Ririnui Mita: General Debate 
Ririnui Mita: General Debate 
[Volume:638;Page:8415] 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Minister of State) 
: 
 All the huff and puff about the Auckland District Health Board gives the National Party a distraction. It gives those members a distraction from the real issues that they have failed to deal with—that is they have never told this House what it is that they stand for. Everything else that they have talked about is nothing but a mere distraction. [ 
Interruption 
] We get a lot of heckling from that side of the Chamber but there is really no substance in it. The Hon Tony Ryall’s contribution when he talked about leadership and accountability was interesting. This is someone who has stood in the shadow of six National Party leaders in the time that he has been in this House. He has never had the fortitude to step forward himself and take on some leadership. 
Simon Power 
: Is this a maiden speech? What’s going on? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: There is Simon Power who I thought would probably be a good leader—and I think a few of them amongst his caucus agree with me. The only questions he asks in this House are to the Minister of Corrections: “Do you have confidence in your department; if so why?”. Well it is obvious that he has not thought through the issues because he has not entered very far into the debate other than to ask the Minister whether he has confidence in his department. 
On 1 April 2007 there is good news for 360000 New Zealand families. That is when the Government’s Working for Families policy will be fully implemented. More than a quarter of a million families in this country are getting more money every week. That has to be good news but the National Party cannot stand it. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Speak from the heart! 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: I am speaking from the heart. The former Minister of Maori Affairs who is an ex-member of the New Zealand First Party and now a loud noise in the National Party never achieved anything during his time as Minister of Maori Affairs nor did he try. The budget for Te PuniKokiri the Ministry of Maori Development diminished by two-thirds under his watch. Now he says “Say it like you mean it.” Well he did it like he meant it. He tried to extinguish Maori representation in the public service. I should know; I voted against it. And what happened? He was still the former something. 
That is not the only good news from this Government because from 1 April all employees will receive 4 weeks’ annual leave. That is confirmation that this Government values families and the time that employees need to spend with their families. 
David Bennett 
: Tell those people outside you value their families! 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: How many times has that member interjected from way back there? 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley) 
: Interjecting across the House like that makes things very difficult. There is a lot of noise. Could members please keep the interjections reasonable. 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: That is quite all right Madam Assistant Speaker. That is the best that that member can do: interject from the wilderness. Actually his contribution to this House confirms that he sits in the wilderness. 
I was talking about 4 weeks’ annual leave for all employees. That is only part of this Government’s contribution or commitment to the workers of this country. That will be launched after 1 April 2007. As well the minimum wage will be increased. I will give the details of that for the benefit of members. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: What about health bro? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: I will get to that I say to Mr Henare. Actually I will go straight to that. 
Under the member’s watch how many private establishments in Maori communities were delivering health services to Maori? How many? I wonder if he could tell the House. The answer is absolutely none. He was not out of office more than 1 year before there were 300 establishments spread around the country. What does that tell us about that member’s representation of the Maori people during his time as Minister of Maori Affairs? 
As I said the Ministry of Maori Development’s budget diminished by two-thirds under his watch. That made it almost impossible for Maori health providers out there in the communities to build their capacity because there was a lack of fortitude from the then Minister of Maori Affairs. Now those providers have proliferated around the country. I mean his own whanaungas in the far north could not give him the details because he has not bothered to go and look himself. I am sure that Hone Harawira will tell him about the rise in Maori broadcasting in the far north the rise in Maori health provider networks in the far north and the rise in Maori participation on district health boards—Hone Harawira could tell him a lot of things that are happening in the health sector in the far north. Mr Henare can tell members none of these things. But that is what this Government with its friends in coalition has done for the Maori people around the country.