Wall Louisa: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
Wall Louisa: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:646;Page:15021] 
LOUISA WALL (Labour) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Chair. I rise to speak about the Maori Affairs Committee’s financial review of the 2006-07 performance and current operations of Te Puni Kokiri the Ministry of Maori Development. The review found that Te Puni Kokiri was financially a good performer with an unqualified audit opinion. 
I note that Te Puni Kokiri describes its purpose as “realising Maori potential.” What does that mean? Firstly it means working with Maori to identify the areas of potential that Maori have based on their natural resource bases—that is cultural te reo me tikanga Maori economic and forestry and fisheries assets to name a few. As part of realising Maori potential kaupapa Te Puni Kokiri published last year in  
Nga Kaihanga Hou 
 the results of analysis it undertook looking to the future to understand what opportunities and indeed what challenges might exist for Maori. The insights contained in that work were drawn from exploration and linked to known demographic scientific political and attitudinal trends. 
Nga 
Kaihanga Hou 
 identified key drivers that will influence the way Maori participate in the economy leading to the year 2030. We know that the Maori asset base is growing. In 2003 the Maori asset base was estimated to be $9 billion. This has since been updated and as of 2005-06 is now estimated to be $16.5 billion. There continues to be an increasing level of Maori economic contribution to the national economy. Labour celebrates this yet there is more good news. Between 2002 and 2007 there was a net gain of 26500 jobs. That is something to celebrate—Maori working and participating in New Zealand’s economy. This is coupled with the steady reduction in Maori unemployment. 
However the current challenge is positioning Maori with the qualification base and skills to ensure optimal employment and work choice in the future. Te Puni Kokiri has played a key role in providing policy advice in Maori education. This advice has culminated in the release of a draft Maori education strategy Ka Hikitia: Managing for Success which is a broad-reaching draft 5-year strategy aiming to transform and change the education sector ensuring that Maori are able to enjoy education success as Maori. 
Te Puni Kokiri’s principal focus in Maori cultural development over the period of review was on Treaty settlements including a portfolio of work around broad issues associated with enhancing the Crown-Maori relationship; and on promoting Maori language and broadcasting principally through the drivers of the Maori Language Strategy and Maori Broadcasting and e-Media strategy. The results of the Maori Language Survey 2006 were published and showed significant gains in the proficiency and use of the Maori language since 2001. In particular there was an overall increase in speaking and listening proficiency—8 percent and 9 percent increases respectively—and gains in terms of Maori language use in whanau and community settings. Maori Language Week 2007 received considerable recognition with daily coverage and items on Television New Zealand TV3 Maori Television Radio New Zealand and iwi radio and in print media. Several hundred organisations organised or participated in events to celebrate Maori Language Week. 
Te Puni Kokiri has supported the Minister of Maori Affairs with four bills before the House. They are significant pieces of work and Maori have been consulted extensively during this process in the last financial year. Kia ora Mr Chair. 
Report noted.