Curran Clare: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCurran Clare: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 24 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4704. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.CLARE CURRAN (Labour—Dunedin South) to the Minister for Māori Development: Why did he tell Radio New Zealand yesterday he did not discuss programming content with Paora Maxwell on 20 May when Paora Maxwell said in an email to staff on 22 May that “We talked about … content”?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL (Minister for Māori Development):Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. The full question I was asked by Radio New Zealand was: “Did you discuss the programme that they were planning to run on Whānau Ora?”. In response I said that I had no discussions whatsoever about any programme content of any programme. I stand by that statement.Clare Curran: In the light of that answer has he encouraged a culture under his ministership where news and current affairs staff of Māori Television are not protected if they scrutinise or criticise the performance of Māori organisations or individuals and is this not editorial interference?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: If anything I hope I encourage staff and indeed the country to continue to focus on the kaupapa of Māori Television te reo me ōna tikanga.Clare Curran: Can he rule out any connection between Māori Television management saying a panel discussion on Whānau Ora would “not appeal to viewers” and his press secretary saying that a panel discussion on Whānau Ora would not “enlighten viewers” or is this just a coincidence?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: All I can tell the member is that yesterday the head of news and current affairs at Māori Television said that the claim of political interference in Māori Television is inaccurate and in fact said: “For the record”—for the record to help the member—“For the record the 20 May meeting was set up on 19 February any suggestion that there was a link between the replacement of the panel with a best of show and the meeting does not reflect reality.” That is the statement from Māori Television.Marama Fox: Given the obvious leaks of emails making their way to the Labour Party benches—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That question will be ruled out of order. I will give the opportunity—[Interruption] Order! Just to ask a supplementary question that is line with the Standing Orders without that sort of information—otherwise the member will lose her opportunity.Marama Fox: Thank you Mr Speaker. Given the light of new information coming out from the cross benches does the Minister have—Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the member just starts where I interrupted her I will allow the question. If she goes back to where she was it will not be allowed.Marama Fox: Thank you for the clarification Mr Speaker. Does the Minister have concerns about the level of cross bench political interference in the management or processes of Māori Television?Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Te Ururoa Flavell.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just want to be clear. Are you accepting now that the Minister is responsible for any actions taken by Opposition members of Parliament?Hon Gerry Brownlee: The question was extremely clear in asking whether the Minister had concerns. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! There was an issue yesterday where I had to remind my right-hand side that points of order will be heard in silence. I am going to do the same on this occasion to my left-hand side. Will the Minister please complete his point?Hon Gerry Brownlee: I have got to say the Opposition—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Just complete your point of order.Hon Gerry Brownlee: The question was very clear. It asked the Minister whether he had concerns about interference in the activities of Māori Television and then referred to interference possibly coming from the cross benches of the Parliament. That is not unreasonable. He has already accepted questions from the cross benches about the issue of interference with the activities of Māori Television.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I was very generous to the member in allowing the question. In my mind the essence of the question was whether the Minister can have the opportunity to assure the House whether there is political interference from anybody in this House. That is the way I read the question and on that basis I am allowing the question and the Minister to answer it.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: Bearing in mind that—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! We will now have the answer.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: Bearing in mind that these are some of the accusations that are angled at me I would be very concerned if there was any political interference by any member of Parliament and I hold that as a very high standard to ensure that it does not happen. Thank you.Clare Curran: At an event on 21 May last year did he tell Māori Television staff if they had concerns with Mr Maxwell not to go signing petitions and not to go to media but to come to him and if he thinks it should be dealt with he will deal with it?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: That is very good because in the context of a pōwhiri that was held for the new chief executive officer it was said in front of the chief executive officer of Māori Television. Why? Because he comes from an honourable waka called Te Arawa. It is important we look after them.Clare Curran: Did he in this speech express anger and disappointment that Paora Maxwell had faced criticism leading to his appointment as chief executive officer?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: I think that is clear because that member carried out a character assassination of a particular member of the waka and that was sad under the conditions at the time but in the end it is OK because the current chief executive officer went through a rigorous process to become the chief executive officer of Māori Television. And the great thing is they are moving from better to great.Clare Curran: What concerns has he raised over the management of Māori Television given that several top journalists have left due in part to claims of managerial interference in news?Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL: As I said in previous discussions issues in respect of the operations of Māori Television were not discussed in that context. I made no statement in respect of that and I would not. I should not I would not and should not and if members are going to take me back to the time that there was a pōwhiri for the chief executive officer in front of the chief executive officer and in front of their staff I think that is drawing long straws.