McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3782] 
10.  
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (NZ National—East Coast Bays) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does he stand by his statement in his speech that was circulated to the Knowledge Wave conference that “the Treaty is not a panacea for Maori success or participation in any new economy”; if so why? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE (Associate Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 Yes I do stand by that. I do not see any one thing as a universal remedy.  
Hon Murray McCully 
: Given the statement in the same speech that “Maori will be hammered into the rocks” rather than being able to surf the Knowledge Wave unless there are “a number of policy shifts” which particular policies of the current Government did the Associate Minister have in mind and how does he propose that they should be changed? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: Mr Simon Power has already tabled my speech. I respectfully ask the member to read it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I would like— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Stop being a smart alec. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member should address a comment to me not to anybody else. I ask the Minister to form an answer to the question. 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: There are a number of— 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is not often that I want to defend the Minister but I think he has answered the question. He said that the speech has been tabled. He is clearly saying that he stands by it. We are all pleased to hear that. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: He did not quite say that. That was a very good try. I would like the Minister now to comment on the matters raised by the member. 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: I look forward to a robust and continuing debate on policy development and evolution. 
Nanaia Mahuta 
: Is the Minister aware of any reports that show Maori successfully participating in the economy? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: The recently released Te Puni Kokiri - New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report on the Maori economy entitled  
Te Ohanga Whanaketanga Maori 
 shows that that Maori economy is strong. Production amounts to $1.9 billion per year. The Maori economy produces an operating surplus of around $826 million and Maori-owned commercial assets produce more export revenue than the overall wine wool kiwifruit and fisheries industries put together. 
Metiria Turei 
: Given the Minister’s criticism in his speech of the current treaty grievance-resolution process will he now be advocating to his colleagues a change in policy to recognise that Maori communities at hapu level are best able to identify and take up opportunities and that the Crown should engage with hapu directly rather than with large natural groupings? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: I regret to convey to the member that that is outside my delegations. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Given that the Prime Minister responded to the Minister’s speech of last week by instructing her officials to closely check his speeches in future does the Minister envisage that that unsolicited assistance from the ninth floor will be helpful to him; if so in which ways? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: I am delighted with the offer from the ninth floor and I look forward to working in the most engaging way.