Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 19 June 2003. Volume:609;Page:6428. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: How much did Te MangaiPaho pay Maori Sportscasting International to commentate for broadcast the New Zealand versus Australia Anzac game at Albany Stadium on 24 April 1998 and on what date was the funding approved? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I am advised by Te MangaiPaho that the contract was for six commentaries including this game at a total value of $10000 GST inclusive. Funding was approved by the Te MangaiPaho board on 28 March 1998 and I was not the Minister. 
Rodney Hide 
: Did his officials also advise him that Maori Sportscasting International also had presented an invoice to New Zealand Rugby League for the same game which was rejected and can he assure the House that there was no attempt to double dip on this commentary? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: If there is validity in that accusation at this stage it is not my responsibility— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I want to test with you what responsibility a Minister can possibly have for a non-government organisation presenting an invoice to another non-government organisation. It is not his responsibility; it was during the time when Mr McCully and a number of others had an interest in the area. It is not the Minister’s responsibility at all. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Somehow I wonder why the member is so lucky! For the first part of the question there is no responsibility of the Minister. One point that the Minister can reply to is of course whether there is any suggestion of double-dipping from a fund like this. That part of the question is in order and the Minister might like to comment on it. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I have allowed that part and that is it. 
Rodney Hide 
: But I asked whether the Minister had heard from his officials. Surely he is responsible for his officials. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No because then one could put that about any single thing. There is no responsibility unless there is evidence of double-dipping which is of course an offence. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We are getting into some difficulty here if Opposition members cannot ask whether a Minister has been advised or has heard from his officials on a particular point. We are talking about the spending of public money the purchasing of a service that may have been paid for by another organisation. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If the member had asked whether the Minister had heard from his officials about the spending of public money then of course the question would be in order. That was not what the question said. The question talked about a sum of money being paid for the league game. As far as the question of double-dipping is concerned that is within the purview of the Minister to answer and the Minister can comment on that part. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No. 
Mita Ririnui 
: When will Audit New Zealand conduct its next review of Te MangaiPaho? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Next week Audit New Zealand will commence its annual review of Te MangaiPaho which will include an in-depth review of its systems policies and procedures. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Can the Minister tell the House whether it was within the terms of the grant made by Te MangaiPaho to MaoriSportcasting International for the match referred to in the primary question for that company also to seek additional funding from New Zealand Rugby League or it having been turned down by the league for it then to seek funding from Aotearoa Maori Rugby League? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Maurice Williamson was the responsible Minister for Te MangaiPaho in 1998 and I do not have that information available. 
Rodney Hide 
: In the light of the question raised by the Hon Murray McCully will the Minister of Maori Affairs ask his Associate Minister John Tamihere whether Aotearoa Maori Rugby League was presented with an invoice for this game and paid it; if not why not? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister has no ministerial responsibility there. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There is certainly an issue of ministerial responsibility if at any time Aotearoa Maori Rugby League got taxpayers’ money. That is the real issue here as Mr Tamihere knows. I suggest that that brings it right within the ambit of the Minister’s responsibility and of course Mr Tamihere’s responsibility as well. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Yes but the Minister said he had no knowledge of that particular matter at that time. That was the answer he gave. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: At that time in that year did Aotearoa Maori Rugby League associated as it is and was with John Tamihere get taxpayers’ funds; if so did any of that money find its way— 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Mr Speaker— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I ask Mr Cullen to relax. We are on very safe ground here. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Would the member please ask the question again. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Will the Minister tell the House whether he will find out and report immediately whether any taxpayers’ money in 1998 was given to Aotearoa Maori Rugby League; if so was any payment made by Aotearoa Maori Rugby League to this outfit that was to broadcast these six broadcasts including the Albany Stadium broadcast? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I have no advice on that matter. My name is Parekura Tureia Horomia not Maurice Williamson.