Turia Tariana: Motions — Earthquake and Tsunami—Japan 
Turia Tariana: Motions — Earthquake and Tsunami—Japan 
[Volume:670;Page:17169] 
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 Tena tatou katoa. The poet Henry Longfellow once said: “There is no grief like the grief that does not speak.” The Maori Party stands today to support the Prime Minister’s motion and to join in the grief that has overshadowed the world in the light of the disasters that have taken place in Japan over the last 5 days. As others have said before me the horrific spectacle of the wall of water swallowing whole towns in its path left us all without words. How can we provide an explanation or comfort at a time of such horror? 
As a Parliament we stand united today offering our most sincere condolences to the people of Japan to the Japanese citizens who live here in Aotearoa and to those New Zealanders far from home who have made a life for themselves in Japan. We express our deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones and to the people who have lost so much—their homes their businesses and their sense of security. 
I was extremely moved by the sight of those brave search and rescue teams from Japan who flew to our land standing side by side with us in Christchurch in the rescue and recovery mission after our recent earthquake. We are humbled by their generosity and we express our utmost appreciation and aroha to them as they now return to their homeland some of them knowing the extent of their own personal loss yet committing to take up the vital work of search and rescue. In the true expression of manaakitanga New Zealand has quickly responded to the disaster in Japan by sending a team of 52 New Zealand urban search and rescue personnel some having had only a matter of hours’ rest after 3 weeks of searching through the rubble in Christchurch. 
This event hot on the heels of our own disaster in Otautahi is a powerful reminder of the devastation that can be wreaked by natural disasters. As with any such crisis it has provoked many searching questions about the impacts of the way in which humanity interferes with nature. 
I looked at the incredible footage of Saito the village that was virtually obliterated from the map by the tsunami that swept up close to 300 people and 70 or so houses in its wake. The barren landscape now littered with debris provides a gruesome image of the phenomenal destruction that this earthquake has caused. 
Of course the terrifying aftermath of nuclear disaster is another tragic factor in this event. It is far too early to consider what impact if any the nuclear blasts will have had and it would be inappropriate to do that without the full information before us. But there is one salutary lesson to be taken from these last few days and that is to highlight the significance and integrity of the decision by the Lange Government for a nuclear-free Aotearoa. 
The disasters we have endured in Christchurch and Japan have immediately been part of our every waking thought through the power of modern media. They have been in our hearts our minds and our prayers. The Maori Party expresses our deepest sympathies and at this time we join together with our global neighbours to provide the support we all need to rebuild and restore lives. Kia tu tahi kia kaha kia manawa nui. 
[ 
Stand together be strong be stout of heart 
.]