4. Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Maori Affairs
Kua whakarato tohutohu anō Te Puni Kōkiri ki a ia e tūtohu ana, kia tautokongia e te kāwanatanga te whakapūmautanga o Te Whakapuakanga o ngā Tika Iwi Taketake a Te Kaunihera Tika Tangata; ā, meina āe, i whakaae anō ia ki tā rātau tūtohutanga?
[Has Te Puni Kōkiri ever provided advice to him recommending that the Government should support the adoption of the Human Rights Council’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; if so, did he agree with its recommendation?]
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Customs) Link to this
I roto i ngā mahinga, e hangaia ana e Te Puni Kōkiri he pūrongo i te wā e whanake ana te Kāwanatanga i tōna tūranga mō ēnei tū momo kaupapa hei hāpai ake i ngā āhuatanga mō ngāi Māori.
The Minister has received a number of briefings from Te Puni Kōkiri as the Government develops its position on a range of matters that focus on improving the lives of Māori.
Nā te mea ko ia te Minita mō ngā Take Māori ka tūturu tana whakapono, he whakaaro tapatahi, he tika mō tēnei kāwanatanga ki te pōti ā te 13 o Mahuru, kia kaua te whakapūmautanga o Te Whakapuakanga o ngā Tika Iwi Taketake i whakaaetia e Te Pāremata Whakakotahitanga o Ngā Iwi o te Ao, ā, mehemea āe, he aha ai?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Does he as Minister of Māori Affairs genuinely believe that it is just and ethical for this Government to vote against the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the UN General Assembly on September 13; if so, why?]
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
One of the issues that I have been informed of is that there have been a number of representations to try to modify the text to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and because some parties have taken a no-negotiation stance, that has staggered the way in which this declaration has gone through its consideration. In response to the member’s question, I say that I am also informed that at the 61st UN General Assembly session this matter will be voted on conclusively, primarily because the chairman of the Working Group of Indigenous Peoples had made changes to the declaration that were not consulted on at all by member States. So that matter is yet to be voted on finally and will be done at the 61st session.
Dave HereoraWhat is the most recent report that the Government has seen from the United Nations in relation to New Zealand?
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
The Government has seen an advanced, unedited version of a report from the 70th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that recognises the reduction of socio-economic disparities between Māori and Pacific peoples and other New Zealanders, and an increase in Māori language proficiency across all New Zealanders.
Kei te mātau te Minita ki te kōrero a Te Whakakotahitanga Tika Tangata o ngā Iwi Tuatahi mō ngā whakahē ki te kape tuatahi o Te Whakapuakanga o ngā Tika Iwi Taketake a Kānata, Rūhia, Colombia, me Niu Tīreni e kī nei: “Kei te rapu whakatikatika rātau e taka ana i raro i ngā taumata o te ao whānui mō te ture tika tangata, me te whakamā anō.”, ā, he aha ngā mahi kai a ia hei whakatikatika i tēnei?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Is the Minister aware of the comment from the First Peoples Human Rights Coalition, about the opposition to the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from Canada, Russia, Colombia, and New Zealand that “They are shamefully seeking amendments that fall below international standards of human rights law.”, and what action will he be taking to rectify this?]
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
In the first instance, Te Puni Kōkiri contributes to international policy that is largely led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In the second instance, I think Māori have had enough of empty promises, and the member may care to reflect on that. Indeed, the Government is in the position of needing to reach a position on the rights of indigenous people where it is able to give effect to such undertakings internationally and domestically. I relay the concern expressed by Dr Cullen, and alluded to by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that a number of countries indicated that they are voting for the declaration but have no intention of implementing it. The Government is mindful of the efforts taken to improve the lives and opportunities of Māori at home, and that is where it counts. People generally expect that this Government will act consistently in that regard.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is it the position of the Government that the Human Rights Council’s so-called Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in fact runs counter to the rights of so many indigenous people around the world; and is it a fact that no amount of Nicaraguan coffee-planter collectives’ visions of the world will change that?
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
Indeed. Certainly the Minister is well aware that New Zealand has called for open and transparent consultations on the text, and he is disappointed that such consultations did not eventuate, despite the continued efforts of a number of countries, including New Zealand, to trigger such a process.
He aha tōna whakautu ki te pono o te kōrero ko tōna Kāwanatanga tonu te pūtake o ngā huarahi “whakatūpatotanga moata, mahi kaikā hoki” a Te Komiti Whakakore Kai Kiri, ā, e takatū tonu nei hoki ki te whakapiri atu ki te taha o ngā motu e whakahē ana ki te whakapuakanga, otirā, a Amerika, Kānata, Ahitereiria, Columbia, Guyana, Te Whetereihana o Rūhia, me Surinam mā; kei hea te whakapono a ngāi Māori mō te whiwhi Minita e takatū nei ki te porowhiu i ngā tika taketake ki hea rā?
What response does the Minister have to the fact that his Government not only has been the subject of early warning and urgent action procedures by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination but is now prepared to side with the countries opposing the declaration, notably, the United States, Canada, Australia, Colombia, Ghana, the Russian Federation, and Surinam; and—this is the real question—what confidence can Māori have in a Minister who is prepared to give away indigenous rights?
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
I think that when one reflects on those countries that have expressed support for the declaration—Azerbaijan, Cameroon, China, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala—one will see that we have taken a considered position on this matter. More important, our international position must reflect our domestic policy, and all along we have focused on improving the lives of Māori back here, back home where it counts.
Madam SPEAKER