Tirikatene RinoMāori Other Populations and Cultural SectorRINO TIRIKATENE (Chairperson of the Māori Affairs Committee): Tēnā koe Mr Chair. I'm very pleased to open up the speeches speaking on the Māori sector for the annual review of 2016-17 as the chair of the Māori Affairs Committee. We conducted three reviews which are automatically referred to us from Crown entities which are Te Puni Kōkiri Te Taura Whiri i te Re Māori and Te Māngai Pāho but we embarked on a bit of a wider approach this year.In light of the fact of the recent passing of Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Act we wanted to conduct equivalent reviews of other entities that are now operating in the Te Reo Māori space. So we had a briefing from Te Mātāwai which is an independent statutory entity created under that Act. As well we also invited in Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori which is the Māori broadcasting radio station network. This was the first time that they had an opportunity to come before our committee.Unfortunately we weren't able to conduct a review of Māori Television as we understand that their annual report hasn't been tabled in the House yet but we will definitely follow that up expeditiously when that happens.I really want to just focus primarily on Te Puni Kōkiri as it is the lead agency for the Crown in terms of being responsible for Māori policy and on advising on the Crown - Māori relationship. Can I acknowledge the new Minister the Hon Nanaia Mahuta and I must commend her for the leadership that she's shown since taking on this important portfolio to provide some sound leadership over what is a very vast and broad area.If we just look at the vote for Te Puni Kōkiri I guess one of the main matters that came to our attention was the increase in non-departmental expenditure—a whole bunch of programmes that have been delegated or given to Te Puni Kōkiri as a result of the previous administration. These non-departmental programmes can range anything from Māori housing to suicide prevention to ICT to Whānau Ora. It's such a broad landscape that Te Puni Kōkiri is charged with producing delivering upon the appropriations which are given to them.One of the matters that came to our attention was the use of contractors. Te Puni Kōkiri spends 37 percent of its expenditure on contractors. We just found that astounding. It was an increase from $5 million the year prior to over $11 million in the year which we're reviewing. That is a huge increase on contractors but also we could understand the rationale given the diversity and the range of all of these new programmes which were given to Te Puni Kōkiri. They had to upskill very quickly and devise how they were going to deliver on them. But certainly that is one area that we as a committee would hope to see an improvement upon so we could see I guess Te Puni Kōkiri settle down—settle into you know its core business; settle into delivering consistently across the regions with some certainty across those very important areas of housing and of Māori development in general as well as its other responsibilities.So there is so much that Te Puni Kōkiri is charged with. By and large they're doing a good job but I'm excited that under the leadership of the Hon Nanaia Mahuta there will be an increased sense of focus and direction for Te Puni Kōkiri. That's already being evidenced not only through the Hon Nanaia Mahuta but through her Associate Ministers as well with the Hon Peeni Henare and right across this Government. So there is a lot of work going on in the Māori development space and I believe some fine-tuning does need to happen. I believe that will be taking place under the direction of the new Minister and I'm very pleased to be able to commend this section. Kia ora.