, and Koha. It is only fitting for me to take a brief moment to acknowledge him and his passing.

Secondly, members, I need to acknowledge all of you for the heartfelt contributions at the second reading. It is the first time I have heard both fluent Māori speakers, learners of Māori language, and those with a rudimentary knowledge of Māori carry the entire proceedings in the Māori language. We all agreed with the premise of this bill. I was particularly impressed at our common consensus and sense of purpose regarding this bill. It is only appropriate for me to thank and acknowledge all of you.

Thirdly, in my view, it could be said that this bill is a new beginning. At least that is the hope and expectation: to bring the Crown and Māoridom together for the benefit of the Māori language. In bringing the Crown and Māoridom together, we as Māori have a guardianship responsibility for the language, and to guide Māori language - related issues; the Te Mātāwai entity will be accordingly established. Its task will be to give substance to Māori aspirations. The Crown’s responsibility is to also revive our language, but it has become too narrowly focused. It is hoped that through rejuvenated coordination and a single focus, speaking Māori throughout the country can be encouraged.

The Te Mātāwai entity needs to be well established, as it will have a membership of some 13 sitting members. If we do not get that right then the whole thing could go downhill. Women should be represented, as should Māori language strategy experts. Representatives should not be sought based purely on their ability to speak Māori; although that certainly has its benefits, experience in Māori language revitalisation should be paramount. This, however, needs to be reiterated, and in particular I refer here to the Māori stakeholder group cluster; similarly for the management and administration.

The premise of this bill is that the Māori language is the indigenous language of this land. Māori language is a treasure to the Māori people and to all of Māoridom. It is also supposed to be a treasure for the whole nation and should be celebrated and treated accordingly. This bill in no way changes its unique status in the nation, which should be commended, and rightfully so. It is looking good at this point and rather than downplay the significance, indeed, the importance, of this bill, it should be deservedly acknowledged.

Of significant importance is the fact that this bill has been returned in both Māori language and English. This is very important. It is not the first time, but it is for this particular cause, empowering Māori language, and should any inter-lingual discrepancy arise, it will also be determined in Māori language. This is the bigger picture. Likewise with the Treaty of Waitangi, as a bilingual document, by right any inter-lingual discrepancy should be resolved based on the Māori text, that aside and for this purpose the Māori language will take precedence. Notwithstanding the Mokomoko (Restoration of Character, Mana, and Reputation) Act 2013; that bill was returned to the House in the Māori language, however, if any language discrepancy arose then the written English text would take precedence. This, on the other hand, is different, whereby that is not the case. The Māori language text will take precedence here.

Therefore, I am proud to stand here on behalf of the work completed by the officials, by my advisory group, who travelled the country, and, just as equally, the efforts of the Māori Affairs Committee and its chairman, and the many tireless hands of our select committee, who worked together to bring this to fruition. In order to add substance to one aspect of the new bill, Supplementary Order Paper 164 in my name raises an acknowledgment of the oppression experienced by Māori over the years. It was reported that throughout the country, including in the far north, children received corporal punishment for speaking in the Māori language. In a Supplementary Order Paper this evening, reference is made to the Government being clearly in the wrong. Indeed, it should never have happened. However, what it is also saying is, yes, we have arrived at a stage where the Crown and Māoridom can work together for the rejuvenation of our language. The third part looks at a strategy for the future. This is why I stipulate that the Crown will have responsibility to prepare its own strategy for Māori language, including setting a standard for the public sector. Simultaneously, Māoridom should also prepare its own strategy, of which it shall be for the Te Mātāwai entity to bring to fruition.

No doubt this issue of a formal acknowledgment will be debated this evening. As I have heard, there are other papers before us. What I will say, however, is that this is a good starting point, given the enormity of the task that lies ahead. Therefore, one could say this is just the beginning and these are the first lines. I believe this bill has reached its peak, or at least it will have pending our debate here tonight and any issues, difficulties, concerns, or feedback that come up in each contribution. This really is an ideal situation for us all to consider our language collectively. Therefore, Mr Chair, my appreciation to you for allowing me to open our debate this evening. I leave that matter there with my acknowledgments to you and to us all collectively.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Heamana. Hoi anō tāku i te tuatahi, e tautoko atu ana i ngā mihi ki ngā tini aituā e takahia nei i te ara whānui ki Te Pō. Rātau e takoto mai ana ki runga i ngā marae maha i tēnei wā puta noa, haere, haere, haere.

Kia whakahokia mai ngā rārangi kōrero ki a tātau i te pito ora, tēnā koutou. E Te Minita, pai te whakarongo atu ki tō kōrero hai tīmata ake i tō tātau wānanga, me kī. Te tāhae ake i tō kupu e kīia nei he “wānanga” tēnei. Kia kaua tātau e pōhēhē mā te mahi ngātahi anā koinā, ka tere te kārohirohi ki mua i a tātau me wā tātau mahi i te pō nei. Ēngari, ko te kī atu nā roto i te mahitahi, ko te totohe, ko te wānanga, kei konei tātau i te pō nei. Nō reira, e mihi atu ana.

E Te Minita, kai roto i ngā kōrero o tēnei taha, ngā āhuatanga e tautoko ana i ngā kōrero, ētahi o ngā kōrero kai roto i te pire. Ko ētahi atu, kei konei mātau e totohe ana i wētahi o ngā kupu. Wētahi, kia matawhāiti te titiro ki wētahi o ngā kōrero kai roto. Me te hiahia kia whakakaha ake, kia whakapakari ake i wētahi o ngā wāhanga kai roto i te pire. Nō reira, kua kōrero mai nā koe mō ngā rerekētanga kua rewa nei ki mua i te aroaro o Te Komiti i tēnei pō. Anā, kai a mātau wētahi, i whai tautoko mātau mō ētahi o ēnei o ngā whakarerekētanga. Kua kōrero mai nā e koe mō tētahi o aua whakarerekētanga, anā e pā ana ki te whakaae a te Kāwanatanga nā rātau i tūkinohia, nā rātau i tāunu i tō tātau Reo Māori ki raro. Hoi anō tā mātau e tautoko ana i tērā kōrero ēngari, ko te whai atu mātau i tētahi whakapāha, i tētahi atu kōrero mai i te Kāwanatanga hai tau i te mauri me ngā mamaetanga kua kōrero mai nā e koe, kua rangona e koe puta noa i te motu whānui.

Ka rua, kua kōrero mai nā e koe, e Te Minita, mō tētahi atu wāhanga ki runga i te poari o Te Mātāwai. E kīia nei e whānui ake ana taku titiro ki te pire i tēnei wā, taihoa ake ka patu kutu tātau. Kāti. Kua kōrero mai nā e koe mō tētahi atu wāhanga e pā ana ki Te Mātāwai, e kīia nei ka āhei te hunga e matatau ana ki te whakarauora i Te Reo Māori, ahakoa wahine mai, tāne mai. Ko tētahi atu kōrero kai roto i ngā rerekētanga e hiahia ana mātau ki te tuku atu i mua i a koe me Te Komiti katoa i te pō nei, e mea atu ana, me ōrite te noho a te wahine me te tāne ki runga i te poari o Te Mātāwai. Me te hiahia pea kia whai reo, kia whai whakaaro tātau ki te hunga rangatahi, tā te mea kai a rātau te mana o Te Reo Māori ki roto i ngā tau kei mua i a tātau. Mehemea e tino whakaae ana tātau ki tērā kōrero, ko rātau ko ngā rangatira o āpōpō tēnā. Me tukuna atu tētahi wāhanga ki a rātau kia āhei ai rātau ki te mirimiri i tēnei kaupapa ki tā rātau e hiahia, ki tā rātau i manako ai. Nō reira, ka kite koe i tērā kōrero ki roto i te roanga o te totohe i te pō nei.

E Te Minita, e mea nei tēnei āhuatanga o Te Ao Māori, ko te whakapapa he mea tino nui ki a tātau katoa. Nō reira ka hoki atu ahau ki te whakapapa kua kōrero mai nā e koe, mai i ngā tau waru tekau i te pire tuatahi e pā ana ki Te Reo Māori. Ko tōna takahanga mai ki tēnei tāima, ana me te pire e kitea nei tātau i te pō nei. Ā, nō reira, mehemea e whakaae ana, ko te whakapapa te mea nui ki Te Iwi Māori, ē, ka whakaaro ake ahau mō tērā whakapāhatanga ka tukuna atu ki mua i a koe ki roto i wā mātau pepa whakarerekē i te pire nei. E tautoko ana i tō kōrero e Te Minita e mea atu ana, āe, ko te take nui o te wā nei ko Te Reo Māori. Nō reira kei roto i ētahi o wā mātau nawe, wā mātau amuamu mō te pire nei, kīhei mātau i kite atu i tētahi taumata tiketike e manakohia nei e mātau, e tātau Te Iwi Māori mō tō tātau Reo. Āe, ka whakaritea nei, e kīia nei e te pire ko te tūāpapa. Hoi anō tō mātau e mea atu ana, āe, he tūāpapa, he mea pai tēnā, me whakaritea! Ēngari ko te mea nui, ko ngā manako e wawatahia nei e mātau, kia tiro atu ki roto i te pire tā te mea, anei hoki te mana o Te Reo Māori e whakaturengia i te pō nei. E whakaturengia i te pō nei, nō reira ko te hiahia, kia whakarite taumata, kia whakarite taumata e hiahia ana tātau mō Te Mātāwai te whai atu.

