Flavell Te Ururoa: Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill — In Committee 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:654;Page:3412] 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
: 
 Kia ora tatou i tenei ata tatou kua rauika mai ki roto i te Whare nei ki te wananga i te take nei. 
[ 
Greetings to us assembled here this morning to debate this matter in this Parliament. 
] 
Since the Maori Party has been in the relationship with the National Party since the last election there has been a heap of positives and from time to time a few little hiccups. I suppose when one considers the way in which politics happen one has to say that that is just how it rolls. I have appreciated the openness and willingness of Ministers to seek advice and guidance from us in the Maori Party. I have appreciated the relationships that have been built up with members like Mr Finlayson Mr Power Mr Brownlee and Anne Tolley. They are Ministers whom we have been working with on a number of projects. I think the scene was set by John Key in opening the door to the Maori Party. He did not have to do that. He chose to allow us to contribute. He believed in a strong independent voice having something to offer. 
On Waitangi Day Ministers met with iwi leaders from throughout the country and the iwi leaders on their part have come back to the Prime Minister to offer some guidance some assistance and some discussion. At Ratana Ministers again turned up acknowledging the importance of a Maori view. I understand that Treaty settlements are premised on the relationship between the Crown and Maori and I note that many of the settlements include that statement. The relationship between the Crown and Maori is clearly important. Mr Hide the Prime Minister and other colleagues acknowledge that the Maori Party has made and continues to make a valuable contribution to the parliamentary process as an independent party. 
In those circumstances I am struggling—as is the Maori Party I think—to understand why the recommendation from the royal commission that there be Maori seats has not been adopted and more important why Maori and most important mana whenua may not be a part of the decision-making process. This bill has huge ramifications for the country because like the banning of gang patches from the central business district of Wanganui by my colleague Chester Borrow’s legislation the pattern of leaving Maori aside may well move throughout the country. That is the fear. 
Why should Maori be at the decision-making table? Firstly we would argue that the Treaty of Waitangi—Te Tiriti o Waitangi—provides a starting point. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—and we hope that in the near future we might have a statement about Aotearoa’s position on it—provides an international view. Can Maori contribute? Hell yeah! But Maori advisories do not work in our estimation. They are toothless animals who are well-intentioned who want to do some good but in the end they simply cannot because a process that provides for majority rule on councils and excludes a Maori voice does not provide us with that platform. 
I find that some New Zealanders even some in this House struggle to come to grips with the Maori view; thus many of the discussions in this House have sought a Maori view from a Maori party. 
Is it likely that those who will get elected to the Auckland Council have any understanding about a Maori view? I doubt it. Will the Maori voice be marginalised with only two or three Maori on a larger council? Some have stated that Maori would be marginalised if there were dedicated seats. I put it to members that that is what happens right now in any way shape or form—perhaps even in this Parliament. Does it stop us from contributing? I do not think so. Does it stop us from advocating? No. 
Above all if there is one compelling reason why it is important for Maori to be involved at a council level with dedicated seats it is mana whenua. Mana whenua are people of that land—not Christchurch not Rotorua but Tamaki-makau-rau. Their tupuna lie there their tupuna arrived there and if there is any reason why Maori should be at the table with dedicated seats surely the issue of mana whenua gives us cause to think about that. 
I urge the Minister to keep an open ear. I urge the Minister to keep the discussions going right through to the end of the process. I am hoping that throughout the discussion provided that people are able to engage in honourable discussion and debate the notion about the importance of Maori having seats on the council is taken up with some fervour and is listened to by the Ministers in charge of this particular bill. Kia ora tatou.