Sharples Pita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Sharples Pita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1707] 
1. Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: He aha tanawhakautu ki te koreroi roto i te ripoata o te Tari Matua o Amerikamonga take mana tangata i Aotearoa neiiputaiterawikimo te noho rawa kore o ngatangata whenua o Aotearoa nei? 
[ 
What will he do in response to the United States State Department report on human rights practices in New Zealand which reported last week on the disproportionate societal problems for indigenous people occurring in New Zealand? 
] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
Ka aheitonuteneiKawanatanga ki te tautoko ingahiahia a te iwi Maori kia whaihuaai te katoa. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
This Government will continue to support Maori interests to benefit all. 
] 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Kei te whakaae ia ki te korero a te mema ParemataRarangiIngoa ara te Minita Mita Ririnui he hoha te mahi tautoko i te Maori a he whakaiti kaupapa aua mahi. Ka ahei ia te whakaatu mai ki te Whare nga mahi whaihua papairanei kei te mahia e nga mema Maori o te RoopuReipa kei te Paremata? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Does he agree with the list member Minister Mita Ririnui that advocacy for Maori is “tiresome” and part of a “negative agenda” and can he tell the House what the Labour Maori members are doing in Parliament that is positive? 
]  
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Kei te tautokotiaakeanongakorero o te Honore Mita Ririnui e mohioakeano koe ki te kitengai roto i te kaha rawei roto i a tatou hei whai kaha mo te katoa o te iwi Maori? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
I support the statements made by the Hon Mita Ririnui and the member has seen the wonderful efforts we have made to empower all of Maoridom. 
] 
Hon Mahara Okeroa 
: He aha nga huarahi whakamuamoNgaiMaoriiraroiteneiKawanatanga? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
What opportunities are there for Maori going forward with this Government? 
] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Kei te whaia e NgaiMaoriingahua e puta mai anai te ohanga kaha. He nui ke atu i te 90 oraungaMaori e whai mahi ana nawhaiano ka putangahua ki te katoa. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Maori 
 are reaping the benefits of a strong economy. With over 90 percent of Maori working now there are going to be positive flow-on effects for all. 
] 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Kei te whakaae ia ki ta Mita Ririnui e kiana ko te rahi ko te tokomaha o ngaMaori kei rungapenihana kei ro whare herehere kuaweheinga kura kore whaitohu kei te tatauranga mate pepi me nga whare kotahi anake te matua. He kaupapa kore take noa iho ranei kei te whakaaeranei a ia ki ta te PatiMaori e kiana he kaupapa tino nui tenei hei whakatutuki? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Does he agree with Mita Ririnui that the continuing pattern of disproportionate numbers of Maori on unemployment and welfare roles in prison among school dropouts in infant mortality statistics and among single-parent households is part of a “woe is me” agenda or does he agree with the Maori that these are important issues that need to be addressed? 
] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Kei te tautokotiaakeano o Mita Ririnui engari me titirowhanui te iwi o Aotearoa me ngaKawanatangaputanoai te ao ki ngahuakuaputa mai ingapapai a Maori. Kei te whakahangaiteneiKawanatangaitonaaronga ki te ekenga taumata o NgaiMaori ko ngaaronga matua ko te rawa ko te matauranga ko te whakamana hoki. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
I endorse what Mita Ririnui has stated but the people of New Zealand and Governments throughout the world should look at the benefits that Maori have produced. This Government is focusing on raising Maori standards as a primary focus in terms of resources education and leadership. 
] 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Kei te tautoko ia i a Mita Ririnui te Mema ParemataRarangiIngoa e kianakuatohua e teneiKawana ko te kore mahi he tino kaupapa hei rewa akei te turanga a-tangata a kati kei te whakaae ia ko te 7.6 orauMaori e kore mahi ana. He tohu kia whakarewaakei te turanga a-tangata peraitonawhakaaroi roto itanakarereipanuihiaironiupepa? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Does he support list member Mita Ririnui’s statement that this Government has identified unemployment as a major contributor to improving social standards and does he consider that a 7.6 percent unemployment rate for Maori leads to improved social standards as his media release would imply? 
] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Mihi akeanowauitoku koroua nei e matataui te reo. I want to mihi to my fellow Maori colleague who is expert in the language but I want to be quite clear that the message gets across in relation to what we are on about with Maori. 
Phil Heatley 
: What are you on about? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: We are on about Maori moving from dependency to development and New Zealanders and foreign Governments need to be more focused on the contributions being made by Maori in this country at this stage. This Government is moving forward to focus on Maori potential. Our key focus is our rawa about our resources. Remember we are big shareholders in Fonterra we are the biggest fish-owners in the Pacific and we export the biggest bulk of sheep and cattle which Mr Smith knows about; matauranga—that is about knowledge and skills—and whakamana which is about leadership which is lacking over there.