10. Question No. 10—Māori DevelopmentARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Minister for Māori DevelopmentQuestion No. 10—Māori Development10. ARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Minister for Māori Development: What steps has the Government taken to support the Māori economy through Government procurement targets?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for Māori Development): Today alongside my colleague Stuart Nash the Minister for Economic and Regional Development I announced this Government's decision to increase supplier diversity by setting a new procurement target of 5 percent for Māori businesses and enterprise. The new 5 percent target for Public Service contracts for Māori businesses is an important step towards a more inclusive and prosperous society and we are honouring our manifesto commitment to better support whānau in Māori enterprise.Arena Williams: Why is the Government introducing procurement targets for Māori?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: We want to ensure that the Government procures goods and services from more diverse suppliers in small to medium businesses with the benefits flowing back into communities. Small and medium businesses face significant challenges as a result of COVID-19 and that is exactly why targeting Māori businesses and jobs is a big priority for this new Government.Arena Williams: When will the policy be implemented?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: We don't need to wait. The policy supports buyers to be more intentional with their spend within their existing quality assurance parameters. It's anticipated that Government agencies will take the policy into account when they go to market for each contract. The initial target of 5 percent will be reviewed at the end of next year and I have a real expectation that the data collected will support increasing the Māori social procurement target further.Arena Williams: What support will be available to Māori businesses and enterprise to take advantage of the new procurement target?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Te Puni Kōkiri has contracted Amotai formerly known as He Waka Eke Noa to offer intermediary services that include making connections between Māori businesses and buyers verifying that businesses are Māori businesses and practical business support and training for small to medium sized enterprises. Intermediaries have an important role in matching buyers with suppliers and linking businesses to capability support. Rawiri Waititi: Supplementary.SPEAKER: Sorry does the member want a supplementary?Rawiri Waititi: Yes.SPEAKER: Well unfortunately the member's office sent me an email saying that all the Māori Party's supplementaries—Rawiri Waititi: We've got one left.SPEAKER: The email that I saw said that all the Māori Party supplementaries were going to the ACT Party. If I can have an assurance that that is not the case then I will give the member a supplementary.Brooke van Velden: Mr Speaker in the email I saw the ACT Party was offered three out of four supplementary questions from the Māori Party.SPEAKER: OK. It would be quite good if those ones were sent to me as well because the one that I got said four".Rawiri Waititi: Thank you Mr Speaker. The Māori Party campaigned on a 25 percent procurement; this Government is saying 5 percent—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. The member is starting right off with a supplementary for which the Minister has no responsibility. He has no responsibility for the Māori Party policy and you can't ask him about that. So just get a narrow question around what the Minister is responsible for.Rawiri Waititi: Is he aware that the Māori population is 16 percent; where did he get his 5 percent from?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The 5 percent target is an aspirational target. I know it's hard for the Opposition to understand that word but it's a target based on the volume of contract not the value. It is a really good start because the National Party refused to acknowledge indigenous procurement and I say to the member to tautoko what we're doing and support this percentage. It's a good start for our party and we're hoping to increase it over the next 12 months.Hon Nanaia Mahuta: Supplementary.SPEAKER: Before the member does I'm going to warn Chris Bishop. This is now the third time I've warned him for inappropriate interjections today.Hon Nanaia Mahuta: Can the Minister confirm that in terms of the number of Māori businesses able to procure across a range of Government contracts it is very difficult to assess whether or not they are able to fully procure 5 percent and we've got to start somewhere?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I can confirm that to the Minister. There's been a—SPEAKER: OK the member's finished his answer.Hon Grant Robertson: Can the Minister confirm whether or not he has received any correspondence from the National Party as to whether or not they would support a 16 percent target for Māori procurement?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Not in the last 50 years have we received anything from the National Party to support any indigenous procurement. Shame on the National Party sir."