E Te Minita, tā te mea he titiro whānui tēnei ki te pire, ā taihoa ake nei ka rukuhia ki tōna hōhonutanga. Ko konei tonu ētahi āwangawanga e pā ana ki ngā āpitihanga kai muri rā i te pire e mea atu ana, ko ngā iwi me ngā hapū kai roto. Ko konā wētahi o ngā āwangawanga. Ka mea ake ētahi ki roto i tōku rohe ē, āe, ko konā ko ngā iwi, ko konā ko ētahi o ngā hapū. Ka pēhea nei te hunga kore pā ki te kāinga? Kāti, koinā anō wētahi o ngā whakaaro kai mua i te aroaro e Te Minita. Korekore kai roto i te roanga ake o tēnei ka kitea.

Kāti, hei whakakapi ake. Ki te taha o Te Maihi Karauna. Ka whakaaro ake ki ngā kōrero katoa o wā tātau mātua tūpuna e mea atu ana, ko te mātauranga te oranga o Te Iwi Māori. Nō reira ko te hiahia, kia āhua tīnihia i te kōrero, anā, ko te mātauranga te oranga o Te Reo Māori. Nō reira, ko konei wētahi āwangawanga, ka kōrerohia ki roto i te pō nei e pā ana ki tērā āhuatanga, me te hiahia kia kite i tō tātau Reo Māori ki roto i ngā kura. Kia tupu pai ai mō te katoa. Kaua ko Te Iwi Māori anake e mea nei te pire. Ko te hiahia kia whai pānga te motu whānui ki ngā nekehanga me ngā mana kai roto i tēnei pire. Kāti, e Te Minita, e Te Komiti, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātau.

[Thank you, Mr Chairman. Firstly, I support the acknowledgments to our many deceased who are travelling upon the extensive pathway towards the Darkness. To those lying in state upon the multitudes of marae at this time, farewell, farewell, farewell.

Now let us return the debate to the realm of the living; greetings. Minister Flavell, it is wonderful to hear your opening comments to our wānanga, or deliberations. I stole your term “wānanga” to describe these proceedings. We must not assume that through cooperation the proceedings this evening will run smoothly. However, I assert that cooperation alongside debate and deliberation has brought us together this evening. And so may I congratulate you.

Minister, this side of the Chamber supports some of the provisions in the bill whilst being opposed to other parts of the bill. Some wish to focus on improving certain parts of the bill. And so you have spoken about the amendments presented to the Committee this evening. And we have our own amendments, which have gained support. You commented on one of those amendments relating to an acknowledgment by the Crown that it mistreated and disparaged the Māori language. We endorse that amendment, but we are pursuing an apology from the Government to resolve the pain that you said you heard throughout the country.

Secondly, Minister, you have spoken about appointments to the Te Mātāwai board. I am now considering the bill in a wide-ranging manner, and we will soon be nitpicking. Enough. You have spoken about a section in the bill which allows for the inclusion of people proficient in language revitalisation initiatives. One of the amendments that we will put before the Minister and the Committee this evening deals with the gender balance on the Te Mātāwai board. We maintain that there should be the same number of women as men on Te Mātāwai, and that consideration must be given to youth representation on the board, because they will uphold the mana of the Māori language in the future. If we truly agree that our youth are tomorrow’s leaders, then they must be represented so they can address this matter in ways that meet their needs and wishes. Therefore, you will hear that assertion throughout the debate this evening.

Minister, a key feature of Māori culture that is paramount to all Māori is genealogy. And so I would like to recall the genealogy that you described from the 1987 Māori Language Act to the present bill that we are considering tonight. And so if we agree that genealogy is paramount to Māori people, then the apology in our Supplementary Order Paper 165 on the bill must be considered. I agree with the Minister that the Māori language is currently the primary issue. Therefore, we have our objections and complaints towards the bill. We have not found a standard of excellence that meets our expectations—the hopes of Māori for our language. Yes, the bill provides a foundation, and that is good. However, what is important is that we consider our needs and aspirations, because the mana of the Māori language is going through its passage into law this evening. It is passing through the legislative process this evening and so there is a need to arrange a standard for Te Mātāwai to pursue.

Minister, as this is a broad examination of the bill we will not delve into its complexities. We have concerns pertaining to the schedules at the end of the bill that list the cluster of iwi and hapū. That is where we have concerns. Some people in my electorate have said that iwi and hapū are included, but what about those who do not have a connection to the homelands? That is a concern that lies before us, Minister Flavell. There is no doubt that in time that concern will come to fruition.

In conclusion, the Crown has responsibility for the Maihi Karauna strategy. I want to recognise our ancestral history, which states that the survival of the Māori people lies in education. Therefore, I would like to change part of that statement to say that the survival of the Māori language lies in education. And so this is one concern that I will express this evening, along with a desire to see more Māori language taught in schools so that it may grow for the benefit of everyone, not just Māori, as outlined in the bill. The objective is for the entire country to become interested in the progress and influence within this bill. Enough, Minister and the Committee, acknowledgments to you and to us all collectively.]

Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Tēnā koe, e Te Mana Whakawā, otirā, tēnā tātau e whakawhāiti nei i tēnei pō i runga i tēnei kaupapa ātaahua. Tuatahi, kei te tangi hoki ahau ki tōku pāpā ki a Whairiri Ngata, i a ia e takoto ana i waenga o Ngati Porou, i waenga i tōna ake hapū, a Te Aitanga-a-Mate, i runga i te mahau o tōna a tipuna whare a Kapohanga ki Hiruhārama Marae. Pōuri rawa atu ahau, kāre i tae ā-tinana atu ahau ki te kāinga ēngari, me whakaaro ake ahau mō taku tipuna kōkā a Mihihara. Ko ia, tata ki 90 tau, ko tōna tama a Whairiri e takoto ana i runga i te mahau. Nō reira, ka tika me poroporoaki ahau, otirā, tātau e Te Minita ki a ia, me ērā kei runga i ngā marae maha o Te Motu. Nō reira, ki a rātau, haere atu, haere atu, haere atu rā.

Hoki mai ki a tātau ngā kanohi ora, ngā waihotanga iho o rātau mā, e whiriwhiri nei i tēnei kaupapa e pā ana ki tō tātau Reo Māori, Reo a tēnā iwi, a tēnā iwi, a tēnā iwi, me ngā ātaahua o ērā rerekētanga e pā ana ki te mita o ngā iwi katoa o Aotearoa nei. E tika ana me hoki ngā mahara ki a Whairiri me tōna pāpā ki a Hōri Mahue nō te mea, nā rāua i whakaoti te pukapuka takikupu mō Te Reo Māori. Ēhara ko rāua anake ēngari, he tino mahi nā rāua mō tātau katoa.

Nā, i tēnei pō e kōrero ana mō tēnei taonga o tātau, ko Te Reo Māori, te reo taketake o Aotearoa whānui. Me tēnei pire ēhara i te mea, ko tēnei pire, ā, kei te tika he whakature te mana o Te Reo ēngari, kaua e pōhēhē tātau, ka whai mana Te Reo i roto i te ture. Ēngari, he mana anō tō tō tātau Reo. Ēngari, ko te tino kaupapa o tēnei pō, ka kite katoa tātau, he Reo mō Aotearoa. Kei te tika tā te mema o tērā taha, ka whai wāhi katoa ngā tāngata katoa kei roto i tēnei pire. Mehemea ko te tino tikanga, kia ora, kia pakari tō tātau Reo, ko te tikanga ka taea e te katoa o Aotearoa whānui te kōrero, te waiata, te mōteatea, te haka i roto i tō tātau Reo. Nā, kei roto i tēnei pire kei mua i a tātau, he hiranga tēnei pire. He tūāpapa mō Te Reo.

Ā, kei te kite hoki kei roto i tēnei pire, kei ngā iwi me te hapori Māori, tō rātau mahi, kei tōna tō Te Karauna. Me tēnei whakamārama ki a tātau ēhara i te mea, ko Te Karauna tēnei taha o Te Whare. Ko Te Karauna, te katoa o tātau kei roto i Te Whare Pāremata, nē. Nō reira, i runga i tēnei whakapapa, kua kōrerohia e tātau i tēnei pō, kei a tātau katoa te mahi hei waha i tēnei kaupapa, me ngā hē e pā ana ki ngā Kāwanatanga o te wā, ahakoa ko wai. Ēngari, ko te wero ki a tātau i tēnei wā, me whakapiki te ora o Te Reo, me whakapakari ahakoa ki roto i ngā kura, āe, e tautoko kaha ana ki tērā, i roto i ngā whare wānanga. Hoi anō, ko te tino mahi mā tātau, ki te kōrero i roto i ngā kāinga, i te taha o ngā papa tākaro, i roto i ngā hāhi, i a tātau e haere ana ki te hoko i roto i ngā toa. Kei ngā wāhi katoa tātau e kōrero ana. Mehemea ka taea tērā, ka taea tēnei Reo te whakapakari mō tātau, mō ngā whakatipuranga ākuni kei te heke tonu mai. Ā, he taonga, āe, he taonga. Ko te tino ātaahua o te taonga, ka taea e tātau te mita o ō tātau ake iwi, nē. Tēnā tātau o ngā iwi katoa o Aotearoa me tērā ātaahua.

