11. Question No. 11—Health (Māori Health)DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) to the Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health)Question No. 11—Health (Māori Health)11. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) to the Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health): Does he stand by his statement on the Therapeutic Products Bill that Under Te Tiriti o Waitangi the Crown has an obligation to actively protect rongoā Māori"; if not why not?Hon PEENI HENARE (Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health)): Yes.SPEAKER: The Minister hasn't addressed—Hon PEENI HENARE: Yes I do stand by my statement.SPEAKER: Oh sorry—my mistake.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Oh point of order. Do I get another question for that?SPEAKER: No—ha ha!Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Oh gosh!SPEAKER: That was my mistake.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: I tried. Does he agree with submissions made by Māori at the Health Committee that the Therapeutic Products Bill and particularly clause 29 captures rongoā and if so how will the rights and interests of Māori be protected in the bill?Hon PEENI HENARE: The bill is under active consideration still by the committee. The Ministry of Health Te Manatū Hauora is yet to deliver their departmental report on that particular bill and it is still under active consideration by this Government.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Point of order e te Māngai. I don't think the question was answered. The question was: does the Minister think that the Crown has actively protected rongoā Māori; if not why not?SPEAKER: I'll let the member ask the question again.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Thank you. Does he agree with submissions made by Māori at the Health Committee that the Therapeutic Products Bill in particular clause 29 captures rongoā and if so how will the rights and interests of Māori be protected in the bill?Hon PEENI HENARE: We encouraged many to submit on this particular bill and there were lots of submissions made on this bill. This bill is still being actively considered by the select committee and also by this Government.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will the Minister then in his considering exclude rongoā from clause 29 until the work stream has been completed and the Crown has actively protected rongoā Māori and if not why not?Hon PEENI HENARE: That is why we started the work stream on rongoā Māori announced last year in November and we continue to support that particular work stream. I'll continue to reiterate to the member and to this House that that particular bill is still under active consideration by this Government.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Why did the Minister say in his statement that the rongoā work stream will "explore the interface of the Therapeutic Products Bill" to "identify any gaps and opportunities to protect rongoā Māori" if he is already guaranteeing to the House that the bill does not capture rongoā through the work streams?Hon PEENI HENARE: I want to make this very clear to the member and to the House: when we announced the work stream for rongoā Māori what we did was we wanted to make sure that those who are engaged in the sector those who work in the sector are able to create that pathway forward for themselves. I do want to reiterate though to this House and to the member that the Therapeutic Products Bill in its entirety is a bill that must pass. It does a number of other things that are making our health sector and the medicines fit for purpose—the legislation fit for purpose today. So I stand by the commitment to support the rongoā work stream and continue to reiterate that this bill is under active consideration by the Government.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What specific changes will he make to the Therapeutic Products Bill to address the overwhelming concern from rongoā Māori practitioners tohunga and tangata w'enua across the board?Hon PEENI HENARE: Once again this bill is under active consideration by this Government. The committee will do the process that it's been assigned to do and then Ministers and the Cabinet will continue to consider this particular bill and we look forward to reporting back on that when that process is over.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Point of order e te Māngai. So I just want to be clear of the answer to "what specific changes will you make to the therapeutics bill?" Was the answer for clarity nothing?SPEAKER: You'll have to check Hansard but from my memory the question was definitely addressed so there is no point of order."