McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:612;Page:9252] 
2.  
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (National—East Coast Bays) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does he have full confidence in Te Puni Kokiri and its chief executive in light of the findings of the report to the State Services Commissioner which was released yesterday; if not why not? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I am confident that given the support of the State Services Commission Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Te Puni Kokiri will develop a strategic plan that addresses the issues raised in the report. Matters relating to the chief executive are for the State Services Commissioner. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: In light of the report’s finding that Te Puni Kokiri lacked the capability to support the constitutional mechanisms by which Parliament holds Ministers and the Government to account and of his own statement yesterday that “Te Puni Kokiri has already taken action to address the concerns outlined” what are the specific steps that have been taken and can he assure the House that they will be adequate to ensure he does not give misleading and incorrect answers to Parliament in future? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The report showed clear inadequacies in the way Te Puni Kokiri operated and provided advice to me. Several issues are being confronted right now—too many to go into detail. The review stands in its own right and is explicit in its recommendations. I have accepted that as has the chief executive. We now need to move forward to make it all happen. 
Mahara Okeroa 
: Is the Minister satisfied with the State Services Commission review report? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The review report provides a comprehensive analysis of events and actions that regrettably led to the provision of incorrect information by officials to me. I expect a high standard from public servants. This report identifies a number of issues in Te Puni Kokiri that led to a less than adequate level of support. 
Bill Gudgeon 
: Is the check that is supposedly held 6-monthly sufficient to ensure that Te Puni Kokiri staff are accountable and are performing to their full capacity? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: That certainly will be one part of the developments as we progress with the analysis out of the report. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Has the Minister read the report in particular where it says: “Those circumstances are serious … a systemic impediment to the business of government through the deterioration of the relationship between a Minister and his chief executive and senior officials.”; if so given that he has just told the House that the report is accurate what part if any does he take for his role? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I own every part of the role and the responsibility that I have in this whole exercise. Along with the chief executive and the staff who work in Te Puni Kokiri we intend to do a lot better. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: What was the total appropriation voted by Parliament to Te Puni Kokiri in the 2002-03 Budget and in light of the information contained in the report released yesterday can the Minister give an absolute assurance that he will be able to account to this House and its members for the expenditure of that appropriation? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Yes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The first part of the question was whether the Minister had the details of the amount of the appropriation. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Could the member please repeat the question. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: I asked whether the Minister could tell the House the total appropriation voted by Parliament to Te Puni Kokiri in the 2002-03 Budget. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I do not have the exact amount but I am more than happy to provide that detail to the member following this session. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Does the recommendation in particular the extraordinary recommendation that the role of the State Services Commission “move from its review focus to a collaborative engagement with Te Puni Kokiri involving an overview function” actually mean that this Government department has actually been put into statutory management? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No most certainly not. It is part of the role of the State Services Commission to aid and abet any developments like this. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Is the Minister aware that the 2002-03 Budget voted $136 million to Te Puni Kokiri for it either to spend directly or to superintend through other agencies that it funds and can he assure the House in the light of the material contained in the report tabled yesterday and the actions taken by him that he will be able to account fully to this House and its members for the expenditure of that $136 million of public money? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: That most certainly is an integral part of the pathway forward and I want to come back and say to the member “Of course.”