Katene Rahui: General Debate 
Katene Rahui: General Debate 
[Volume:673;Page:19608] 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 There is a saying that until recently I would not have been confident using and that is the phrase “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings”. But just as I am proud of my transformation I am proud also to stand today to speak of the transformation that is occurring in Te Tai Tokerau as we cut down to the wire.  
When the Maori Party re-entered Te Tai Tokerau over the last few months to listen to learn and to find out what the electorate needed they told us they wanted someone who would focus on being their voice. They wanted someone who could build relationships who would be proactive and positive. They wanted a representative who could make a constructive contribution. They wanted IWI: influence with integrity.  
Few areas of New Zealand so desperately need that influence to be acted on as Te Tai Tokerau. The statistics scream out for such a focus: 49 percent of children were identified as being born in the most deprived areas. In 2010 the Northland rate for acute rheumatic fever was nearly three times the national rate. In fact a study in Kaitaia found that one child in every 100 had evidence of heart damage caused by rheumatic fever. In some of the poorest areas of the region 40 percent of children were living in crowded households. In the past year more than 7000 Northlanders have been given food parcels by social services. No member of Parliament no matter what their affiliation can listen to these statistics without being moved. But we must do more than simply talk about it and hope the problems will go away.  
The Maori Party has taken this analysis very seriously. We have taken immediate and comprehensive action to address both the long-term nature of poverty and the specific priorities for education health and social services in the region. Last December I wrote to every member of this House asking for their support in addressing child poverty. Today at the Maori Affairs Committee the Aotearoa Equality Group tabled our request for an inquiry to place on record our united concern for the pervasive disparities and poor outcomes being experienced by Maori children.  
Just over a month ago my colleague Tariana Turia announced that the Government would prioritise $12 million of investment into addressing and preventing rheumatic fever—an announcement that Ngapuhi general practitioner Dr Lance O’Sullivan hailed as worthy of our greatest support.  
We have also worked to wrap support around whanau though the enormous investment made through Whanau Ora. Three incredible collectives of Maori providers have been revitalised through Whanau Ora to support whanau across their region. The Te Tai Tokerau Whanau Ora collective includes Whakawhiti Ora Pai Te Hauora o Te Hiku o Te Ika Te Runanga o Te Rarawa Ngati Hine Health Trust and Kia Ora Ngati Wai. Another seven providers are brought together in Te Hau Awhiowhio o Otangarei and another seven in Te Pu o te Wheke.  
The Minister of Maori Affairs has supported Whanau Ora with complementary initiatives such as Oranga Whanau. By virtue of the Kaitoko Whanau programme in Kaitaia Te Korowai Aroha trust has helped 53 whanau access social assistance services. Also approximately 75 ropu in the region have accessed the Mara Kai gardening programme to equip and establish gardens at marae at kura at kohanga and importantly at home.  
Te Tai Tokerau homes have benefited directly from the 6000 homes insulated as a result of the Maori Party negotiating a 100 percent subsidy for housing insulation for those with community services cards. Some 638 rangatahi in Northland and another 247 rangatahi in Auckland have benefited from Community Max positions which provide an entry point into longer-term employment options. We are particularly proud of the heavy investment we have made in education with support for literacy programmes and more funding for kura kaupapa Maori for transport to school and for programmes such as Te Kotahitanga that support Maori success in education. Over $100 million was earmarked for Maori education in the Budget and $73 million for kura kaupapa.