8. Local Government—Māori Participation and RepresentationJAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of Local GovernmentLocal Government—Māori Participation and Representation8. JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of Local Government: What will she do to build support and acceptance for Māori participation in local government?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government): Mr Speaker Merry Christmas. It may come as a complete surprise to that member but I look forward to working alongside local government to increase civic participation and importantly their efforts to engage Māori in local planning and decision-making.Jami-Lee Ross: Does she agree that there are hugely destructive consequences of division separatism parallel representation and parallel laws within the local government sector?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: What I do acknowledge is that there are many councils who are meeting the challenge of increasing engagement and participation with Māori and iwi. They are doing some very good work at a number of levels. Much of this is arising from the Treaty settlement space and I want to applaud those councils who have made a decision to move towards Māori wards. It's their decision and we should support them.Jami-Lee Ross: Does she feel she has an obligation to stand up for Māori New Zealanders and condemn anti-Māori statements such as that we have political separatism—a pathway to purgatory"?Mr SPEAKER: Order! As the Minister of Local Government she has no responsibility in that area.Jami-Lee Ross: Point of order. Mr SPEAKER: Well the beginning of the question was: does she have responsibility to stand up for Māori New Zealanders? There are certainly members of Cabinet who have that responsibility; not that member in this portfolio.Jami-Lee Ross: Can I rephrase the question then Mr Speaker?Mr SPEAKER: I'll be generous and you can have another go.Jami-Lee Ross: OK. As the Minister of Local Government does she feel she has an obligation to stand up for Māori New Zealanders and condemn anti-Māori statements about the practices within the local government sector such as that we have political separatism—"a pathway to purgatory"?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I thank that Māori member for that question and acknowledge that the views of others while I don't hold them are the views of others. By and large local government is working constructively to meet the challenge of increasing civic participation. There has been continual low turnout at local government elections. They want to do something about it. They are taking leadership in some areas to increase the participation of specific groups.Jami-Lee Ross: What will she say then as Minister to the prominent political leader who said to Local Government New Zealand recently "in local government as in central government there has been a pandering to division separatism parallel representation and parallel laws without any regard to the hugely destructive consequences."—that quote being from the Rt Hon Winston Peters?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: We're a coalition Government that recognises and understands the many challenges within our communities. While that member wants to kick the tyres what I can say is that we do believe that by working together—[Interruption] You may not like it but we do believe that by working together for the benefit of all New Zealanders many boats can rise and we're making some good inroads and the 100-day plan is just the beginning.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Will the Minister confirm that as far as the Māori people are concerned where it impacts on her portfolio she and this Government are interested in equality based on not pigeonholing people but by judging them on their performance and their commitment and their skills and not discovering that they are Māori in the same way Columbus discovered America purely by accident?Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We were earlier on pulled up for having a number of parts in our questions. That had several parts and is clearly out of order.Mr SPEAKER: And what I will do as I did earlier is allow the Minister to answer any of the questions that were asked.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: In so far as my portfolio of responsibility is concerned—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order. The member will resume her seat. A point of order the Hon Gerry Brownlee.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well noting the content of that extensive question and its rather pointed aspects I wonder if you might consider sir also allowing Willie Jackson to answer that question.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Mr Speaker in so far—Mr SPEAKER: No no. I'm just sort of considering how trifling that was and whether it deserves anything else but again I'll be kind to the member.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: In so far as my portfolio is concerned I can assure many members in this House as they will know that representation on councils is first and foremost based on merit and a will and willingness to serve their community and the interests that are there. They do recognise there is an overall challenge about increasing civic participation and I am engaging with them on that matter.Kiritapu Allan: Does the Minister advocate for separate Māori representation in every local authority?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I support local democracy and I want to acknowledge and applaud those councils who believe that Māori wards is one of many ways to ensure that valuable contributions can be made to the decision-making and planning processes in their district. Their leadership will make a difference. They want to ensure that that reflects the will of their local community.Jami-Lee Ross: I seek leave to table a document prepared by the Parliamentary Library for my office which is a compilation of quotes from the Rt Hon Winston Peters about this very issue.Mr SPEAKER: Have those quotes been previously published?Jami-Lee Ross: It's a compilation sir from the library. The library document has not—it's from the library.Mr SPEAKER: I'll put it in the hands of the House. I think it's a marginal call if all it is is a republication. Is there any objection to that book being tabled? There appears to be none; it can be tabled. Document by leave laid on the Table of the House."