11. Māori Development—Whānau Ora's Outcomes and Other PoliciesDARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Whānau OraMāori Development—Whānau Ora's Outcomes and Other Policies11. DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Whānau Ora: What evidence if any does he have that Whānau Ora is making any meaningful impact for Māori whatsoever other than anecdotal evidence and conversations he has had?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL (Minister for Whānau Ora): Actually it is good to go and meet with the people who are actually benefiting from Whānau Ora but I can advise the House that the evidence comes from at least 10 publicly available reports that all speak of the benefits and the outcomes achieved by the Whānau Ora approach. In phase one of Whānau Ora at least 9400 whānau received whānau-centred services until June 2014. Since Whānau Ora commissioning agencies have been established Whānau Ora commissioning agencies reporting on engagement and achievement as at March 2016 show that over 8500 whānau have been supported through Whānau Ora in all sorts of ways such as health outcomes financial literacy education and economic security. There is plenty out there. I would table it but I know that is against the Standing Orders. Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It has become clear that there is a misunderstanding of the Standing Orders. The Minister can of course table any paper that he wants at any stage—he is a Minister. Even if it is a public document any Minister can table it. In fact many of the documents Ministers do table are public. They do not require the consent of the House the way other members do.Mr SPEAKER: And if the member seeks the leave I have a discretion.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have got a list of 12 of those reports. I am happy to read all of them out in order to achieve—Mr SPEAKER: No. No I want the point of order.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: The point of order is: I wish to table these documents.Mr SPEAKER: Are they publicly available?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: They are publicly available.Mr SPEAKER: Then I am not going to put that leave.Darroch Ball: Why has he not commissioned or released one single independent report or economic analysis on Whānau Ora since July 2014 instead of relying upon anecdotal evidence to measure progress and outputs?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I will start by saying that a number of reports have been commissioned and are available publicly. Let us start with the Productivity Commission. I will quote the Productivity Commission which said in its report: The Commission finds that Whānau Ora shows much promise to tackle long-standing issues for improving Māori wellbeing. Its kaupapa Māori approach is especially important to Māori wellbeing. It has many of the characteristics required for a devolved model to promote integrated services for families with multiple complex needs and aspirations." I have got another one—Office of the Auditor-General. I have got Ministry of Health—I have got them all.Joanne Hayes: What announcements has the Minister made recently to support the economic outcomes for Māori? Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I have more good news. Whānau Ora is committed to empowering whānau to achieve—one of its goals is better economic outcomes. Today along with my colleague the Hon Peter Goldsmith I was pleased to announce the allocation of $900000—Hon Members: Ha ha! Paul!Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: Sorry Mr Speaker. Sorry Paul. Mr SPEAKER: Carry on quickly.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Firstly I offer my apologies to my colleague Paul Goldsmith. Mr SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. [Interruption] That is not a point of order. Now quickly bring the answer to a conclusion.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I am just pleased to announce $900000 to improve the financial capability—Rt Hon Winston Peters: How much?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: —amongst Māori. It is more than you have got Mr Peters for Māori communities—$900000 more.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Point of order on two grounds: first of all he cannot bring you into the debate; the second thing is I got $239 million—not like he got.Mr SPEAKER: I am not interested in the second part of the—[Interruption] Order! I am not interested in the second part of the point of order and for the first part I refer the member to Speaker's ruling 31/3. If I am brought into the debate—and often it is accidental—I will intervene if I need to. It is my determination not the Rt Hon Winston Peters'.Darroch Ball: I seek leave to table a document that has been obtained through the Official Information Act and is dated 13 August 2015. The source is Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) and it states there are no independent reports or economic analysis commissioned by TPK.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Darroch Ball: What evidence has he presented to the Minister of Finance for Whānau Ora funding when the Government's social investment approach demands measurable data and measurable outcomes before continuing to spend taxpayers' money?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: The Minister of Finance is available on the Whānau Ora Partnership Group and receives all of the reports from commissioning agencies on a quarterly basis. He receives those reports. Secondly all of the reports from commissioning agencies are available online on the website and are public documents. Anyone can read them and there is plenty of evidence out there.Joanne Hayes: How does the announcement support the Government's national strategy on financial capability?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: Last year the Government signalled that improving the financial well-being of all New Zealanders was a priority. The upscaling of these pioneering Māori pilot programmes reinforces our ongoing commitment to this goal. We know that the Government needs to provide three things in order to steer people away from getting trapped in the cycle of debt and poor financial decisions. The three things are effective legislation proper enforcement and improved education. This will certainly contribute to that.Darroch Ball: When is he going to realise that Whānau Ora is a complete waste of taxpayers' money while it is not working for ordinary Māori when for example the number of homeless Māori in Auckland has increased by 10 percent this year alone more than half of all homeless—Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With respect next week is Māori Language Week. My ears are little bit sore with "Maari"—I would ask the member to pronounce it properly as Māori.Mr SPEAKER: The Minister is starting to trifle with the Chamber. The question is a provocative question it is likely to get a provocative answer but it has been asked.Darroch Ball: I have not finished my question.Mr SPEAKER: Well the member better hurry up and finish it. To be fair to the member I invite him to start the question again as he has now lost his continuity.Darroch Ball: When is he going to realise that Whānau Ora is a complete waste of taxpayer money while it is not working for ordinary Māori when for example the number of homeless Māori in Auckland has increased by 10 percent in this year alone more than half of all homeless in Wellington are Māori and 40 percent of those of all those on social housing waiting lists are Māori—Mr SPEAKER: The question is too long.Darroch Ball: —and Māori youth—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been asked.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I will help the member. On reflection I have a quote from a chief executive officer of at least one Whānau Ora provider from Northland who told the media in 2015: "Whānau Ora has made a substantive and positive difference to the way we are able to work with"—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This Minister was asked "when is he". It was not asked whether he could go somewhere else and seek refuge. It asked him for a personal answer and he is not giving it.Mr SPEAKER: The question effectively was "When is the Minister going to realise it is a complete waste of money?". That gives a very wide ambit for the Minister to then answer the question. Members may not like the answer they are getting; I suggest they reconsider the type of questions they ask. The Hon Te Ururoa Flavell—bring the answer to a conclusion.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: Firstly I say again I reject that allegation in the first instance. Secondly I say again—Darroch Ball: Where's the evidence?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I will give you the evidence right now—from somebody involved in Whānau Ora. It is the chief executive officer of Whānau Ora and they said: "Whānau Ora has made a substantive and positive difference to the way we are able to work with and align services to meet the needs of the people" That person was Lynette Stewart the Rt Hon Winston Peters' sister.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am just waiting until I can hear it in silence because I am sure it is going to be interesting.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Every family has a member who loses their way.Mr SPEAKER: And some families have more than others.Joanne Hayes: What further reports has he had in relation to Whānau Ora's success in Northland?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I have pretty much given the evidence. As the honourable member just said there is evidence around and the evidence is the statement I just gave to the House—that the Rt Hon Winston Peters' sister was a chief executive officer of a provider of Whānau Ora."