10. Budget 2018—Vote Māori DevelopmentNUK KORAKO (National) to the Minister for Māori DevelopmentBudget 2018—Vote Māori Development10. NUK KORAKO (National) to the Minister for Māori Development: Does she agree with all of the decisions made regarding Vote Māori Development in Budget 2018?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister for Māori Development): Yes alongside the broader context of priorities set by the coalition Government for Budget 2018 from which Māori whānau will undoubtedly benefit.Nuk Korako: Can the Minister advise why she cut funding for Māori development?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Funding for Māori development hasn't been cut. In fact what's happened is that we've reprioritised and focused on areas which—[Interruption]SPEAKER: I can hear the member and the public can hear the member even if there's a racket. So I advise the Minister just to keep going.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Overall the Vote Māori Development budget has not reduced. The Māori-specific initiatives more specifically focus on the areas that will ensure that young people will benefit that whānau are able to develop their whenua and that there will be a specific emphasis on papakāinga development but overall the Budget gains for Māori will be seen in building up the public service in health in education and in a housing strategy that won't see people sleeping in cars.Nuk Korako: Is it the Minister's intention to assimilate more Vote Māori Development funding into mainstream non - Māori-specific funding?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: No but it is my intention to ensure that a Māori development strategy will lift well-being across a number of domains. I'm really proud of a Budget that sets a foundation that commits to investment in public health services where people get responded to when they need it most and education but more importantly in housing because we know when people have a secure home they're going to lead better lives.Rino Tirikatene: What was the largest capital expenditure in Vote Māori Development prior to Budget 2018?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Well one would have thought—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member has no responsibility for that.Nuk Korako: How then does the Minister explain the forecast reduction in the Vote Māori Development budget of between $6 million and $8 million every year for the next four years?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Quite easily. The previous Government had set aside funds that were not actually spent or committed and I'll give you one example: the Māori Land Service where money was set aside but not spent because they tried to push through legislation which Māori didn't like—quite simple.Nuk Korako: So is the Minister saying she will assimilate more Māori-specific funding into mainstream non-Māori funding?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: No and we also won't contract out Māori aspiration. But what we will do is ensure across the whole of the Government's priorities in the areas where Māori will benefit in health in education and in housing as well as in Māori aspiration—we'll make a big impact. This is the first Budget; two more to go. We will assess the gains at election time.Hon Shane Jones: Can the Minister confirm that elements of her budget when joined with the billion trees and the billion dollars will lead to inordinately large positive outcomes for the Government in terms of Māori development?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Absolutely and I'm so pleased that that Minister is keen to ensure that land development and the way in which it can link into the regional development aspirations and planting of a billion trees will see huge gains for Māori.Hon Kelvin Davis: What reports has the Minister seen on the largest capital expenditure pre - Budget 2018 in Vote Māori Development?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Well you would have thought that the previous—SPEAKER: Order! Can the Minister repeat the question please.Hon Kelvin Davis: What reports has the Minister seen on the largest capital expenditure pre - Budget 2018 in Vote Māori Development?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Well you would have thought with the housing crisis housing might have been the biggest issue but no. On closer investigation the largest capital expenditure for Māori development prior to 2018 was not on young people not on homes not on land but on renewing a vehicle fleet.Nuk Korako: In light of the funding cuts to her ministry Te Puni Kōkiri in this Budget does the Minister have full confidence in her ministry particularly her CEO Michelle Hippolite?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I'm working with the ministry to reset priorities based on this Government's priorities and an agenda that seeks to reduce inequality and poverty. We're proud of this first Budget. It will make a difference. There's two more to go.Nuk Korako: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did ask actually a specific question. I don't believe that I got the answer.SPEAKER: Yes and I will ask the Minister to approach the second leg of it.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Yes.