Sharples Pita: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch 
Sharples Pita: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch 
[Volume:670;Page:16946] 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. Tena tatou. Ka hinga te tangata ka heke iho nga hupe nga roimata. Ka ringihia ki raro ki te papa. When someone dies our mucus and our tears flow down to the ground. It is a display of our grief and our connection to those who pass away. There is hardly a person who has not felt the need to cry over the tragedy that has happened in Otautahi—Christchurch. In the last 24 hours what has been shown to us on the screens on the radio and so on has revealed the true horror of the scope and scale of the tragedy that has befallen our big city Otautahi. 
We all have connections to Otautahi—Christchurch. Whether it is whakapapa genealogy friendship through sport leisure or work we all have connections and those connections bind us at this time. Those connections make this whole situation very tender for us to carry but they also unite us and make us very strong and confirm our obligation to be involved—to be involved by assisting in any way we can by being involved in our prayers and in our feelings for our people there and our tears are for those who have passed away. 
I have been overwhelmed honestly by the way the people of New Zealand have rallied around to help in whichever way they can. The offers of help from overseas from so many countries that I did not believe even knew we existed but which have offered all sorts of help for us at this time are really great. I would also like to acknowledge my own Maori people for coming to the fore. Tomorrow we will meet in Otautahi: Maori tribal leaders Maori wardens Maori incorporations and the marae of the South Island. Rehua Marae has made itself available as a hub from which activities can flow. There have been promises of food to come into the area. The maraes of the South Island from Invercargill right up through Nelson and into Wellington have made themselves available for people who wish to be away from Christchurch at this time and for those who are in need of accommodation. We will support that with some financial support to help those marae cope. 
It is like everybody is doing something. Everybody feels the need to be involved and that is the same spirit with which the meeting will happen tomorrow in Otautahi then a further meeting in Auckland the next day to look at other ways in which Maori can show New Zealand we care—not just about Maori; we care about New Zealand. It is an opportunity for everyone to be involved in that activity. 
Ki nga mate haere okioki pai mai me nga hupe me nga roimata o matou. Ki nga whanau pani koutou kua pania e nga mate nei anei ra matou ki te tautoko i a koutou kia whakamama i te wahanga kei runga i o koutou pokohiwi. It is with our tears and our mucus that we show our regard for those who have passed away. May they rest in peace. We also acknowledge the families who bear the brunt of the sorrow at this time. They should know that New Zealand cries and mourns with them. We share this and may this lift part of the load of grief that they carry on their shoulders. Thank you. Kia ora.