Henare Tau: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Henare Tau: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:639;Page:9136] 
12.  
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does he have confidence in Te PuniKokiri; if not why not? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 Yes I have confidence in Te PuniKokiri because the staff and employees are hard-working and conscientious people. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Why did Te PuniKokiri let one-fifth of all of its contracts to contractors in 2005-06—$1.5 million of taxpayers’ money—without any tendering process whatsoever? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Te PuniKokiri entered into 262 contracts for that period. The total value of all contracts awarded was $7.5 million. There is certainly a limited market of expertise in this market in developing Maori issues. Te PuniKokiri’s benchmark was $50000. Where it has gone above it and not tendered it has gone for the best person in a very limited market. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Can the Minister confirm that four of the 10 largest contracts Te PuniKokiri let to contractors in 2005-06 were let without tender including one to a Nicky Birch for $100000 because she “was known to the Ministry”? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I can confirm that added bit at the end of that question. There is more of an issue in the sense of the skills of Nicky Birch. Can I remind that member that expenditure on contractors and consultants has decreased over the last 2 financial years. In 2004-05 it was $7.9 million; in 2005-06 it was $6.9 million. It is projected downwards to $5.5 million this financial year. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Can the Minister confirm his answer to question for written answer No. 03296 that a contract worth $67000 was let without tender to Michael Dreaver because the contractor was available and that another contract worth $58000 was let without tender to Donna Matahaere because the contractor was available? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: As I said earlier on and I will remind that member although it was Te PuniKokiri’s general policy to tender for contracts over $50000 where this has not occurred it has been for a number of reasons including where specialist skills were required where there was a limited field of contractors in Maori public policy available for business continuity and they were available at the time. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: How can the New Zealand taxpaying public have confidence in Te PuniKokiri’s financial responsibility when one-fifth of all its contracts are let without tender and for such reasons as “the contractor used to work at TPK” and “the contractor knew people at TPK”? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: There are strong requirements in the sense of the outcomes in relation to these contracts. I have written to that member with detail around each one. It is quite fascinating that Mr Henare is the person who is talking about contracting and taking contracts because I remember when he got $260000 to set up a chat show in the garage. He referred to it and aligned it with  
The 
Kumars 
 at No 42 
. Nothing came out of that—nothing whatsoever. That is what a shoddy use of taxpayers’ money is! I remind that member about that. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I did not ask a question about  
The 
Kumars 
 at No 42 
 or whether people watched my show which was actually quite a good show. I actually asked the Minister about whether the taxpaying public should have confidence— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I understand the member’s point of order. The Minister did address the question and then strayed into superfluous matters. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Can the Minister confirm that in late 2006—last year—the Auditor-General advised the Maori Affairs Committee that Te PuniKokiri needs to be cognisant of prudent financial management—for example its own contracting guidelines—and that Te PuniKokiri’s 2006 financial review found that Te PuniKokiri’s contract management systems failed to comply with Te PuniKokiri’s own operational guidelines; and what will the Minister do about it? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: As that member knows on the select committee there has been a continued review. Certainly Te PuniKokiri’s processes and systems have been strengthened beyond any performance that that member was into. I invite him into my office to talk to the officials again. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Is it OK for the Minister to address the question in any which way he wants to without even reference to the question? That is what I get a bit put out by. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member. As the member is aware Ministers are required to address the questions but frequently it is not to the satisfaction of those who ask the questions. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I seek leave of the House to table a list of the untendered contracts. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I seek leave to table the answer to question for written answer No. 03294: the total value of all contracts awarded by Te PuniKokiri. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I seek leave to table the answer to question for written answer No. 03296 about all of the untendered contracts. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I seek leave to table the answer to question for written answer No. 03295 which sets out the 10 largest contracts— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.