Te rautaki mā te taha ki ngā iwi me te hapori Māori mā rātau e hanga, hei wero ki a rātau, hei wero hoki ki a mātau i roto i Te Whare Pāremata i roto hoki i Te Kāwanatanga. Ā, mā mātau hoki e hanga he rautaki pai, ka kite ngā whakahaerenga Kāwanatanga katoa i ngā huarahi mā rātau hei para kia tautoko ngā wawata, ngā hiahia, ngā moemoeā katoa i te taha kei ngā iwi, i te taha Māori hoki. Nō reira, e tautoko ana ahau i tēnei. Ēhara i te mea he mahi māmā tēnei, he huarahi ngāwari tēnei mō Te Mātāwai. Mō te whiriwhiri ko wai ka eke ki runga i Te Mātāwai, nē? Nō te mea kei te mōhio ahau kāre e taea te poari o Te Mātāwai, ka puta ngā tāngata katoa hei kanohi mō tērā iwi, mō tērā hapū, mō tērā marae. Nā reira he uaua tērā mahi te whiriwhiri ko wai ka eke ki runga i tēnei poari nō te mea, kei te mōhio tātau, ahakoa wā rātau mahi nui, kāre e taea e rātau te ea ngā wawata katoa o tātau. Nā reira ko tāku ki a tātau, ko taku akiaki ki a tātau, kaua e waiho ki Te Mātāwai, ki Te Kāwanatanga, ki Te Karauna rānei ēnei mahi katoa e waha. Ēngari, me whakahau tātau i a tātau ki te kōrero Māori.

Kei te rongo atu koutou, tātau, ka tapepe taku reo i ētahi wā; kāre i te whakapapa pai ētahi o aku kupu. Hoi anō, mehemea kāre tātau i te kōrero tēnei Reo, kāre e ora tēnei Reo. Nā reira, me kōrero tātau ahakoa he aha. Ka hoki aku maharatanga ki te wā i ora ai taku kōkā. He tino Ngati a ia. Ahakoa he aha, ka rewa ake te rā, ka kōrero a ia i roto i Te Reo o Ngati Porou, ā, ka moe te rā, ka kōrero tonu a ia i Te Reo o Ngati Porou. I a ia e whakarongo ana ki a au, e kōrero ana i runga i te pouaka whakaata, te reo irirangi rānei i roto i Te Reo, ka waea mai a ia: “Kei te hē koe mō tēnei, kei te hē koe mō tēnei, ēngari, kia kaha koe ki te kōrero i tō tātau Reo, nē.” Koirā te pai o ngā mātua, o ngā kōkā ki a tātau katoa. Ahakoa i roto i Te Reo Māori, te reo Pākehā, te reo a wai ake, te whakatikatika i a tātau, kia pakari te haere.

Nō reira koinā anake tāku i tēnei pō, me te mihi ki a koe e Te Minita. He mahi taumaha tēnei mōhou, mō tō hoa haere mō Te Pāti Māori i waenga i te marea. Ki a koe e te heamana o tō tātau komiti whakahaere me ngā hinengaro tautoko, ngā hinengaro wero kei roto i tērā komiti. Tēnā tātau e whiriwhiri nei i tēnei kaupapa ātaahua, kia kite tātau i tēnei taonga mō tātau mō ngā reanga kei te haere tonu mai. Tēnā tātau katoa, kia ora.

[Greetings, Mr Chairman, and all gathered here this evening on this matter. First, I lament the passing of my elder kin Whairiri Ngata, who lies in state in Ngati Porou territory in the realm of his hapū, Te Aitanga-a-Mate, in the porch of his ancestral house Kapohanga on Hiruhārama Marae. I am desolate that I was unable to attend his funeral. At this moment I think of my great-aunt Mihihara. She is almost 90 years of age, her son Whairiri lying in state on the porch. It is only proper that we farewell his passing, Minister Flavell, he and others lying in state on many marae throughout the land. So farewell to all our losses.

Returning now to the gathering here this evening, we the living embodiment of the dead, we who are gathered here to discuss this great matter pertaining to our language and the dialects of individual iwi, the beauty of the various dialects of Aotearoa. It is only right that we honour the memory of Whairiri and his father, Hōri Mahue, for they, allied with others, compiled a dictionary of the Māori language for all our benefit.

Tonight our debate focuses on the treasure that is our Māori language, the indigenous language of this country. This bill, however, does not give effect to the prestige of the language in the annals of the law, lest we have the mistaken belief that is the process we are going through, for the language has its own innate prestige. The focus of our discussions this evening is a language for all of Aotearoa. The member from the Opposition is correct; all people will find their interests accommodated within this bill. If that is our goal, to ensure the survival and the maturation of our language so that all the people of Aotearoa are conversant with the language, the songs, the chants, and haka entirely in our language, this bill before us is one of great importance. It is a foundation for the language.

The bill sets out the role of iwi and Māori communities and the role of the Crown. Let me clarify. The Crown is not limited to members sitting on this side of the Chamber. Rather, the Crown is represented by all the members of this Committee. Therefore, we all have a responsibility to carry out the provisions of this bill, regardless of who is the Government of the time, regardless of the wrongs of individual Governments. But the challenge before us this evening is to revitalise our language, whether in the education system or otherwise. I fully support that and language initiatives in our tertiary institutions, but the main focus of our efforts should be to return the language as a language of common use in the home, on the sports fields, in our places of religion, and when we go to the shops. All places should be places where the language can be, and is, spoken. If we succeed in those contexts we will have come a long way to ensuring the language will be alive for our generations growing and generations yet born. It is a treasure. The beauty of this treasure is that it accommodates the dialects of individual iwi. That is a beautiful thing to adorn our country.

The strategy for iwi and Māori communities will be formulated by iwi and the Māori community. That is the challenge to them and that is the challenge to the members of this Committee and Government. And we must formulate an effective strategy that encapsulates all Government agencies, a strategy that enhances and supports the dreams and aspirations of iwi and Māori. I support this. This will not be an easy task for the group Te Mātāwai. Another challenge will be the composition of Te Mātāwai. It must represent the interests of all people, of all iwi, of all hapū, of all marae. It will be a difficult task to choose the membership of that panel, for, as we know, despite their achievements they will not be able to realise all our aspirations. So I urge us, do not leave this work of great moment just in the hands of Te Mātāwai or the Government or the Crown. We must exhort each other to speak the Māori language.

As you listen to my speech you can pick up errors of a grammatical nature; some of my words are not quite the right fit. However, if we do not make an attempt to speak, the language will not survive. So I urge us all to speak, regardless. I recall when my mother was alive. She was a true Ngati. Every day that would dawn, she would speak our Ngati Porou dialect and at day’s end she would be speaking the dialect of Ngati Porou. She would listen to me speaking on television or on the radio, then ring me up to berate me: “You did not say this correctly, you said that wrongly, but keep talking our language.” That is the strength and value of our parents, of our mothers. No matter if the language be Māori or English or some other, we must strive to improve our proficiency.

That is the sum of my contribution this evening, and I applaud the Minister for Māori Development. This has been a trying time for you, your predecessor Pita, and the Māori Party. I salute you, the chairman of the Māori Affairs Committee, Nuk Korako, for the rigour that your select committee put this bill through. Commendations to us this evening on this marvellous bill that aims to ensure the survival and retention of our language for the generations to come. Acknowledgments to us all, and thank you.]

Just before I call a member, I just want to indicate to the Committee that notwithstanding the fact that the Committee did not give leave to consider all the parts as one question, there has been, I think, a bit of a spreading around—in particular into Te Wāhanga 1, or Part 1, and the Minister for Māori Development’s amendments to that—in the speeches that we have heard so far. What I am proposing to do is just to run pretty liberally with these clauses, and then maybe be a bit tighter and take into account what has been said when we come to the appropriate parts. I do not think I am asking you; I am just telling you.

Tēnā koe, e Te Heamana o Te Whare. Otirā, kei te mihi hoki au ki a rātau mā kua wehe atu ki tua o te ārai, ki te kāinga tūturu mō tātau mō te tangata. Whakapiri taku mi’i poroporoaki ki ngā mi’i kua mi’ia, otinoa, kei te mi’i ‘oki au ki a Waaka Palmer, te heamana o te komiti matua o Te Haahi Rātana, kāta’i anō i nana’i rā ka ne’ua. Nō reira, e te matua, oki wairua atu ki a rātau mā i te wā’i ngaro, nō reira, e ‘oki, e moe, e moe.

Ā, ki a tātau ngā mema o Te Pāremata, e kī ana te kōrero i te tau 1924 o tērā rautau: “Kia mau ki tō Reo e te iwi. Ka nui te ngaro haere o tēnei ā’uatanga. Nā tō Reo ‘oki, ka mō’iotia ai he Māori. Ka kūare koe ki tō Reo, ka meinga nō ngā whenua noa atu.” Koinā te kōrero o Ta’upōtiki Wīremu Rātana i te tau 1924. Ā, ko tōku nei āwangawanga ki tēnei kōrero, i te tau 2001, e 25.15 paihēneti o ngā Māori e mō’io ana, e matatau ana ki Te Reo Māori. I te tau 2013, kua heke iho ki te 21 paihēneti noa iho. Ā, e tika ana tana kōrero i te tau 1924, o tērā rau tau kei te tika tonu i tēnei rā nā te mea, ka ‘eke iho te tokomaha o tātau e matatau ana ki Te Reo. Nō reira, e tika ana kia whakatūria tēnei ture hou mō Te Reo Māori.

E tautoko ana a’au i te nuinga o ngā take, ngā wāhanga kei roto i tēnei pire. He pātai tāku i te wāhanga kei te haere mai. Kāore e kore ka tuku atu ahau i ngā pātai mō ngā ā’uatanga e pā ana ki Te Mātāwai, e pā ana ki ngā maihi, mai’i Māori me te mai’i Karauna. Ā, āhua āwangawanga ahau e rua ngā maihi e tū ana, pai tēnā mō te whare. Otirā, ko tēhea maihi te tino rangatira mō tēnei āhuatanga: te Maihi Karauna, te Maihi Māori rānei? Koinā, ēte’i o ōku whakaaro mō tēnā. He kaupapa anō hoki tāku i roto i tēnei pire.

