6. Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
Has he been informed of the results of the UMR survey released yesterday, which found there was strong overall agreement (66 percent agree; 12 percent disagree) to the statement that “in addition to having the same rights as all New Zealanders, Maori have the right to live as Maori”, and what is his response to this finding?
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Justice) Link to this
Yes, I have been informed of the results of the survey that was released yesterday by the Human Rights Commission to mark Race Relations Day 2006. The finding that the member refers to is encouraging.
I did not author the report, but certainly I would take it to mean to fully participate in, and to have the economic, social, and cultural benefits of, a full, healthy, and wholesome life in New Zealand.
Pita ParaoneCan the Minister, given his response to the primary question, describe what is meant by “to live as Māori”, and is this the reason that so many Māori are relocating to Australia—now one in seven; soon to be one in three—where they can obviously “live as Māori”?
What I meant is essentially what I answered to Dr Sharples’ supplementary question. To add to that answer, a good example of what I was describing is the record number of Māori in jobs, and the record number of young Māori in education, in industry-based training, and in Modern Apprenticeships—those are all good examples of young Māori in this country who are fully participating in New Zealand society.
I runga i te kaupapa kei te whakaae te nuinga o Niu Tīreni kia “noho taketake te Māori, hei Māori” he aha ōna tohutohu ki te Minita mō te Manatū Aorere, nā, ko te whakautu o Niu Tīreni ki te kaupapa kua whakaritea mō ngā tāngata whenua o te ao, kei te hē, kei te kuare, nā te mea kare he kōrero mō te Māori engari ka hāngai anake ngā kōrero mō “te katoa o te iwi”?
[ As New Zealanders generally agree that “Māori have the right to live as Māori”, what action will he take to advise the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the New Zealand response to the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people is both unjust and ill-informed in failing to mention Māori people but instead focusing only on “all citizens”?]
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. To the best of my knowledge, this country is called New Zealand. That is not the name that Mr Sharples just gave this nation, and he should not be allowed to let it creep into the language by way of using the Māori language in the House.
Madam SPEAKERRt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. This country is not Niu Tireni; it is New Zealand, and some call it Aotearoa. But that other name is not ascribed to New Zealand.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. When the question was asked, it had that word in it for describing this nation. The House surely recognises what name this country is called.
Since the 18th century Māori have been referring to this country as Niu Tīreni, Niu Tīrani, or Aotearoa.
Thank you. Members can use whatever terms they like; it is not to be ruled what is correct or not. We will now ask for the interpretation, please.