Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4130] 
4.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does he believe Mr Trevor Moeke’s assurances that Te Mangai Paho were not aware until yesterday that Mr Tame Te Rangi had been convicted and sentenced to five months imprisonment for stealing nearly $40000 from Te Runanga O Ngati-whatua and in light of Mr Moeke’s claims does he remain “more than happy with Te Mangai Paho’s handling of this situation”? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I am advised by Mr Moeke that he was not aware until yesterday of Mr Tame Te Rangi’s conviction and sentencing and on that basis I am satisfied with Te Mangai Paho’s handling of the situation. 
Rodney Hide 
: In the light of the Minister’s satisfaction will he confirm that there are emails on Te Mangai Paho computers that reveal that Mr Te Rangi emailed from tame@tmp.govt.nz to hemana@clear.net.nz requesting that Maori Sportscasting International pay him a cash fee of several hundred dollars to be hidden in his accommodation travel and meal expenses; and what action will this Minister take to ensure that those emails which I have requested under the Official Information Act are not destroyed? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I am not aware of the emails and I am more than certain that I am not into the practice of having emails destroyed. 
Mahara Okeroa 
: What assurances has the Minister of Maori Affairs received on the performance of Te Mangai Paho? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Te Mangai Paho has received unqualified reports from Audit New Zealand on behalf of the Auditor-General for the past 3 years. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: If it transpires that as a result of Mr Moeke’s longstanding association with Mr Tame Te Rangi Mr Moeke had or should have had information about Mr Te Rangi’s past will the Minister review his statement of confidence in Mr Moeke as the chief executive of Te Mangai Paho? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Most certainly. I am advised that Te Mangai Paho undertook standard external reference checks on Mr Te Rangi. No issues were raised. It has recently been developed in the sense of better processes of appointment and that is a management issue. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: How can the Minister possibly say he is happy that external and internal checks have been made in respect of Mr Tame Te Rangi given what is known in the community about Mr Te Rangi’s past with regard to not just Ngati Whatua but other matters as well or would he act only if there were for example an allegation that somehow Mr Te Rangi had taken funds for one purpose—namely the renting of an office—but then had applied them to one of his own organisations? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I am more than capable of acting on innuendo or further extensions of nonsense that may have happened in that area. I am advised that there are security checks now on key executive positions and those have happened for the last 2 years. 
Rodney Hide 
: In the light of the Minister’s confidence has he any concerns over Mr Hemana Waaka’s Maori Sportscasting International operation given that Mr Waaka not only provided kickbacks to Mr Te Rangi but also out of a Te Puni Kokiri $10000 training wananga contract put on food alcohol and a band at Auckland’s Lakeside Convention Centre to assist two Cabinet Ministers during last year’s election campaign; or does he believe that kickbacks to civil servants and treating on behalf of Cabinet Ministers are an acceptable use of taxpayers’ money? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Do I need to go into any detail? It is clear that an unparliamentary remark has been made by way of a question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: One unparliamentary remark was made. I chose to ignore it because I am going to give the Hon Parekura Horomia an opportunity to give an answer. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: There seemed to be four questions in the space— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member can answer any two. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I do not know the detail about the two Ministers. Regarding the second part in relation to kickbacks I say that it is not due practice for hard-working public servants to get involved in that nonsense and I will not stand it from any officials who work for me—if it is true. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Given that the Minister has had 4 weeks at least to be apprised thoroughly of this issue when will he justify his LTD ministerial salary and all the perks that go with being a Minister and start to do his job—or do any old standards count for Maoridom? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I am afraid I do not own an LTD. Secondly I work pretty hard most days of the week. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave of the House to table my letter to Te Mangai Paho of 11 February requesting those emails that I understand Te Mangai Paho has either never received or lost. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.