[Greetings, Mr Chair. I also pay tribute to those dearly departed who have returned to the spiritual homeland. I pay homage to those already mentioned and also to Waaka Palmer, the chairman of the executive committee of the Rātana Church, who was buried only yesterday. To you, our uncle, may your spirit return in peace to those gone before you, and may you rest in peace.

Fellow members of Parliament, as was said last century, in 1924: “People, retain your language. There is great loss from attrition. Through your language you will be known as Māori. If you are ignorant of your language you could be from any other place.” This was stated by Ta’upōtiki Wīremu Rātana in 1924. My concern regarding this statement is that in 2001, 25.15 percent of Māori were fluent or very fluent in Māori language. By 2013 this had dropped to just 21 percent. As true as it was in 1924 it remains true to us today, as the number of speakers of Māori is declining. Therefore, it is only appropriate to establish new Māori language legislation.

I support most of the rationale and sections within this bill. I also have questions that I will raise at the next sitting. No doubt I will be asking questions around the Te Mātāwai entity, as well as the dual language strategies; both the Māori strategy and the Crown strategy, as I do have some concerns. Two strategies will be established, which fits with the model. However, which strategy will have precedence: the Crown strategy or the strategy for Māori? These are some of my preliminary thoughts regarding the substance of this bill.]

One of the principles in the bill talks about sustaining Te Reo Māori and how that can be done intergenerationally. My concern is that we may not be actually addressing that particular issue in a way that includes those generations that have missed out on having Te Reo Māori as their mother language, including myself.

I want to say this in English, that the historical and intergenerational trauma caused by Government policy of the day has meant that the language was virtually lost over less than three generations. My overall concern is whether or not the measures taken in this bill will be enough. But I do endorse the words from the Hon Hekia Parata and what she contributed to the Committee.

We actually cannot rely on just the Government and the Crown alone. We have to, as Māori, whānau, hapū, and iwi, also take that responsibility. My hope, in this bill, is that through having a Māori strategy and a Crown strategy we will indeed be able to help the situation that most of a whole generation or two have found themselves in, and that the decline in speaking Te Reo Māori, from 25 percent in 2001 down to 21.13 percent in 2013, can be halted and turned round, to the point that we can get to a sustainable level. I understand it is mostly accepted that you need to have 30 percent of your population being able to speak the language for it to be sustainable. Nō reira, koinā aku whakaaro i te tuata’i, e Te Komiti tēnā tātau.

[Those, then, are my initial thoughts, so acknowledgments to us, the Committee.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Tiamana. E huri noa i Te Whare nei, e mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. E ka mea nui ki te mihi atu ki tō tātau Matua Nui i Te Raki. Ko ia te tīmataka me te whakaotika o tātau katoa. Nō reira, ka mihi atu ki Te Kaihōmai o kā mea pai katoa.

Ka maumaharatia e te rakatira o Te Wai Pounamu, a Reverend Canon William George Ehau. Nō reira, e Pā, e haere atu rā, e haere atu rā ki te pā o te whakawairua, e takoto mai, takoto mai, takoto mai!

E Te Kaiwhakahaere, ā, ko tēnei kōrero mō Te Reo Māori, i te wāhanga 1, ngā whiti tū mua. Tēnā koe i tēnei te wāhanga 1 o te pire nei. E ka hoki au ki ngā whiti 3, ki te 10 o te wāhanga nei. Tuatahi, ka kōrero me te whānui me te kaupapa me ngā whāinga o te pire nei. Arā, he whakaū i te mana o Te Reo Māori hei reo taketake mō Niu Tīreni taoka hoki, mā ngā iwi me ngā Māori. He Reo hoki ka kaingākautia o te motu reo whai mana e ture e hoki mō Niu Tīreni. Koinā te whāinga o aua whiti e toru, te whakamana i taua kaupapa. Ko tētahi āhuataka o te whiti tuawhā, ko te tāpiritaka a Te Komiti Whiriwhiri i Te Kōrero, e mea ai, hāunga te mea ko ngā iwi, me te Māori ngā kaitiaki o Te Reo Māori. Ka mau tonu ngā kawenga o Te Karauna e pā ana ki Te Reo Māori. Hāunga te iwi kawenga, o Te Iwi Māori hei kaitiaki o Te Reo, kia kaua rawa e makere ngā kawenga o Te Karauna. Ko te whiti paku whā ira toru ka whakapūmau i tērā.

Ka takoto te whiti hōu a Te Minita, ko whiti 5A. He whiti tūtohu te whiti nei, he rite ai ki ngā tūtohutaka kei ngā pire whakatau kerēme Tiriti. Ka whakaaehia ngā takahitaka a Te Karauna i ngā tau ki mua i te kore tiaki whakatairaka i Te Reo Māori. Ka whakapūmau ia ki te mahitahi me Te Māori me ngā iwi ki te tiaki me te whakatairaka i Te Reo ā ngā rā kei te tū. He whiti nui tēnei, kei te koa ahau ka whai wāhi ki te pire. Hāngai pū te pire nei ki te tū me te tūtaki o Te Reo Māori i te ao hou, kia kaha ake ai Te Reo. Hoi, i te tīmataka me aro ake te pire ki ngā mahi kei mua me te whakaae a Te Karauna. Ka tāpiri e te whiti nei, ki te pire kātahi ka tahuri ki ngā mātāpono ārahi i te pire me ngā āwhina ki te hāpai me te whakaora i Te Reo Māori.

Ko whiti 6 ka whakapūmau i ngā tika ki te kōrero Māori i roto i ngā mahi me te ture, e mea whakamanatia i Te Ture Reo Māori i te tau 1987. Ka takoto i whiti 6A ngā mātāpono ārahi i tēnei ture tae atu ki ngā rautaki, tērā ka ara ake. Kua kōrero au mō te wāhi nui ki Te Karauna ki te hāpai me te whakaora i Te Reo Māori i ngā rā kei te tū. Ka whakawhānui ēnei kawenga i ngā whiti ka kōrero mō ngā mātāpono. Kei konei he rerenga kōrero nui, arā, ko te mahitahitaka. Ka mahi tata Te Karauna me ngā iwi me Te Māori, ka mana ana te pire nei ka whakatūria ko Te Mātāwai.

Heoi, ka haere tonu ngā mahi a Te Karauna, ka haere tonu ngā mahi a Te Karauna kāhore e mutu ki reira. Me mahitahi haere ngā taha e rua ki te whakatairaka i Te Reo. Ko te tuawhitu ka whakatakoto mātāpono hei ārahi i ngā tari Kāwanataka. Me matua kōrero rātau ki ngā iwi me Te Māori mō ngā take pupuri i Te Reo me te wāhi mō Te Reo Māori i roto i ngā pānui me ngā pārongo ki te iwi whānui. Ko ngā whiti 7A me whiti 7B, ka whakatakoto i ngā rautaki e rua ka haere i raro i te pire. Ka whai ēnei rautaki i te ia o tēnei pire e mea ai: ēhara i te mea ko te tiaki me te whakatairaka i Te Reo Māori te kawenga a Te Karauna anake, he kawenga rānei a Te Iwi Māori anake, he kaupapa mahitahi. Ka whakatakoto e ngā rautaki e rua ngā whāinga, ngā kaupapa here me ngā take huhua kei mua i Te Karauna me Te Mātāwai mō Te Reo.

Ka tū tonu te whiti 7C ki te whakarerekē i te pire nei. Ko tēnei te pire tuarua kei roto katoa i Te Reo Māori me te reo Ingarihi. Hoi, ko tēnei te pire tuatahi ka mana Te Reo Māori ki runga ake i te reo Ingarihi ki te tohu i te tikaka o te kōrero kei roto. Ko te tūmanako e kore rawa tērā āhuataka e pai mai kia noho pai rawa atu i ngā kōrero i ngā reo e rua. Kīhai e taupatupatu. Hoi, ki te pā mā tērā āhuataka ki mua i ngā kōti ka noho ki Te Reo Māori te taha o te tūnga ka aronganuitia.

Ko te nui noa atu o wāhanga 1 e whakamārama me tētahi kōrero whānui mō te ture. Ka takoto te wāhanga 1 o te pire, te wāhi nui ki te mahitahi o Te Karauna me Te Māori mā roto i Te Mātāwai. Ka aronui te pire i te mana o te Māori ki te aroaro o Te Kāwanataka me ngā iwi o Niu Tīreni ka noho hei papa mō toenga o te pire. Nō reira, e Te Kaiwhakahaere, e mihi atu ki a koutou katoa, huri noa i Te Whare nei, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou e mihi atu ki a koutou katoa, kia ora.

[Thank you, Mr Chair. To everyone throughout the Chamber, greetings to you all. It is important that I acknowledge our Father in Heaven. He is the beginning and ending for all of us, and so I thank the Provider for everything.

I pay my respects to the esteemed Reverend Canon William George Ehau of the South Island. And so, sir, farewell and depart to the domain of the spirits. Remain there, sleep, rest in peace.

Mr Chair, thank you for the opportunity to speak on Part 1 of this bill. I will briefly work through clauses 3 to 10 that make up this part. Firstly, I wish to talk about the scope and purpose of this bill. And that is to emphasise the status of the Māori language as the indigenous language of New Zealand, as a taonga of iwi and Māori, as a language valued by the nation, and as the official language of New Zealand. It is to that very important purpose that the next three clauses give effect. One element of clause 4 is an amendment added by the Māori Affairs Committe to clarify that declaring iwi and Māori as the guardians of the Māori language does not limit or somehow reduce the responsibilities of the Crown. While this bill gives more of the responsibilities of guardianship of the language to iwi, it does not absolve the Crown of its responsibilities, and the addition of clause 4(3) ensures that it does not.

