Horomia Parekura: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Horomia Parekura: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:659;Page:8507] 
8.  
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Labour—Ikaroa-Rawhiti) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does he stand by his statement “I have a responsibility to represent the views of Maori people”? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 Yes absolutely unlike the previous Minister of Maori Affairs who ignored the foreshore and seabed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples the Maori seats and the Maori flag and who failed to deliver social and economic benefits— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question asked only whether the Minister stood by his statement. It did not actually ask why and I think we have heard sufficient. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Does he as the Minister of Maori Affairs believe that establishing a Maori statutory board to advise the Auckland Council on policy matters is a good enough replacement for dedicated Maori seats? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: Absolutely not— 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We had the benefit of hearing that supplementary question ahead of the primary question which allowed me to judge it. I ask you— 
Hon Members 
: What’s your point of order? 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I called for a point of order— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There will not be interjection. A point of order is being heard and there will not be interjection. I ask the Minister to come directly to the point of order please. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: My point of order is that the supplementary question that has been asked does not follow at all from the primary question that was asked. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will ask the member to repeat his question and to take care that it does. The primary question asked whether the Minister stood by his statement: “I have a responsibility to represent the views of Maori people”. With that primary question in mind I ask the member to repeat his supplementary question. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Does he as the Minister of Maori Affairs believe that establishing a Maori statutory board to advise the Auckland Council on policy matters is a good enough replacement for dedicated Maori seats? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: Absolutely not. I have attended a hui held by the local tangata whenua and I still support Maori being at the top table. This has been voted down by Cabinet but I still support it. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: How has the Minister worked with the Government to allow the voice of Maori to be heard in the review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: I have been working closely with the Attorney-General to set up the panel to review the Foreshore and Seabed Act. It had 21 hui—public meetings across the country—to allow New Zealanders including Maori to have their say. This is in contrast to the previous Government whose Prime Minister preferred to meet with sheep rather than hear the voice of 40000 New Zealanders who marched on Parliament. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Has he as Minister of Maori Affairs seen a press release from the Maori Party welcoming a report that shows that local government authorities work more effectively when they have Maori representation; if so has he shown it to the Minister of Local Government and the Prime Minister and why is he voting with the Government? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: I voted against taking away those Maori seats but I will still fight for the tangata whenua to have those seats restored through another avenue. There is a possibility but at least I am working with the people. 
Carmel Sepuloni 
: Does he as Minister of Maori Affairs support the decision of the Government to remove guaranteed Maori representation from the boards of polytechnics; if so how does that represent the views of Maori? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: We are putting forward today a Supplementary Order Paper to ensure that there is Maori representation on those boards. 
Carmel Sepuloni 
: Why is he going around the country indicating support for some models of Maori representation on boards of polytechs while at the same time supporting a Government measure to remove Maori representation from the boards of polytechs? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: I do not think the member heard my previous answer. I do not support the measure. We have a Supplementary Order Paper asking for Maori representation. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Does he believe that having a flag referred to by some as “Hone’s flag” hoisted upon us is a good enough alternative to having proper representation in New Zealand’s largest city and indeed in polytechs? What does he plan to do to remedy his failings to date? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: It matters not what I believe. Eighty percent of Maori who were canvassed in 1200 submissions wanted to have that flag as their flag.