Korako Nuk: Estimates Debate — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKorako Nuk: Estimates Debate — In Committee[Sitting date: 11 August 2015. Volume:707;Page:5604. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]NUK KORAKO (Chairperson of the Māori Affairs Committee): Kai te Kaiwhakahaere tēnā koe ā huri noa i te Whare e mihi atu ana ki a koutou katoa. The Māori Affairs Committee considered the estimates for Vote Māori Development and for Vote Treaty Negotiations. On Vote Māori Development we heard from the Minister for Māori Development and Te Puni Kōkiri and we received advice from the Office of the Auditor-General.I want to briefly cover the key findings of our report. We questioned the Minister and the ministry about Whānau Ora particularly on the implementation of funding transfers from Te Puni Kōkiri to commissioning agents. The Minister explained the clear lines of accountability that are in place to ensure this money is spent in the way that it is intended. The commissioning agencies have expectations written into their contracts and these will be monitored and refined in the future.We discussed also the inclusion of non-Māori in Whānau Ora. We consider this to be important as Whānau Ora represents a Māori approach to dealing with whānau but it is a programme for all New Zealanders. We questioned the Minister about Māori Television. The Minister assured us of the continuing independence of Māori Television and the rigorous protocols he is putting in place to prevent any appearance of improper influence.The appropriations for Vote Māori Development have been increased by 12.56 percent for the 2015-16 year from $221 million to $249 million. As well as the usual operational funding that is needed to keep Te Puni Kōkiri operating and providing policy advice to the Government there are many great initiatives that Te Puni Kōkiri is leading that will continue to grow Māori capability support our most vulnerable whānau and grow the Māori economy. There is $16 million to fund Māori potential through community investment programmes and the rangatiratanga grants as well and $4 million is going to specific Māori potential programmes such as the Māori Wardens Association and the Māori Women’s Development Fund.We know that one of the biggest issues for our most vulnerable people is housing so $7 million is going to provide practical assistance to Māori housing projects and another $7 million is going to Māori housing development. One million dollars will be spent on strengthening and promoting tourism which is a cause very close to my heart. Over $82 million will be going towards the promotion of the Māori language and culture. That $82 million will fund organisations that are actively promoting Te Reo Māori such as Te MāngaiPāho Māori Television and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. One of those great initiatives organised by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori happened last week. Of course I am talking about Māori Language Week.Moving on to Vote Treaty Negotiations we heard from the Minister for Treaty Negotiations and from the Office of Treaty Settlements. The great work that this Government is doing in the Treaty negotiations area is very very well-known. The Minister told us that 85 of the settlements are now completed and there will be further agreements in principle and deeds of settlement in the next year. The estimates for 2015-16 put aside a multi-year appropriation of $1400 million to cover the costs of those settlements and put $88 million towards the operational costs of continuing the settlement process.One thing that we were particularly interested in when the Minister appeared before our committee was the post settlements commitments unit. The Government has made over 7000 commitments to iwi through Treaty settlements. As we come closer to having settlements signed with all willing and able iwi the role of the Office of Treaty Settlements will diminish but the role of the post settlements commitments unit will grow. It is good to hear that the Minister is planning for this transition.The 2015-16 estimates represent a good balance of funding to grow the Māori economy support our most vulnerable whānau and strengthen Te Reo Māori. I wish Te Puni Kōkiri the Office of Treaty Settlements and the other organisations that will be putting these goals into action all the best for the year ahead and we look forward to seeing the results that they have achieved when they report to the Māori Affairs Committee next year. Kia ora.