The Minister for Māori Development’s Supplementary Order Paper 164 introduces a new clause here, clause 5A. This clause is an acknowledgment clause, similar in vein to the acknowledgments contained in Treaty settlement bills. It acknowledges the past wrongs of the Crown in failing to protect and promote the Māori language, and its commitment to work in partnership with iwi and Māori to protect the language in the future. This is a very important clause and one which I am very glad to see included in the bill. The bill is about the future, and takes the Māori language in the state it is now and charts a way of moving forward with the strengthening of the language. But it is important that the bill begins by acknowledging past injustices and acknowledging that in the past the Crown has got it wrong. With this clause added to the bill, we can move into the principles that will guide the bill and the provisions that will provide the practical means to support and revitalise the Māori language.

Clause 6 is largely a continuation of the right to speak Māori in legal proceedings that was already affirmed under the Māori Language Act 1987. Clause 6A sets out the principles that will guide the interpretation of this Act and the development of Māori language strategies under it. I have already touched on the importance of the Crown continuing to have a responsibility to promote and support the Māori language in future. These responsibilities are further expanded on by the principles clause. There is one phrase that is particularly important, and that is “active partnership”. The Crown is to be an active partner with iwi and Māori. When this bill is passed, Te Mātāwai will be established.

However, the Crown’s work continues; it does not end there. Both sides must work on to promote the language. Clause 7 gives some guiding principles for departments of State. These include the need to consult with iwi and Māori on matters related to language retention, and the need to use the Māori language in the promotion of Government services and information to the public. The next two clauses, 7A and 7B, set out the two parallel strategies that will be developed under this bill. These dual strategies once again highlight the thread running through this bill: that promotion, protection, and revitalisation of the Māori language is not only a Crown responsibility or the responsibility of the iwi and Māori; it is a shared responsibility. The two strategies will set out the objectives, policies, and related matters for the Crown and Te Mātāwai respectively in relation to the language.

Clause 7C highlights the ground-breaking nature of this bill. This is the second bill to contain the full text in both Māori and English, but it is the first bill where the Māori text will take precedence should a conflict in the meaning between the two versions ever arise. We hope that situation never arises, and we have a robust translation that is clear and not prone to differences of interpretation. However, if that situation ever does arise before the court, it is appropriate that, in this bill, the Māori language version takes precedence.

The rest of Part 1 is administrative, and includes an outline of the Act. Part 1 of the bill sets out the importance of cooperation between the Crown and Māori, through Te Mātāwai. It affirms the status of Māori in New Zealand Government and society, and sets the stage for the remaining parts of the bill. Therefore, Mr Chair, I acknowledge you and everyone in this Chamber; my greetings and salutations to you all.]

Tēnā koe, tēnā tātau katoa. Me whai i te wairua o ngā kōrero kua puta i te pō nei, kia kuhu pai au ki tēnei wānanga e pā ana ki tō tātau nei Reo. Me te mōhio anō, ēhara ko Te Reo anake, ko Te Reo me ōna tikanga. Koinā te wairua i whakaarohia e tā mātau komiti whiriwhiri i te wā e āta titiro ki tēnei pire. Nō reira, e Te Minita, tēnā koe. Ko au tētehi, e whakaaro ake tēnā pea me waihotia te pire tuatahi māu anō e hanga i tōku ake pire. Ēngari, i ū koe ki tērā tino hiahia kia haere tonu te pire o tō rangatira, a Pita. Ahakoa ka āhua piki, heke tērā huarahi, kua puta, kua puta tēnei pire. Nō reira ka tika me mihi atu ki tō Rōpū Tohutohu Reo Māori, ki a rātau katoa e āta whiriwhiri, e āta whakaarohia ki ngā āwangawanga, ngā nawe o ngā kaipetihana i haria mai ō rātau nei whakaaro i mua i te aroaro o te komiti whiriwhiri. Nō reira, tēnā koe tēnā koutou: Rāwinia Higgins, ko ia te tiamana, ki a Ruakere Hond, Tākuta Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangipunga, Charlie Te Pana. Rātau katoa te mahi nunui, me kī, hei kawea i ngā hiahia o Te Minita me ngā whakaaro o Te Iwi Māori kia tāpiri ērā, anā, kua kite mai ngā hua i roto i te pire kei mua i a tātau i tēnei pō.

Me te whakaaro anō, he iti tēnei wāhanga. Ka tika ōu whakaaro me ā mātau nei whakaaro o te komiti kia noho matua Te Reo Māori i te reo Pākehā. E pātai ana mātau mēnā, ka whakamātau tēnei pire i Te Kōti, ka aha? Ka aha? Ko te whakautu o ō āpiha, ko Te Reo Māori hei noho matua i roto i Te Kōti Māori, kei te pai tērā! Nō reira ko tēnei īngoa o te pire, Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Bill. Ki ahau nei e tino whakaae ana kia noho matua te īngoa Māori mō te taitara o tēnei pire. E rua ngā wāhanga mō te Part 1AA. Ko tētehi mō te taitara, anā, kua whakaputa aku whakaaro mō tērā; ko tētehi mō te tīmatanga o te pire nei. Ka pai ka mutu tēnei wāhanga mō te taupatupatu o te pire, ka āhei kia whakaturengia te katoa o te pire ēngari.

Te āhuatanga mō Te Pūtahi Pāoho, e tino whakaae me whakakorengia tērā rōpū, e tino whakaae tērā. Ka noho tonu tēnā wātaka kia whakakorengia rātau, 30 Maehe ā tērā tau, ka whakakorengia Te Pūtahi Pāoho, ka pai tērā. Ka mahara au ki ngā wā ō mua, ka āta whakaaro ake ki tērā rōpū ka whakaaro ake, tēnā pea ka tae ki te wā ki te whakakorengia ā rātau nei mahi, nō reira tautoko tērā.

He paku te wāhanga ki te whakaputa ētehi o ngā whakaaro o tō mātau nei komiti, e pā ana ki ngā pou o tēnei pire. Ki ō mātau nei whakaaro, pai kē kia tū Te Rautaki Reo Māori me Te Rautaki o Te Karauna, te maihi o Te Karauna me te maihi Māori. Ēngari ko te tino mahi, ka pēwhea rā hei tuitui ērā rautaki kia whakaora ai. Tēnā pea māu hei whakautu ōu whakaaro kia whakamārama pai i ērā.

Tuarua, e pā ana ki te whakapāhā a Te Karauna. Kua puta tēnei kaupapa ki mua i tō mātau nei whakaaro. I aua wā, nōku te pātai, inā ka whakaae katoa tātau—ngā mema katoa o te komiti—kia noho tētehi whakapāhā i roto i te pire, māmā noa iho ki te tuhia. Ēngari ki waenganui i ō mātau nei whiriwhiri, ō mātau nei whakaaro, kāre i noho pai tērā whakaaro o ngā mema katoa. Koinā te take, e Te Minita, ka haria mai tērā ki mua i te aroaro, me kī, o ngā pāti katoa kia kite rātau, mēnā e hiahia ana Te Karauna, ahakoa te aha, ki te. Mehemea e whakaae katoa ā tātau pāti, kia kuhu tētehi whakapāha atu i roto i tēnei pire, he mea pai: te hāngai whakapapa, ngā āhuatanga o ngā kura ō-mua, ngā native schools, me ngā kaupapa ō-mua o Te Karauna hei patua ā tātau nei Reo i roto i aua wā. Ka hoki ngā mahara ki ētehi o ngā kōrero i puta mai i te kāinga, ngā whakaaro o āku aunties me āku uncles, i te wā i haere rātau ki te kura. Kei te ora tonu aua maharatanga, me kī, ngā toimaha o aua wā.

Koinā te take i whakaaro au ka tika, he pire hōu tēnei, he pire hōu, he wāhanga hōu ki te anga whakamua ēngari, me pupuru tātau ki ngā āhuatanga ō-mua, kia kaua e wareware ki ērā wā, ngā wā toimaha, ngā wā toimaha o wā tātau nei mātua tūpuna kia kawea tō tātau Reo, kia ora ai ki waenganui i te whānau, ahakoa ngā āhuatanga ki ngā kura. I roto i ngā hiahia kei te ora tonu, ahakoa paku, kei te ora tonu Te Reo kei waenganui i ō tātau nei marae, arā, ō tātau nei whānau. Kua mōhio pai koe ki taku Reo. I roto i taku whānau, ka hoki ngā mahara ki ngā kaumātua me ō rātau tohutohu mai ki a au. Ko te mea nunui kia whakaaro Māori koe, kia pai te wairua o te kōrero, ā te wā ka taea te taka pai, te hanga pai o kōrero ki ōu whakaaro. And tēnā pea i ēnei wā, kei te ū tonu au ki a rātau nei poipoi.

