Paraone Pita: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Paraone Pita: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:623;Page:18306] 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 A tena koe Mr Speaker me nga mema katoa o te Whare nei ahakoa tehea to ropu. 
[ 
Greetings to you Mr Speaker and to all members of his House regardless of party 
.] 
In a few days our country will commemorate the day that gave birth to New Zealand as a nation. I refer of course to the 165th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. A number of us together with other New Zealanders will travel to Waitangi to commemorate that event which is often referred to as the birth of our nation. Some members who will not attend will list protest action at Waitangi over the years as the reason. 
Yesterday we heard from the Prime Minister about how well the Government is doing. Clearly there are people together with those of us on this side of the House who obviously do not share that view. Last year at Waitangi we witnessed a level of protest against the Prime Minister and some of her ministerial colleagues that has never before been seen in this country. Notwithstanding the reason for that protest I will be the first to condemn that treatment of our country’s Prime Minister. While I do not expect that level of protest to be repeated this year I expect that the reason will remain—that is dissatisfaction with this Government. Yesterday the Prime Minister made very little reference to things Maori. However two matters were referred to: firstly that Treaty of Waitangi historical claims be dealt with in a timely fashion and secondly the proposed Hui Taumata to be held next month. 
Jill Pettis 
: Get out and get a job! 
PITA PARAONE 
: I can see that the fish market is open at the moment. With regard to Treaty to Waitangi claims it seemed that this Government was relying on the process of direct negotiation to achieve a timely process of dealing with historical claims. I want to say that claimants are subscribing to this process only because they are frustrated at the time it will take to have their claims heard. All of this denies those claimants the opportunity to have their day in court so to speak. 
I say to the Government that what is really required is adequate resourcing of both the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Waitangi Tribunal. If we were to subscribe to that view then I would say that the intention to deal with historical claims in a timely fashion will be achieved. Failure to do so will see this whole area commonly known as “the treaty industry” continue forever. I was hoping that the Prime Minister while on the subject of the treaty would also commit to providing a clear definition of what the principles of the treaty are as advanced by her Government in legislative work. Sadly I hoped for too much. 
With the time left to me I now want to comment on the proposed Hui Taumata and in particular the Prime Minister the Minister of Maori Affairs and those Maori members in Government who referred to this hui. These are the points they did not make about the Hui Taumata: firstly attendance is limited to only 400 people; secondly they will decide who those 400 people will be; thirdly already over 1000 people have indicated a wish to attend the Hui Taumata; and fourthly and more important the cost for those people who are successful in being accepted to attend will be $200 each. 
The Government is hailing this hui as an opportunity for Maori to advise the Government on how to develop economic policy for the Maori people. Although this may seem laudable Maori are in fact being asked to pay for this opportunity. Where does this Government get off having to charge Maori to help it develop policy? Will this Government ask non-Maori for similar advice and then charge them for that advice? I think not. 
Finally I note that the Minister of Maori Affairs extolled the virtues of this Government’s efforts in bringing the number of unemployed Maori down to 9.1 percent and the number on benefits down to 22000. I say to the Minister that he and his Government ought to consider this fact: why do Maori who live in Australia earn more than their kith and kin here in New Zealand? Why are they healthier than their kith and kin here in New Zealand? Why do many of them own their own homes? It is because they are better off in Australia.