12. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Maori Affairs
Does he have confidence in Te PuniKōkiri; if not, why not?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Māori Affairs) Link to this
Yes, because its employees are hard-working and conscientious people.
Can the Minister confirm that Te PuniKōkiri’s Waikato regional office engaged contractors in 2006 to undertake tasks that were actually the responsibility of permanent staff members?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I cannot confirm that, but I am more than happy to come back with the information.
Dave HereoraHon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I have seen several reports that Te PuniKōkiri has been involved in, showing that more Māori are working, more Māori are moving into semi – higher skilled occupations, and more Māori are earning more.
Pita ParaoneWhat is his ministry doing to help address the issues raised in the Unequal Impact report, which shows Māori are 18 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and nearly twice as likely as non-Māori to die from cancer, and does he believe that such figures show a failure to deal adequately with Māori health issues?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
In relation to this matter Māori have always lagged behind and this Government has committed major amounts of resources and funding to ensure that the situation gets better.
Can the Minister confirm that a contract worth $85,000 was let without tender to a Michael Dreaver because of “their previous experience in the ministry.”?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That could be quite right, but the issue, as I said the other week, is quite clear. There are those people with the skill base that is needed at the time, and because of the high demand for those people who are skilled in relation to Māori development, the ministry does have a relationship with certain contractors, like other ministries have.
Is the Minister aware that Te PuniKōkiri’s own annual reports show that even while Te PuniKōkiri was increasing expenditure on staff by 58 percent, his ministry also felt the need to increase expenditure on contractors by 243 percent?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Quite certainly, as I reminded that member before, expenditure on departmental contractors and consultants has decreased over the last 2 financial years. In 2004-05 it was $7.9 million, in 2005-06 it was $6.9 million, and in 2006-07 it is forecast to be just over $5 million.
Can the Minister confirm that he did not submit a bid in this year’s Budget round for increased funding for Māori Affairs for the second year in a row; and if he did, what can Māori expect from this Budget other than no tax cuts?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I would remind that member that somebody has to pay, and one thing this Government has been committed to is ensuring that education, health, and those families in need have been well catered for. I would suggest that that member open his ears and listen closely this time, same place, tomorrow.
Does the Minister stand by his statements to the House last year on 14 March, 17 May, 25 May, and 15 June that advocating for Māori is tiresome; if so, what new career is he looking at now that he is tired of advocating for his people?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I am a hard-working Minister and I am always on the road every weekend visiting Māori around this country. I can recall that when that member was the Minister of Māori Affairs one of his great statements was that he never went out after Thursday night because he needed time at home to recuperate. This Minister keeps on going, and the results are showing. I remind that member that he is the past leader of Mauri Pacific; then he jumped over to this lot, then he went over to that lot, and then he followed Don Brash at Ōrewa, and I have to say to him: “Bye, bye, Tau.”
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Is it correct that there is a requirement to tender above contracts for $100,000, which contrasts with the previous administration when Mr Tau Henare, as Minister of Māori Affairs, ordered a multimillion dollar contract to Aotearoa Television network without tender?
Hon Parekura Horomia Link to this
I recall it very clearly—as a senior bureaucrat, very clearly. But what I recall more is what we have done with Māori television right now.
Madam SPEAKERI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. How on earth can the Minister answer that question when he was not even in the House then. It is beyond reason that he actually knows anything about what he is doing now, let alone what he was doing when I was here.
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I may not have been in the House at that time but I used to visit the Minister of Māori Affairs with high-quality senior public service advice. He and I used to go fishing on Thursday nights. I would try to give him advice and he would not listen. I remind that member that Māori television has survived. It has progressed. It is the closest thing to real Kiwiana in this country, and I have something to do with it.