Nō reira, e Te Minita, ka nui te mihi atu i tēnei wāhanga o ngā kōrero. Me te mihi atu ki tō tātau nei tiamana a Nuk. Tangata tino pai ki te whakahaere i ngā pātai toimaha, ngā pātai katoa o ngā mema. I wāwāhi ia i ngā wāhanga, me kī, kia ruku tātau ki ō tātau nei ake whakaaro e pā ana ki ngā kaupapa katoa mō tēnei pire, arā, mō ngā pire katoa i tae mai ki tā mātau nei komiti. Arā, āhua whakaaro au i ētehi wā ki ō āpiha. He mea uaua kia kawea ā rātau nei kōrero ki mua i te aroaro o te komiti me ngā āhuatanga e pā ana ki tō rōpū tohutohu. He mea uaua tērā wāhanga nō reira ā te wā ka whakaarohia mēnā he wāhanga anō ki te whakatikatika i ngā mahi pēnei. Ēngari, ēhara tēnei hei tohutohu i a koe, e Te Minita, ēngari, ka whakamārama pai i ngā whakaritenga kei waenganui i tō mātau nei komiti.

Ko te mea whakamutunga mō ngā āhuatanga e pā ana ki tō tātau nei Reo Māori hei noho matua. I pātai mātau, mēnā ka taea te tangata ki te wero atu, ngā āhuatanga e pā ana ki tēnei pire i Te Kōti, karekau he Tiati; atu i ngā kōti whenua Māori, he tiati, atu atu i te Justice Williams, he tiati hei tino whakawā i ngā āhuatanga o te pire nei. Nō reira, tēnā pea he wero ki a tātau katoa kia whakapiki ake ngā mea Māori i roto i ngā kōti teitei. Kia ora tātau.

[Greetings. Allow me to follow the tenor of this discussion pertaining to our language. And, lest we forget, it is not just the language but the language in its cultural context. This was the spirit that carried the Māori Affairs Committee in its careful deliberations on this legislation. Salutations, Minister Flavell. I was one of those who considered that you should craft your own bill from its beginnings. However, you maintained consistency with your predecessor, Pita, and despite the travails of this path, you have succeeded; the bill is soon to become a reality. I applaud the work of your Māori Language Advisory Group for its careful work in addressing the concerns of petitioners who came before the select committee. Salutations to you all: Rāwhinia Higgins is the chairperson, and the membership comprises Ruakere Hond, Dr Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangipunga, and Charlie Te Pana. Congratulations on this great piece of work, maintaining consistency with the aims set forth by the Minister for Māori Development while giving credence to the views of the Māori people, and we see the fruits of that effort in this bill before us this evening.

And this is but the beginning. You are correct, and we of the select committee concur, that the Māori language has primacy over the English language in this piece of legislation. We asked what would happen if this legislation was taken before the courts. The response of your officials was that the Māori language version would retain primacy within Māori court settings “and that is a good thing”, hence the title of this bill, Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Bill. I fully support the primacy of the Māori language in the title of this bill. There are two clauses in Part 1AA. One clause concerns the title, and I have expressed my views on that; another clause concerns the commencement of the bill. It is good that on the completion of our debate we can enact the bill in its entirety.

As for this group Te Pūtahi Pāoho, I am strongly of the view that it should be done away with. I agree with the deadline given for its disestablishment, 30 March next year. That is a good thing. When I think of that group and its past work, the time has come to disestablish it, and I support that.

Let me focus on the discussions of the Māori Affairs Committee regarding the main pillars of this bill. We agree with the dual strategies approach, a Māori strategy and a Crown strategy, but the challenge is to mesh the two strategies to give effect to the revitalisation of the language. We would appreciate a steer from you, Minister, as to how you see this working.

Secondly, the apology by the Crown. This was discussed by the select committee. I asked that the select committee unanimously agree that an apology be included in the bill. It is an easy thing to write into the bill. However, the select committee could not reach unanimity on this matter. That is why, Minister, we have brought the matter to the Committee of the whole House for all the parties to glean the wishes of the Crown either way. It would be a good thing if all parties would agree to include an apology in the bill: set out the history, the original school system, native schools, and the past policies of the Crown to suppress us. I recall the stories I heard at home, the stories from my uncles and aunties about their experiences attending school. Their memories are still vivid of those times, the negative experiences.

That is why I consider this bill a fresh starting point, a new beginning, a path forward while holding on to the memories of those hard times, the experiences of our elders who strove to retain the language within the whānau, despite the negative experiences of the school system. Through their efforts the language still survives, albeit only just, on our marae and within our whānau. You are well acquainted with my level of language proficiency. In my own whānau, I recall the elders who offered me guidance. The main thing they taught me was to think as a Māori, to speak only good, and in time your words will truly express your thoughts. Unto this day I still cleave unto those teachings.

So congratulations, Minister. And let me thank our chairperson, Nuk. He is accomplished in allowing free discourse by members of the select committee on all matters. He broke matters down to their constituent parts; this allowed free and frank debate on all aspects of this bill, indeed all bills that come before the select committee. I also considered the role of your officials. It is a difficult task for the officials to balance their responsibilities to the select committee and their responsibiilties to your expert advisory panel. That was an onerous part of their work, and perhaps in the future we can look to mitigate that tension. This is not a critique of you, Minister; rather, it is the view of the select committee.

The concluding matter pertains to the status of the Māori language. We asked if challenges could be made to this bill in court without an appropriate judge—besides the Māori land court judges, besides Justice Joe Williams—a judge able to adjudicate on aspects of this bill. Perhaps this is a challenge to increase the numbers of Māori-speaking judges in the system. Thank you.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Minita, huri noa i te Whare, tēnā koutou katoa. E tū ana ahau, he paku kōrero tāku, e pā ana ki te tīmatanga o tēnei pire. Ā, rawe ki te whakarongo atu ki tēnei kōrero i roto i Te Reo Māori. Ko tērā te tino kaupapa o taku Reo nō reira, ahakoa te wero, ahakoa te wiriwiri, ā, me waiho ēnei pepa ki te taha, mō tēnei paku kōrero. I rongo au i ō kōrero Nanaia Mahuta, me Māori te whakaaro, ā, tērā pea ka whai pea Te Reo. Nō reira, me īnoi ki ngā atua.

He paku kōrero tāku, ko tētahi atu take taonga o ēnei momo ture kei mua i Te Whare. He taonga tēnei wānanga mō rātau e whakarongo atu, mō rātau e titiro mai ki Te Whare nei e kōrero ana i Te Reo mō te wā katoa, nē rā? Oh, āe! Ko tērā te kaupapa ake o ēnei momo o tēnei ture Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori. Nō reira, ka tū au ki te tautoko i a mātau e kōrero ana e tautoko ana i tēnei pire.

I hoki ō mātau mahara ki ngā tohunga katoa kua wehe ki te pō, kua haere me ō mātau mahi rangatira ki te whawhai mō tō tātau Reo, mō te ao katoa, mō Aotearoa katoa ēhara mō Te Māori anake. Ā, nō reira i a au e noho ana, e rongo ana i tō mātau kōrero, ā, ka hoki aku mahara ki a rātau. Ā, atu i tērā hoki aku whakaaro ki a rātau e whakarongo ana i tēnei wā.

Ko ēnei momo wāhanga o Te Whare nei te wāhi whakatinana i ō rātau moemoeā o ō mātau tūpuna katoa, nē! Ko tēnei te wāhanga whakatinana ai i tērā moemoeā. He nui taku hōnore ki te tū i te mea, i kī mai tōku pāpā—i tērā atu taha o te ao i tēnei wā—i kī mai ia: “Auē! Hoki aku mahara kōtiro i te wā i hara mai ahau ki ngā poutama o Te Whare Pāremata ki te whawhai mō Te Reo. Auē; 1972 pea.” I kī mai ki a au: “Auē, he tino moemoeā te tirohanga ki a koe te kōtiro, e tū ana ki roto i Te Whare! Kāre e hīkoi whakahē ana ki waho i Te Whare Pāremata. E tū ana koe ki roto i Te Whare! E kōrero ana i roto i Te Reo i ngā wā katoa!”. Ki a ia, he tino taonga te tiro atu i tērā.

Ā, nō reira he paku kōrero tāku mō tērā taonga o tēnei momo pire kei mua i a mātau; he wānanga ki te whakatinana i ō rātau moemoeā o ō mātau tūpuna katoa. Ā, nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora.

[Greetings, Minister Flavell, and to all throughout the Chamber, greetings, everyone. I stand to take a short call and to talk briefly about the beginnings of this bill. It is tremendous to hear these proceedings being carried on in the Māori language. That is also why I am speaking in Māori. So, despite the challenge and the apprehension, I will leave these papers aside momentarily for this brief statement. I heard the comment from you, Nanaia Mahuta, that if one thinks in Māori, the language will perhaps follow suit. Therefore, I should ask the gods for help.

I have only a brief statement. Another valuable benefit of this type of legislation before the Committee is the actual debate and discussion that is heard and seen being carried entirely in the Māori language, is it not? Absolutely! This is the real effect of legislation like the Māori Language Bill. Therefore, I also stand to support those of us contributing in support of this bill.

We also recall the many cultural experts who have passed on, having laid the way for our language struggle—not just for Māori, but for all of New Zealand and the wider world. So as I sit here and listen to our debate I am reminded of them.

In addition, I am also conscious of all the people currently listening at this time. It is during these sittings in the Committee when the dreams and aspirations of our ancestors can be given substance, is it not? This is where those aspirations can be embodied; this is the place. It is indeed an honour to stand here, as my own father reminded me, currently from the other side of the world, when he said: “Amazing! I remember, daughter, coming to the steps of Parliament to fight for the language. Indeed it was about 1972.” He told me: “It is a dream to see you, my daughter, a representative in the House. Without protest or without marching out the front of Parliament. You are representing from inside the House! And speaking in Māori language all the time!”. It is amazing for him to see such a delight.

