Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6559] 
11.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: On what dates and at what cost was he coached by Labour’s media trainer Dr Brian Edwards? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I attended training on 15 and 16 June. As there was no ministerial funding involved there is no ministerial responsibility. 
Rodney Hide 
: Can the Minister also confirm that last week before each question time Dr Brian Edwards was helping him? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: That member needs some training in the truth. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no no. The answer is to be given and can be given quite specifically. Please give it. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Is the Minister telling the House that the only times he has had any media training or advice from Dr Brian Edwards have been on 15 and 16—[ 
Interruption 
] I am just wondering whether I should direct the question to the Prime Minister; she appears to be answering it—on 15 and 16 June? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No I cannot recollect exactly but I have been there two or three times before this year. 
Rodney Hide 
: Does the Minister now think he has had enough training to go on Dr Brian Edwards’ show and answer the tough probing questions on Television One on Saturday night or does he think he needs a bit more training from the host—or help from the Prime Minister who is whispering the answers to him? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: He who does not get skilled does not progress. Can I tell the member that he needs some training in the Maori reo. Most certainly I will go anywhere if I have as much time as he has to roam around in this country. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Subsequent to the training he has received from Dr Brian Edwards does the Minister now believe that he is skilled at answering parliamentary questions? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: My attire has to improve but is it not obvious to Mr Gerry Brownlee that I have improved in the House? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Does the Minister think it is appropriate and proper for him to get training from the Prime Minister’s personal trainer and coach as well—which shows a serious lack of learning ability on her part? Does he think it is appropriate for him to get training from someone who will now front taxpayer-owned television purporting to be independent of political bias? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Perhaps the Minister of Broadcasting should answer those questions. But I really would look to my Maori elder statesman in this House to help me with my attire. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table my suit in the hope that one day—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member seeks leave to table his suit—after the House has risen. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. At the back of the Chamber there is a need for some clarification from the right honourable member. When he says he is going to table his suit he means that he is going to return in a different one and then table it does he not? That might affect whether the ladies down the back of the Chamber grant leave. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the member is being facetious. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Given the answer of the Minister of Maori Affairs I ask through you whether he is now saying that he will be fronting up on the marae at Tolaga— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is an abuse of the question procedure and the member was nearly asked to leave. He will not do that again. I will be listening to him for the rest of this month and for next month too.