King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:661;Page:9613] 
1. 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: What role is Te Puni Kokiri playing in developing policy under this Government? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. Te Puni Kokiri plays an instrumental role across the whole spectrum of policy. It does so by looking at the benefits for iwi hapu and Maori whanui. 
Hon Annette King 
: Given that the principal duties of Te Puni Kokiri are to promote increases in Maori achievement across key social and economic areas and to be leading and influencing Government policy as it pertains to Maori what inputs has Te Puni Kokiri had in the development of the Whanau Ora policy? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: Obviously in Whanau Ora it has to have a large involvement. A Maori kaupapa philosophy is being developed here and Te Puni Kokiri is the best department perhaps to put major input into it. 
Hon Annette King 
: As the Minister of Maori Affairs was part of the Cabinet committee discussing Whanau Ora was it clear at the outset that Whanau Ora was to be a programme designed to develop a new approach to Maori well-being; if so when was it decided that such an approach was race-based not needs-based and would therefore have to be extended to all New Zealanders as the Prime Minister has announced? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: Unfortunately we had to make that clear when Labour raised that issue. It is like all Maori policies. We are an inclusive people. Our policies are for Maori but everybody else as well so they are there. 
Hon Annette King 
: Which of the Prime Minister’s statements about Whanau Ora is Te Puni Kokiri using when providing him with advice: the Prime Minister’s 16 February statement that Whanau Ora will be for all New Zealanders and that it must be based on need not race or his 19 February statement that it is designed around a Maori kaupapa and is largely for Maori? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: The Whanau Ora programme is based on culture and on need. That is the way it is. Many programmes delivered by organisations such as Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust are actually for Maori but they have a 41 percent Pakeha usage— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: We know what that’s about. 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: What was that Clayton? Speak up loudly bro. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Questions will be conducted formally. 
Hon Annette King 
: Does he as the Minister of Maori Affairs agree with Tariana Turia who said the Whanau Ora Taskforce report contains “Maori solutions to Maori problems” and does he stand by his statement that a more “courageous” Government would allow Maori-only access to Whanau Ora funding; if not why not? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: I always agree with Tariana Turia. 
Hon Annette King 
: In light of reports that the Minister for Social Development and Employment has not ruled out Te Puni Kokiri being the agency for the implementation of Whanau Ora does he believe his ministry has the capability capacity and experience to undertake such a role given that his colleague Tariana Turia has said up to a billion dollars should be available to be spent? 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: I am not sure what you mean by your question. Are you saying that because it deals with Maori ideology it is inferior? Let me assure you that that is the connotation that comes across. The answer is that it is a fitting department to lead Whanau Ora. 
Hon Annette King 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question did not have that conclusion at all. 
Hon Tariana Turia 
: Yes. 
Hon Annette King 
: No it did not I say to Tariana Turia. This question was about the fact that it has not been ruled out as the lead agency and asked whether it has the capability and capacity. That is a straight question to which the Minister could have said yes. 
Hon Member 
: Point of order! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I do not think we need to take this matter any further. I first come back to the Minister. When answering questions the Minister must not say “You are implying this” or “You are implying that” because I can assure the honourable Minister that the Speaker is not implying anything. To come now to the point of order of the Hon Annette King I think in the final part of the Minister’s answer he said he believed that Te Puni Kokiri was capable of and the appropriate agency to be leading the development and therefore I think he answered the member’s question.