Therefore, I have taken a short opportunity to express that delight in relation to this type of bill currently before us—indeed, an invaluable debate and discussion on how we can best enable the aspirations of all our ancestors. Therefore, greetings and felicitations to one and all.]

Kia ora mai e hoa mā. Kei te mōhio tonu ahau e hiahia ana koutou ki te tū ki te kōrero ēngari, he mataku nōku ka kore e whakautu i ētahi o ngā kōrero i puta i tēnei pō nō reira, mō te wā poto, ka rere tika tonu atu ki ngā kōrero kua kōrerohia.

Tuatahi, i rongo ake i te āhuatanga o te kōrero mō te noho ōrite kai roto i tērā tāpiritanga, tāne, wahine nā i runga i Te Mātāwai. Ko te mate kē, i roto i te pire, kāre e kore ka kōrerohia ā taihoa ake nei. Mā tēnā rohe, mā tēnā rohe, tōna ake tangata kotahi e whakarite. Me pēhea a taea ai te whakariterite i te ōritetanga o te tāne me te wahine o Te Mātāwai, mēnā kai tēnā takiwā, kai tēnā takiwā, kai tēnā takiwā tōna mana, koirā pea tētahi whakautu ki tērā kōrero ēngari, kai te rongo ake i te ia o te kōrero, me whā wāhi wā tātau wāhine i roto i ngā nekeneke o Te Mātāwai.

Tuarua, ā, kua rongo ake pēnei mō te āhuatanga o te piki haere o te hunga kōrero Māori, ē, kore taea te karo i tērā whakaaro, ēhara, kai te tika tērā. Ko te mate kē, me pēhea e taea ai. Ko te kaute o te hunga kōrero Māori ka puta nō muri mai i te tatauranga matua nā! Ka mutu, ia whā tau ka āta titiro ki tērā. I tēnei wā, mēnā ka pātaia te pātai, tēnā, tokohia ngā mea e kōrero Māori ana i te mata o te whenua? Ko te paihēneti kē te kaute, kaua ko te nui o te tokomaha o te tangata. Nō reirā, ā, tērā pea he raruraru kai reira ēngari, e kore taea te karo i tērā hiahia kia whakanui ake, te whakamaha ake i te hunga kōrero Māori. Mō te āhuatanga o Te Mātāwai, āe, kua kōrerohia tērā, ka mutu, waiho tērā ki reira mō te roanga ake o ngā kōrero.

Ka hoki ki ngā kōrero o te mema o Te Tai Hauauru, ki a koe Adrian, Te Maihi Māori, Te Maihi Karauna: ko tēhea te mea whai mana? Ēhara i te mea ko tētahi ēngari, ko Te Rūnanga Reo te mea ka noho hai korowai mō ngā mea e rua, Te Tāhuhu o Te Whare, ko Te Rūnga Reo. Ko te nohotahi o te Kāwanatanga Minita me ētahi o Te Mātāwai, ka nohotahi te tēpu kotahi ki reira whakarite aim ō te āhuatanga o Te Reo i te mata o te whenua. Nō reirā tērā tērā. E tika ana tāu he wāhi tā tēnā, tā tēnā ēhara i te mea mā te rautaki tō tā tātau Reo e ora ai, kāo! Ko tēnei tā Mārama e kōrero nā—ko te kōrero i Te Reo, ā, mā reira ka ora tō tātou Reo.

Ka hoki rā anō ki ngā kōrero o te mema o Ōtautahi, o Ngāi Tahu anō hoki mō te āhuatanga o tana kōrero, kore e taea te karo! I whaiwhai haere a ia i rārangi mahi, ka mutu, ko te painga ake i puta i tētahi o tātau, ko te pire nei he mea kua tae mai nā runga i te āhuatanga o te whakarongo ki ngā mea tuku kōrero ki te komiti o te mata o te whenua, i taku komiti e haere ana i te mata o te whenua. Ka toru, ko koutou ngā ringa raupā o Te Whare Pāremata, ka whā, ā, ka mutu, o taku rōpū. Nō reira, koinei te whakatinana mai o ērā āhuatanga katoa, o ērā whiriwhiringa katoa. Koinā te painga ake o tēnei o ngā pire.

Mō Te Pūtahi Pāoho, ē, waiho tērā ki reira. Kua rongo ake i tērā kōrero, e kore au e whakahē i tērā kōrero, ā, kā mutu mō te kupu whakapāha e kōrerohia ake nei, ā, kua oti kē i a au te whakamārama ake. Ā, e tika ana tāu, ko ngā mamae, ko ngā pēhitanga o tō tātau Reo, kua whakarārangihia i roto i ngā pukapuka hītori. Kai reira tonu ērā kōrero ēngari, ka rata au ki te kōrero, āe, me whakaae atu ki tērā i mahia ēngari, me titiro ki te pae rangi, me titiro whakamua, kia taea ai te kī atu, a, ko te oranga o tō tātau Reo, kai roto i ngā tamariki, kai roto i ngā mokopuna.

Kāti, hai whakakōpani i tēnei wāhanga kia taea ai e au te kī, i whakautu au i ngā kōrero, ētahi o ngā kōrero. Ka rata au ki te kōrero o tērā o Te Kākāriki, “Mā te kōrero i Te Reo, mā reira, ā, ka hua ake ngā painga mō te oranga o tō tātou Reo mō ake nei.” Kia ora tātau.

[Thank you, fellow members. I realise you are wanting to speak. However, I am just concerned there may be no opportunity to respond to some of the issues raised this evening; therefore in this short opportunity I will address directly the points raised.

First, the point was made in Supplementary Order Paper 166 regarding the balance of composition of male and female membership of Te Mātāwai. The problem in the bill, however, which will no doubt be mentioned shortly, is that it will be for each region to select their own single representative. How can the proportional balance of male and female members of the Te Mātāwai entity be achieved if it is up to the arbitrary discretion of each region? This is perhaps one response to that issue. However, the point has been made that women should have a role in Te Mātāwai.

Second, the issue of the need to increase numbers of speakers of the Māori language has been raised, and there is no argument there; that is indeed correct. The problem, however, is how to achieve that. The demographic statistics of Māori language speakers only appear following the census, which means a 4-yearly review cycle. If the question were to be asked “What is the total number of speakers of Māori today?”, the response would be a percentage rather than an actual number of speakers. Despite being problematic, the goal to increase the number of speakers of the Māori language is inescapable. As for the nature of Te Mātāwai, this has already been discussed and I will leave it at that for the remainder of this debate.

Returning to the contribution from the member for Te Tai Hauāuru, to you, Adrian, regarding the Māori strategy and the Crown strategy: which will take precedence? In short, neither will, although Te Rūnanga Reo forum will be established to support both, and will be the centre ridgepole of the framework. Te Rūnanga Reo is the bringing together of both Government Ministers and members of Te Mātāwai to be seated together at the planning table for Māori language. That being so, what you have said is correct: everyone has a role to play. Our language will not survive by strategy alone. As Mārama stated, only by speaking the Māori language will the language survive.

Returning to the contribution from the member for Canterbury and of the region of Ngāi Tahu, what he said cannot be refuted. He adhered to the agenda and, furthermore, one good thing mentioned is that this bill has been brought together as a consequence of listening to advisory group submissions across the country as my expert advisory group undertook its travels, thirdly, all the assistance from the many hands of Parliament, and fourthly, but not least, from my department. Therefore, this is the embodiment of all that effort and deliberation—another direct benefit of this bill.

As for the Māori Television Electoral College, enough said. The point has been made and I will not belabour it. For the issue of an apology, I have already shared my view. What you have said is correct regarding the pain and the suppression of our language, as has been well documented in history books. Those issues still exist and I do feel, yes, that what transpired should be acknowledged. However, we need to focus on the horizon, looking forward, to be able to say that the survival of our language is in our children and grandchildren.

In conclusion, and so that I can say I have responded to the issues raised, or at least some of them, I commend the statement by the Green Party spokesperson: “Only by speaking the language will our language survive into the future.” Thank you, everyone.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Heamana. E tū ake tēnei mō Te Rōpū Aotearoa Tuatahi, ki te kōrero atu ki ngā take e pā ana ki te pire nei. Ēngari i mua i te haere tonu o aku kōrero, e tautoko ana au i ngā mihi i mihingia e Te Minita me ētahi atu o ngā kaikōrero i tū ake i mua i a au, ki ērā atu o ngā hunga i ngaro atu ki te tirohanga kanohi: nā, ko Whai Ngata tēnā, ko Waka Palmer tētahi o ngā pou o Te Hāhi Rātana, ā, me tētahi atu i whakaīngoatia e tō tātou hoa mai i Ōtautahi. E tika ana kia mihi kau ana ki a rātau nā te mea, i roto i tēnei āhuatanga e pā ana ki te mihi atu ki a rātou, ka puta mai te ātaahua o tō tātou Reo. Nā reira e ngā mate haere hoki atu.

Hoki mai ki a tātau te hunga ora nā reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou. Ā, taku mōhio i tēnei wāhanga i kōrerohia i a tātou e pā ana ki te wāhanga tuatahi o te pire nei. Nā, i roto i ngā āhuatanga o tēnei wāhanga, kei konei tetahi wāhi e hiahia ana au ki te kōrero atu e pā ana ki te whakapāha atu a Te Minita e hiahia nei ia, kia whakauru mai ki roto i te pire nei. Whakaaro ana au, he aha ana te take i waihotia i tēnei wā, i te hāngaitia o tēnei pire? Ki a au nei, mēnā e hiahia ana tātou kia kite mai tēnei tūāhuatanga, ko tēnā te wā kia tuhi atu i roto te pire nei. Ēngari, kia ahatia? Māku e mea atu ki a tātou, te take e kite ana tātou ēnei kupu whakapāha i muri mai i tētahi kōrero i te wā e noho ana Te Taraipiunara i roto o Ngāpuhi. I rongo tātou i ngā kōrero a tetahi o ngā mema tahito o Te Komiti nei, a Dover Samuels. Nāna i mea atu ki Te Taraipiunara, e tika ana kia whakapāha atu Te Karauna ki a ia, me tōna tupuranga.

