12. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Maori Affairs
Does he have confidence in Te Puni Kōkiri; if so, why?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Māori Affairs) Link to this
Yes, I have confidence in Te Puni Kōkiri because the employees are hard-working and conscientious.
Has Te Puni Kōkiri received the final report from its internal investigation into its underspend from the last financial year; if so, will the Minister release that report to the public?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
The variance reported in the Te Puni Kōkiri annual report in respect of the Māori Potential Fund, the non-departmental expenditure, is not an underspend. This funding was reprioritised during Budget 2007 for initiatives to be undertaken during 2007-08, and expense transfers of $3.6 million into 2007-08 were approved to fund Māori wardens’ development and the extension to the Treaty 2U touring exhibition.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
Can the Minister tell the House what forward-looking work Te Puni Kōkiri has undertaken to help realise Māori potential?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Along with Te Puni Kōkiri, I recently launched a publication— Ngā Kaihanga Hou— for Māori future makers. This publication presents research that explores the key drivers of future change in the global economy, the current position of Māori in the economy, and what needs to be done now to position Māori for optimal success in the future. Those key things are encouraging Māori into growth and strategic industries, increasing export growth and participation, improving the qualification base for Māori, promoting higher levels of entrepreneurship, and nurturing innovation.
Dr Pita SharplesWhat advice did Te Puni Kōkiri give the Minister to announce on TV3 last Thursday that Tame Iti is not a terrorist, and does he stand by his comment: “I have known Tame Iti for a long time as a friend and whatever else, and I think he’s an aging rocker.”?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
My ministry gave me no advice. That comment was a true comment on my affiliation with Tame Iti.
Can the Minister confirm that Te Puni Kōkiri has put all future funding of community organisations on hold and is directing those organisations it would normally fund to other Government ministries, all because after 2 years of not bidding for an increase, it underspent on last year’s budget?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
In addition, an in-principle expense transfer in 2007-08 of up to $4 million was approved to fund cross-agency partnered interventions. Those interventions are certainly in relation to strengthening issues around young people and those who are socially disadvantaged. Certainly, at the moment, if one looks at Gisborne one sees that in 1999 there were 2,007 unemployed youths in the age band of 18 to 20-year-olds and that now there is one unemployed youth. That is the sort of advance that people are making. Across the board, the unemployment rate has dropped. Of those people on unemployment benefits, 80.6 percent have removed themselves. That is the sort of work that Te Puni Kōkiri encourages.
What advice does the Minister have for those community organisations that have applied for assistance but been told to go somewhere else to find help, because there is no money at Te Puni Kōkiri?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
If that member dares to come over and sit down with me I will show him that there is finance that is prudently managed. Audit New Zealand said: “We found the systems put in place to administer and distribute NDOE appropriations to be robust. The basis for our assessing the new systems as robust is as follows: … we consider that the introduction of contract advisers in the regional offices adds an extra level of quality assurance in the contract awarding and monitoring processes employed by TPK.”
I seek leave to table a letter from a community organisation that states that there is not any money to be had.
Madam SPEAKERWhat advice has the Minister received from Te Puni Kōkiri to respond to yesterday’s media statement from the Montreal Maori Solidarity Committee: “We strongly oppose New Zealand’s bid for a place on the UN Human Rights Council for its clear suppression of the legitimate rights to dissent, and for the ongoing violent repression of Māori people. We demand that New Zealand government release those arrested and apologize to the Tuhoe.”?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I would like to remind the member that this country has one of the best sets of race relationships. There is tension in that, certainly, but it is not new; it has come through. If we are serious about nationhood, then we should not be putting us asunder to test that, just for the sake of it. A whole lot of rubbish is being talked about on this issue at the moment.