Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3435] 
11.  
KATHERINE RICH (NZ National) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Is he satisfied that the chief executive recruitment and appointment process followed by the Maori Television Service Board was appropriate and thorough as a member of the interview panel for at least one of the short-listed applicants was then appointed to the position by the board; if so why? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 As I said yesterday I have been advised by the chief executive of Te Puni Kokiri that the Maori Television Service Establishment Board has offered Derek Fox the transitional chief executive position. No contract has been entered into yet. The chief executive of Te Puni Kokiri will sign the contract once documentation and assurances have been provided. 
Katherine Rich 
: In the light of the fact he told the House yesterday that “Mr Fox is one of the most conversant in te reo which is a principle of delivering the service to households in this country” can he explain the thinking behind appointing John Davy a non-Maori - speaking Canadian whose only command of the language extended to mumbling “kia ora”? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Mr Davy was a bad choice and the nation understands that. Mr Fox is a good choice. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This question sought an answer from the Minister as to the appropriateness and thoroughness of a process and for 2 days in a row he has made no attempt to answer it. I am saying that in any other jurisdiction in any other democracy he would be fired. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That last comment was totally unnecessary and was of course nothing to do with a point of order. In his point of order the member asked whether the Minister addressed the question. I adjudged he had. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My point is this: I am asserting that in other Western democracies a Minister who cannot answer the question or refuses to answer the question is fired by his leader by Parliament or by pressure from his peers. How come these incompetent Ministers stay in their jobs doing this day in and day out— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order; that is a political point that is being made. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The point raised is in my view a very good one. The primary question started with the words “Is he satisfied”. It asked for the Minister’s opinion. The same question was asked yesterday. The Minister yesterday did not say whether he was satisfied. Today he has done exactly the same. At some point Mr Speaker are you going to rule that Ministers addressing a question actually have to answer the question? Addressing the question does not mean just making some reference to the topic that the question alludes to which is the appointment process. The issue is whether the Minister who is the person collecting the salary is satisfied that due process was carried out. We have no indication at all on that. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Speaking to the point of order I assure those two previous speakers that I am very clear and satisfied at this stage about the due process. Certainly if I am unable to live up to the supposed ranting and ravings of other Maori members in this House then that is another issue. [ 
Interruption 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: I adjudge that the Minister addressed the question. He made his point in the first sentence. He should not have continued with the second sentence but in the first sentence he answered the question again. So he answered the question but that does not necessarily mean that members will be satisfied with the answer. 
Dave Hereora 
: Who will replace Mr Fox as the chair of the Maori Television Service Establishment Board? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: This is a matter that I and the Minister of Finance along with the chair of Te Putahi Paoho the Maori Electoral College will consider. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: We come now to question No. 12. [ 
Interruption 
] No I am sorry New Zealand First has used its questions. 
Peter Brown 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We are allowed 11 questions on some days and 10 on others. It makes sense to us that we get 11 questions when we have two principal questions and 10 when we have one principal question. That is your ruling to us privately behind the scenes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Let me say to the member that that is a novel point—one that I have not heard until this moment. But in view of the fact that I want to start the year by being reasonable I will allow this day to be one of the “11” days. However next week it will be 10—twice. 
Pita Paraone 
: Given the Minister’s expression of confidence yesterday in the ability of the newly appointed chief executive officer to the Maori Television Service why did he not agree with his recommendation to accept the offer from CanWest of its TV4 channel given that the accessibility of that particular channel is far superior to that of the UHF channel provided by this Government? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: UHF transmission through Broadcast Communications Ltd has proved to be a realiable and commercially attractive option for Prime Television TAB and Sky. There is no difference in quality between UHF and VHF. I tell that member that no matter whether UHF or VHF is used satellite transmission is also necessary and that is the reason. 
Katherine Rich 
: Can the Minister explain the logic behind spending tens of thousands of dollars on two international recruitment searches only to appoint the chairman who commissioned the searches in the first place and can he tell us how much this has cost the New Zealand taxpayer? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Sometimes as in hundreds of appointment processes in the country it works and at other times it does not. I cannot give that member the cost of it but I am certainly prepared to forward the figure to her. 
Katherine Rich 
: I seek leave to table the job profile and briefing notes used in the search for the chief executive of the Maori Television Service. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.