Ēngari, ki a mātou i roto o Aotearoa Tuatahi, karekau kē i tino tautoko i tēnā whakaaro. I aha ai? I te wā o Tā Apirana Ngata, ko ia me tōna hoa i taua wā, nā rātau i mea atu ki Te Ao Māori, kia whakakaha ana i a tātou kia huri atu ki ngā taonga o Te Ao Pākehā. Kei mōhio mai wā tātou tamariki o taua wā, kia mōhio mai ki te kōrero Pākehā me ērā atu tūmomo mahi. Pai atu ēnā whakaaro i taua wā. He aha ai? Ko te nuinga o Te Ao Māori, kotahi anō Te Reo, ko Te Reo Māori. Nā reira, ki a mātou i roto o Aotearoa Tuatahi, karekau e tino tika ana, kia mea atu Te Karauna, kia whakapāha ki a tātou mō taua momo rangatira o taua wā, o taua wā. Kia ahatia? E tika ana te kōrero a te tuahine a Nanaia: i kōrero tahi tātou i roto te komiti whakawhiriwhiri mō ngā take Māori tēnei kaupapa, i whakaaro anō e mātou waihotia i tēnei wā, kia tukuna atu ki Te Komiti, kia kōrero. Nā reira, wēnā te take e kōrero ai tātou i tēnā tūmomo āhuatanga i tēnei wā. Nā reira, wēnā tā mātou whakaaro e pā ana ki tēnā.

I rongo mātou i ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te rōpū Te Mātāwai, i te kōrero mutunga i te wā i puta mai tēnei pire i roto Te Whare nei, i mea atu ki Te Minita i taua wā, karekau mātou e whakaaro e kore tika ana kia whakarārangi ngā īngoa mō tēnā rohe, mō tēnā rohe, korekau e tika ana kia waihotia te tini o ngā iwi i roto i ngā wāhanga e rima, e toru. Mōhio ana koe, e Te Minita.

I tērā atu wiki i haere anō au ki tetahi hui i roto Te Tai Tokerau ki te kōrero atu i tēnei take, me pēhea ai tātou e tohungia i tētahi kaikōrero mō te rohe o Te Tai Tokerau, i puta mai te kōrero o taua hui kia mukua ngā īngoa iwi, waihotia, ko Te Rohe o Te Tai Tokerau. Waihotia ki a rātou i tohungia ko wai te kaikōrero, tēhea ngā iwi i tae atu ki reira nā te mea, karekau kē i rārangitia ngā iwi, ngā hapū katoa. Mēnā karekau e kite atu tō hapū i ngā rārangi īngoa, tēnā pea kua mahue koe ki te taha! Koinā te whakaaro o taua hui. Nā reira, koinā te take i whakaaro anō rātou tēnā pea kia muku atu aua īngoa. Waihotia ki te hui kia tau atu tō rātou hiahia.

Nā reira, e Te Minita, ahakoa ngā piki, ngā heke e pā ana ki te urunga mai o tēnei pire, kei te mihi tonu ki a koe.

💬 Hon Te Ururoa Flavell: Kei te tautoko koe?

Kāo! Kāo! Nā te mea, ko te tini o ngā mea i roto, kāre mātou i tino tautoko. Me pēnā i wētahi o ngā rōpū i tautoko i a koe i mua rā nā te mea, i puta mai ki a au tetahi reta mai i Te Rōpū Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i Te Reo, nā, mōhio ana koe e Te Minita, kei roto i a rātou ētahi āwangawanga. Nā reira, whakaaro anō mātou i roto o Aotearoa Tuatahi tēnā pea i takahingia i a rātou te ara tika ki te hakahēngia ētahi o ngā kōrero i roto i te pire. Ēngari i te mutunga o te rā, e Te Minita, ngā mihi hoki ki a koe. He mea tino rerekē tēnei pire ki tēnā o tō hoa a Pita i te wā urunga mai o tēnei pire.

Ēngari taku kōrero whakamutunga, kata ana au ki a au nā te mea, e aha ana te kaupapa o tēnei pire? Kia whakakaha ana tangata ki te whakamatatau i tō tātou Reo Rangatira? He aha ana te take e kata ana au? Mō tēnei e tū ana, korekau i tino matatau ki tō tātou Reo, ēngari kei konei au ki te whakamana, hakahē hoki te āhuatanga o te pire nei. Nā reira, kia ahatia? Ēngari, ko te mea nui kua puta mai te pire nei, kei te rongo i a tātou, i te motu hoki i tō tātou Reo Rangatira i te pō nei. Nā reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora mai anō tātou.

[Greetings, Mr Chairman. I stand on behalf of New Zealand First to address matters relating to this bill. Before going on, I add my condolences to those of the Minister for Māori Development and others who spoke before me for those who are lost from sight: Whai Ngata; Waka Palmer, a pillar of the Rātana faith; and one other mentioned by our colleague from Christchurch. It is fitting because in according tributes to them in this situation the beauty of our language comes to the fore. So to you, the dead, depart, farewell.

And so I come back to us, the living; acknowledgments, greetings, and salutations to you collectively. My understanding is that the section we are addressing relates to the first part of the bill. Featuring in this part of the bill is an aspect that focuses on the apology the Minister proposes to include in this bill. I think to myself, why leave it until until now, and not when the bill was drafted? My view is that if we wanted to see this situation, that was the time to do it. Why now? My conjecture to us is that we are seeing a reference to an apology following a statement made at a hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal amongst the Ngāpuhi people. We heard the statements made by a former member of this Committee, Dover Samuels. He said to the tribunal that it is only right that the Crown apologise to him and those of his generation.

But we of New Zealand First do not actually support that view. And why not? In the time of Sir Apirana Ngata, he and an associate exhorted Māori to equip themselves for the material world of the Pākehā. As part of the preparation, the children of the time had to learn to speak English, along with other skills. That was appropriate for those times because the majority of Māori had but one language, the Māori language. In the light of that, we of New Zealand First do not think it right to call on the Crown to apologise for the actions of a great leader of the time. So what now? What fellow colleague Nanaia asserted is correct: we, the Māori Affairs Committee members, considered this matter and decided to refer it the Committee for consideration. That is the reason we are addressing that situation at this point in time. So that is our view on that matter.

We heard the comments about the Te Mātāwai group, and at the time of my last address when this bill was in the House, I said to the Minister that we opposed a hapū register. It is not right that so many tribes be crammed into five, four, or even three regions. I know this and so do you, Minister.

Last week I also attended a meeting in the far north to speak on this matter about selecting a representative for the far north. The outcome was to delete the tribal names and and leave it as the far north region, and for the tribes in attendance at that meeting to select a representative for the region, as not all subtribes and tribes attended that meeting. If you don’t see your subtribe on the register, then it might have been overlooked. That was the thinking of that meeting; that was the reasoning to dispense with those names. Leave it for that meeting to satisfy their wishes.

So, Minister, despite the trials and tribulations in introducing this bill, we continue to commend you.

💬 Hon Te Ururoa Flavell: Are you saying you support it?

No! Not at all, because there are many parts in it that we do not support, like some groups that supported you in the past, because I received a letter from Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i Te Reo that you are aware of, Minister, expressing some concern of theirs. We of New Zealand First have a perception that they may have traversed a righteous path to oppose some statements in the bill. But at the end of the day we acknowledge your efforts, Minister. The bill has undergone many changes since the one your predecessor, Pita, introduced into the House.

In conclusion, I laugh to myself and say: what is the purpose of the bill? To make people proficient in our chiefly language? But why am I amused? For this one is standing here and, although not very proficient in our language, giving effect to it and opposing its function. So what can be done about it? But the main thing is that this bill has emerged, and we and the nation are hearing our chiefly language tonight. So acknowledgments and congratulations once again to you, and to us collectively, thank you.]

Tēnā koe, e Te Mana Whakawā. Ā, i ahau e whakarongo ana ki Te Minita e kōrero ana mō Te Reo Māori, nāna te kī: “Ko Te Reo Māori te matapihi ki Te Ao Māori.” E tika taua korero. Ā, i roto i tēnei wāhanga o te pire, i kite nei i te kōrero a Te Karauna e kī nei: “E hē, e hē ana mātau!” I ngā tau kua hipa atu, āe, whakaae ana mātou katoa ki tēnei, tātou katoa ki tēnei. I te kāinga tētahi o ngā porowhiti Paora Pōtangaroa i kī nei, i a ia i runga i tana—

[Mr Chairman, as I was listening to the Minister for Māori Development talking about the Māori language, he said: “The Māori Language is the window to Māoridom.” That statement is correct. And in this part of the bill I saw this comment by the Crown that states: “We were at fault.” In past years, yes, we all agreed with this. Back home there was a prophet called Paora Pōtangaroa, who said, when he was on his—]

I apologise for interrupting the member, but the time has come for me to leave the chair.

Progress to be reported presently.

House resumed.

The Chairperson reported the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill with amendment, progress on the Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Bill, and no progress on the Drug and Alcohol Testing of Community-based Offenders, Bailees, and Other Persons Legislation Bill.

Report adopted.

The House adjourned at 9.58 p.m.