Faafoi Kris: Debate On Pacific IssuesText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFaafoi Kris: Debate On Pacific Issues[Sitting date: 18 April 2013. Volume:689;Page:9575. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]KRIS FAAFOI (Labour—Mana): Yes and I will be sharing it with my Fijian brother Rajen Prasad. Mr Deputy Speaker taloha ni and to the delegation from the Pacific taloha ni. It is a privilege to speak in this debate.As one of the five Pacific members of this Parliament this House of Representatives welcomes you. This forum will begin and strengthen strong personal and national links. As Labour leader David Shearer put it we will get to know each other better. I would like to acknowledge my fellow Pacific MPs in this House: my colleague Su’a William Sio Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Alfred Ngaro and Asenati Lole-Taylor. As you will see ourPacific representation is pan-political. We are diverse not only in our nationality but in our opinions. I think you have already seen this in this debate today but I think I can assure you that despite some fundamental philosophical differences I believe all Pacific MPs work for the better of our community. We have Alfred Ngaro and Sam Lotu-Iiga leaders in their communities on the other side of the House. I do honestly believe their plans are to lift their communities in their regions and the Pacific. The problem is we just disagree how we go about it. That is the beauty of the democracy that we live in and that we as Pasifika are participating in it is a sign that Pasifika are well and truly a force—a growing force—in politics here in New Zealand.Can I also acknowledge the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee led by John Hayes for organising this forum and this event over the weekend. I know it has been an interesting task. The programme for the weekend and the 3 or 4 days ahead looks great and I look forward to hosting you all in Porirua on Sunday evening.Hon Hekia Parata: We—we.KRIS FAAFOI: We look forward to it—pan-political. To the 70 members of the delegation from the 22 Pacific nations taloha ni and tēnā koutou katoa. I look forward to the next 4 days as we in New Zealand discuss and as Sam Lotu-Iiga said hear from you about the issues that are important to the Pacific. I would in particular like to acknowledge Margaret Pedro and Tavita Pue from Tokelau malo ni. As a proud Tokelauan it is great to have two young leaders from Nukunonu and Fakaofo here to ensure there is a strong Pacific voice from Tokelau. For those who are at home watching or listening Tokelau is a proud small nation of three atolls Atafu Nukunonu and Fakaofo.It is an interesting time to be a Pacific MP. As I said we are now well entrenched on the political stage but as we move towards a Pasifika community that is becoming more New Zealand - born new opportunities and challenges emerge. Attitudes are changing but it is important that our values do not. Many of you may have seen that last night in a debate in our Parliament on the issue of marriage equality. I felt compelled to ensure the diversity of views in the Pacific community were represented but in doing that I needed to respect the view of others although I disagreed. That is one of the challenges. I know we can overcome it. That is ensuring that our youth can live in the two worlds they live in—and some live in three or more—in its simplest form: living in New Zealand with Kiwi expectations and living in our Pacific community with Pacific expectations. It is not easy but I look around our communities and this House and I know it can happen.But enough about us. Let us look at you. In David Shearer’s speech he pointed out the importance of democracy. He said that democracy needs a free media. Before I entered this House my background was with the media and I agree with David Shearer 100 percent. We may not like it all the time in New Zealand but our media have freedoms are fearless and most of the time focus on issues that matter to New Zealanders.I know that in some places in the Pacific the freedom of the media is not so entrenched. The media in its purest form is the conduit of the people to hold people like us to account. I believe we in New Zealand can do much more to ensure there are free and skilled media in the Pacific. Tales of torture of the media muzzling of the media and limited control of the media do nothing to advance democracy. I am not saying that we know better; I am saying that we can help to ensure that the right questions are asked in the pursuit of fair honest and accountable representation that is of the people by the people and for the people. I look forward to discussing that tomorrow afternoon.I would like to pay tribute to our pioneers those grandparents and parents many of whom came to New Zealand to a new land many of them at a young age to get as Sam Lotu-Iiga said a better life for their families. Someone told me very early on in mypolitical career to drop the grateful migrant story but never never never will I do that. I thank them for making the journey to this land and giving us the opportunity to live better lives.