Sharples Pita: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
Sharples Pita: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
[Volume:659;Page:8625] 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. Tena tatou katoa i tenei ra whakamutunga. The debating chamber must be the most unusual destination to take one’s honeymoon but you Mr Speaker can be proud of the wedding banquet that you presided over in this last year. The Maori Party stands to congratulate you on the distinguished presence and wise counsel that you have demonstrated in this House. We have valued the fair and firm way in which this Chamber has been managed and a particular delight for us has been to hear the deep resonance of the tone that you have brought to the karakia. We expect that this skill will be heard more frequently next year with the introduction of simultaneous interpretation in the House. We extend our thanks also to Lindsay Tisch as Deputy Speaker and to Rick Barker and Eric Roy in their roles as Assistant Speakers. 
I want to take this time also to acknowledge the leadership of Mary Harris—tena koe—and to thank the Office of the Clerk of the House the party whips right across the House the Serjeant-at-Arms the Usher of the Black Rod the Hansard recorders and all those who maintain the order the decorum and the history of our Parliament. 
We are at a critical juncture in the history of politics. In this last 12 months the Maori Party has been able to ensure the Maori voice is heard by the Government and that it is included in and informs decision making. We believe that Maori need to be participants in decision making not just recipients of it. So policy by policy bill by bill we have seen the expression of tangata whenua in debates on aquaculture broadcasting employment criminal justice the social services education and many more. Of course there have been some notable exceptions in which the collective decision-making capacity of Cabinet or indeed this Parliament has not taken the time to respond to the call from Maori. I am thinking of the Te Ra o Matariki/Matariki Day Bill put up by my colleague Rahui Katene—a wonderful gesture on the pathway to nationhood which was voted down by this Parliament. I think of the Auckland governance legislation which ignored the proposals of mana whenua and rejected the expert analysis of the mana whenua forum of Ngati Whatua of Tainui. There is also the failure to act in the best interests of Maori in the polytechnic sector or more broadly in adult education. 
Although we may agree or disagree with it the strong independent voice of Maori will prevail and we will continue to represent the aspirations of our people in every breath that we take. I spoke earlier of the history that has been shaped in this Parliament. Five years ago the Foreshore and Seabed Act was passed—an Act that polarised the nation and provoked a debate on Kiwi versus iwi. As one of the key negotiating points of the relationship agreement that we signed with National we initiated a review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act which has resulted in the Prime Minister indicating a strong likelihood that the Act will be repealed. I commend the work of the ministerial review panel led by Judge Taihakurei Durie. Its report revealed that the Act was built on shaky foundations and gave Maori such umbrage that they considered the propriety of the Government’s delivering some form of apology for or recognition of having done wrong. This has not happened as yet but it was a very positive development that Dr Michael Cullen in his final press conference conceded that Labour should not have legislated to prevent Maori from seeking customary title from the Maori Land Court to the foreshore and seabed. It is only disappointing that the new Leader of the Opposition has not been able to honour those parting words. But we look forward to a new year in which options for a replacement regime will be considered. 
The impact of the economic climate has of course been a huge influence on this Parliament. We have been responsible for the progressing of a number of work streams that emerged from the employment summit including a focus on Maori skills acquisition involving significant investment across a number of sectors in Maori industry training places. I established the Maori Economic Taskforce which has enabled us to move forward with optimism as we think of the huge challenges facing our nation particularly in addressing high unemployment. I congratulate my colleague Tariana on her initiative in the Community Max scheme which has paved the foundation for many of our whanau in determining their own local work options. 
Through tough times inevitably we rely on the community and the voluntary sector to support people in need. The Maori Party recognises the dedicated sacrifice and commitment of the many local heroes and “sheroes” who maintain our communities and care for our people. Within this group are those who care for our elderly the disabled our children those with mental health issues those who have suffered the tragedy of family violence and those who are more vulnerable than others. We commend all of them for the devoted way in which they care for the lives of others. 
But if there is one key area in which to bring about the gains needed in order for our nation to advance it will be Whanau Ora. This policy is transformational. It is about re-energising and re-empowering whanau to do it for themselves: to determine their own destiny. It is about pride it is about potential and it is about our whanau being the beacon of hope for our future. We know that if we can invest in our whanau to take care of their own to assume their responsibilities for their collective health and well-being then ultimately the taxpayer of this land will benefit from that. Whanau Ora places whanau at the centre and builds on the strengths and capabilities already present in the whanau. It is a new approach: an approach in which we trust whanau will lead the way. 
As one example I have introduced an initiative around mara kai to promote community gardening amongst Maori in order to restore the ability of Maori to nourish and feed themselves from their own gardens. The initiative refocuses our energies to promote self-sufficiency well-being and healthy activity as well as reviving the lost art of gardening knowledge including our values of kaitiakitanga and whanaungatanga. 
In thinking of these values I turn to extend the appreciation of the Maori Party to all the amazing people who care for our well-being within this environment: the messengers here in the House who travel miles to keep us informed; the library staff who upturn every stone to keep us updated; the security staff who keep us safe; the staff at Bellamy’s and Copperfields who keep us fed; the receptionists and telephonists who keep us connected; the VIP drivers; the Ministerial Services and Parliamentary Service staff; the cleaners; the information technology helpdesk; the building and maintenance team; and the gardeners who keep the premises in pristine condition and maintain the dignity of the House. There are the parliamentary officers who run the Bills Office who serve the select committees or who manage Cabinet committees; and of course we know that a day in the life of any politician can be made or broken through the lens and pens of the press gallery. We salute them all for their efforts. 
In our own Maori Party offices we are indebted to the expert advice of our research team the talents and quick wit of our media team the challenge and thrust of our political advisers the institutional confidence of our departmental advisers and the ever-wonderful management and manaakitanga of our executive team. 
We have had an incredible year in Government and as a party with influence in this Parliament the considerable gains achieved through Budget 2009 and the emissions trading scheme have been possible because of the quality of the relationship we enjoy with National. I thank the Prime Minister for the courage of his vision in extending his hand of welcome to us. His enthusiastic approach to leadership has been embraced by us all and we have all appreciated the confidence and trust of members of his team from senior Cabinet members to backbenchers alike. 
Finally I acknowledge the amazing energy and excellent leadership of my colleagues and friends Tariana Te Ururoa Rahui and Hone. We end this year as we began it united in our vision to make this nation great again. I call the attention of the House to the need to look carefully at the symbolism of the national Maori flag announced earlier this week. Within the spiral-like koru of the black red and white design there is the symbolism of the curving fern frond bringing with it the unfolding of new life hope for the future and the promise of renewal. I wish this for every member of this House. We thank members for the work that they do on behalf of New Zealand. We commend them for their commitment their hard work and the sacrifices that they and their families make for the common good of our nation. We look forward to returning in 2010 to work together across the House to embrace opportunities for cooperation and to truly consider the moments of transformation that will make the greatest difference for the people of Aotearoa. Nga mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou. Happy Christmas; happy New Year. May Father Christmas fill everyone’s stockings with good ideas about how to work with the Maori Party. Kia ora koutou.