Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11594] 
11.  
GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development) 
: What specific work is she currently involved with in relation to public education on the treaty and treaty clauses in legislation and what briefings or meetings has she had in relation to this work with the Coordinating Minister Race Relations? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development)) 
: 
 I am not currently involved in any specific work in relation to public education on the treaty and treaty clauses in legislation. I have had one briefing with the Minister of State Services about the Treaty of Waitangi Information Programme. I have not had a specific meeting with the Coordinating Minister Race Relations. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Does the Minister accept that her lack of effort in the area of public education on treaty and treaty clauses in legislation has led the Prime Minister to sideline her in favour of the Hon Trevor Mallard in the role of Coordinating Minister Race Relations? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: No. 
Mahara Okeroa 
: Could the Minister tell the House what she has done as the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs with delegated responsibility for treaty education? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: I initiated a proposal to proceed with the development of a policy and programme of public information on treaty issues as foreshadowed in the coalition manifesto relating to treaty education. This proposal went before Cabinet in July 2001. Subsequent to this Cabinet approved the Treaty of Waitangi Information Programme in May 2003. The Minister of State Services is responsible for that programme. 
Rodney Hide 
: In light of her responsibility for public education does she believe that the Hon Trevor Mallard is a culturally appropriate Minister to be coordinating race relations when as Minister of Education he publicly supported Hagley Community College using taxpayer money to build a mosque that Dr Ashraf Choudhary declares to be needs-based but then privately condemned the board for spending money on the mosque and declared that spending to be “ill-advised”; if so why does she believe Trevor Mallard to be a culturally appropriate Coordinating Minister Race Relations? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister may comment on the question in relation to her portfolio but not on whether the person is suitably appointed. That is a job for the Prime Minister. The Minister may comment on the second point. 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: I am unsure about what the second point was. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Perhaps Mr Hide could restate the part of his question that does not relate to the suitability of Mr Mallard for appointment because that is the job of the Prime Minister. There was another part to his question. If he wishes to rephrase I will allow him to do so. 
Rodney Hide 
: I will rephrase it and help the Minister. Does the Minister believe that she can work with the Hon Trevor Mallard given his flip-flops on the mosque and in light of his cultural inappropriateness; if so why? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: I am more than confident that I can work with the Hon Trevor Mallard. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Would it be fair for the House to conclude as the Minister has done all the work she claims in the area of public education relating to treaty clauses and legislation that her views were too extreme and too far in favour of one of the racial groups in this country and that that has led the Prime Minister to sideline her in favour of Trevor Mallard? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: Certainly not. What I do want to say is that I do not debate the politics of race. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave to table a letter from me to the Auditor-General explaining the Minister of Education’s confusion over the mosque. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.