4. Hon MITA RIRINUI (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Maori Affairs
What steps is he taking to ensure that Māori have a voice in the Government’s decision-making processes?
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (Acting Minister of Māori Affairs) Link to this
The Minister along with all other Ministers who share this responsibility have taken great strides in ensuring that Māori have a greater voice in the Government’s decision-making processes. Across many steps the Māori voice is heard by the Government and is included in, and informs, decision making. The Minister and I believe that Māori need to be participants in decision making—
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is probably a fairly obvious point of order. This is an answer on behalf of the Minister. A Minister acting for a Minister cannot say “the Minister and I believe”. She is speaking his words.
Mr SPEAKERI think the member makes a valid point. It is a shame to interrupt, but it is correct. I ask the Minister to continue her answer on behalf of the Minister.
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU Link to this
Across many steps, the Māori voice is heard by the Government and is included in, and informs, decision making. The Minister believes that Māori need to be participants in decision making, not recipients of it. As the member who asked the question knows, although Māori had no voice in the previous Government, that clearly is not the case with this Government.
If the Minister was serious, as he claims, about ensuring that Māori have a strong voice in the Government’s decision-making processes, why did he and other members of the Māori Party sign a confidence and supply agreement with National promising not to pursue the entrenchment of the Māori seats here in Parliament?
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU Link to this
As part of the agreement between the Māori Party and National, there are certain understandings that do not include the issue of the entrenchment. That agreement is available in public.
How does the Minister, on the one hand, as Minister of Māori Affairs, insist on including Māori seats on the Auckland City super council; and, on the other hand, as the co-leader of the Māori Party, allow his right to pursue the entrenchment of the Māori seats in Parliament to be traded away?
Hekia ParataTēnā koe e te Mana Whakawā, tēnā tātou e te Whare. What outcomes have been achieved by listening to the Māori voice?
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU Link to this
The Minister has achieved impressive results in a short space of time. I can list them: economic workshop, Job Summit—he being in charge of five streams—drivers of crime, Treaty summits, and Auckland governance. I could go on, but I will not.
Kelvin DavisWill the Minister join Labour members on the hīkoi to support Māori representation in Auckland later this month, and will he encourage the Associate Minister of Māori Affairs and National Māori members to do the same; if not, why not?
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU Link to this
That is a decision I am sure the Minister will take in good time.
If the Minister of Māori Affairs is serious about supporting Māori representation, will he pledge to support Labour in its pursuit to entrench the Māori seats, and will he now put it on the public record that he and his Māori Party colleagues will vote in support of my member’s bill to entrench the Māori seats; if not, why not?
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU Link to this
Since Labour never did it in the 9 years that it was in Government, the Minister will take time to see what that party’s proposal is all about.