Horomia Parekura: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Horomia Parekura: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:621;Page:17167] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 It has been quite interesting listening to the last few speakers. I was thankful that the bloke with the nice-looking hat came in to support our tuahine because she has been here by herself. But he has gone away again like the leader of that group who is not here. It was fascinating in the sense of— 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. I understand that members cannot refer to whether other members are here in the Chamber. I ask the member to withdraw that remark. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley) 
: The member is correct. Certainly one cannot refer to members being absent. I ask Mr Horomia to withdraw that remark. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I withdraw and apologise. The member’s overview was fascinating in the context of how this is relevant to overseas countries that have different treaties a different economy and different circumstances—such as what happened in Canada. The myth of trying to correlate that with what is happening here—with the doom merchants and the people at the extremes believing that international practices will save us—is a whole lot of hogwash. It is fascinating to those who know the history of what happened in the settlements in Canada.  
I listened to the mumbling muppet who mentioned issues around a weak Labour 
Maori caucus. I will tell members about the Maori caucus in this Government; I will tell them about the courage of this Maori caucus. We are at an all-time low in unemployment. Who did that? This country did. If members want to talk about other countries why has our ranking in the OECD accelerated? Who did that? This country did. We have got Maori Television going. Who did that? The Maori caucus did along with this Government. In the last 5 years we have doubled tertiary education 
participation by Maori people. Who did that? We did it along with the wananga the universities and especially our young demographic. That is the reality that is happening around all of this.  
Every reasonable historian knows that after 200 years as a settled society a clanking happens—a hump starts to appear in terms of the tensions and strains of contemporary times. That is what is happening here. Who created the impact and effects of the labour market? Our party did along with the Maori caucus. Who has a Maori language strategy with the aim that within 25 years every Maori whanau in this country will speak their language well? This Maori caucus has. Who amended the legislation on tax issues around lands? This Government did.  
I do not hear about all of 
that. We hear all about the extremes. People want to lock us down in the dungeons of doom and gloom and keep us in the deficit and dependency mode. That is the great thing that is coming out of the prattle from those on the opposite side of the Chamber. They say: “I have Maori friends and 
” 
—some of them— 
“ 
I actually married one of them but don’t give them any more than what they’ve ever had. Don’t dare do that because we’re used to conquest we’re used to controlling and we’re used to utilising power at the negative extreme.” That member knows about that.  
I say with great pride that this Government has made some of the most dramatic changes and turn-rounds in Maori development in this period of time. That is why I am here being counted. I will be counted against all those things. As that member reminds me it is no fun sitting in front of the hikoi going around the hui and getting chastised for it and knowing that my whanau name will be alongside this. But at least I will stand up and with pride say that it is the right thing to do at the right time. In contemporary times this is the way to go forward.  
My friend here talked about Churchillian issues. This is Herculean; it is enormous. We have made the right decision. My learned friend the chairman of the Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation Committee 
and those who were honest enough to stand the heat took it on the chin. We will be here and we will be counted along with New Zealand First. I am really thankful that those members have come in at this stage to help us finish passing the legislation. I respect that so kia ora to them. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: You’re desperate! 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: If we are desperate then I do not know what it is like to be polling at 1 percent. We know where we are. I understand if the member translates that into desperateness. 
The Resource Management Act is a fascinating thing. Where I come from people could dig a long drop. That is the fascinating thing. A lot of our young people do not even know what a long drop is anymore. People did not have to go to the council and ask for permission; they dug the hole they moved the toilet and they had it there. Now they have to go to the council and ask: “Can I please build a long drop?”. What a load of nonsense!