12. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Maori Affairs
Can he confirm that the “breakfast bash” where he launched the new Māori dictionary cost taxpayers up to $75,000?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Māori Affairs) Link to this
The final cost for the 2-day symposium has still to be calculated. I am advised that it is well below $75,000. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, is contributing $50,000 and Te Puni Kōkiri will contribute the balance.
How does he explain to Māori who are struggling to make ends meet under his watch, when the number of Māori on the sickness benefit has almost doubled and the number of Māori on the invalids benefit has more than doubled, that the best use he can find for their tax dollars is to pay for large quantities of muttonbirds, oysters, and champagne?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I remind the member that with our growing young demographic and, at the other end, our growing ageing demographic, those things have happened to increase benefits in the sickness area. But I also remind him that the unemployment rate has gone down by nearly 82 percent, that Māori are coming off the benefit four times faster than Pākehā, and that Māori are going into work four times faster than any other ethnic group in this country. That is what he should jump on every breakfast time and think about.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the member who has asked these questions is only too happy to turn up to free Māori “bashes” in Parliament with free food and drink, but that what upset him about this one was that it was a dictionary launch, and that is beyond his understanding?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I am sure that it is certainly beyond his comprehension. The comprehension in this book of 24,000 words is a real feat achieved in this country. The Oxford Dictionary took 80 years to make; this has taken 8 years. It has all the words in this country. It will be relished by students in this country. Our language will be preserved, and it is certainly worthwhile having a “breakfast bash” over that.
Given that the Minister has just confirmed that he went to the “breakfast bash” and that the $75,000 came out of his budget, can the Minister confirm that the number of unemployed has gone down, but they have just transferred over to the sickness benefit and the invalids benefit—that the same number of people have transferred over, and that this is all we have got after 9 long years?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That is outrageous! That is absolutely wrong. The problem with the National Party is that it has no Māori policy, and it does not understand what has happened under this great Labour-led Government over these last 9 years. Māori are better off than they have ever been. The member knows that what he said is a fib, and he ought to zip up his lips.
Dave HereoraHon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Several hundred people participated in the activities associated with the launch over 2 days. That member should buy one of the dictionaries for $40. It is worthwhile. Those activities included a series of pre-briefings and meetings on the evening before the breakfast, the pōwhiri, the official launch, the breakfast, expert panel discussions, and planning sessions for the next component. It is also on the Internet; it is a great document. The other issue is something I will wait to see whether the member asks about.
That has to be the best answer that the Minister has ever given in his life, but can the Minister confirm that $30,000 was spent, not only on the breakfast but also on flying people in from around the country, putting them up in hotels, and also having a big feed of muttonbirds, oysters, and champagne; and notwithstanding the great dictionary launch, how does the Minister explain that to all those poor people, in fact, up on the East Coast and up in the north, where their basic wage is a measly $16,000 a year?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I could talk to that member about Working for Families, and whatever. I can also remind that member that in the reign of the National Government, it took the minimum wage up once—by 68c an hour—but this Government has taken it up eight or nine times, and ensured that for those families their work will continue. What I can tell that member about the cost and the accommodation is that the organisers did fly in people like Professor Patu Hōhepa, Professor Pou Tēmara, Professor Wharehuia Milroy, Professor Tāmati Reedy, Dr Kāterina Mataira, and Mr Te Ripowai Higgins, and heaps of others, and that this organisation, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, is chaired and managed well by another Hēnare from up north who does know his business. I am thankful that Ērima Hēnare has done a good job with this dictionary.
I seek leave of the House to table the numbers from 1996 to 2008 of those on the sickness benefit and the invalids benefit.
Madam SPEAKER
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the member who has been asking the questions has been auditioning not only for his job but also for his suit, and that the reason for his change in shape is that he ate half the food at the breakfast?
Gerry BrownleeI seek leave to table a document showing that for the cost of the breakfast, the Government could have given away 1,845 of the dictionaries.