Sharples Pita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Sharples Pita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:641;Page:11478] 
4.  
Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Kua whakarato tohutohu ano Te Puni Kokiri ki a ia e tutohu ana kia tautokongia e te kawanatanga te whakapumautanga o Te Whakapuakanga o nga Tika Iwi Taketake a Te Kaunihera Tika Tangata; a meina ae i whakaae ano ia ki ta ratau tutohutanga? 
[ 
Has Te Puni Kokiri ever provided advice to him recommending that the Government should support the adoption of the Human Rights Council’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; if so did he agree with its recommendation? 
] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Customs) 
 on behalf of the 
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: I roto i nga mahinga e hangaia ana e Te Puni Kokiri he purongo i te wa e whanake ana te Kawanatanga i tona turanga mo enei tu momo kaupapa hei hapai ake i nga ahuatanga mo ngai Maori. 
The Minister has received a number of briefings from Te Puni Kokiri as the Government develops its position on a range of matters that focus on improving the lives of Maori. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Na te mea ko ia te Minita mo nga Take Maori ka tuturu tana whakapono he whakaaro tapatahi he tika mo tenei kawanatanga ki te poti a te 13 o Mahuru kia kaua te whakapumautanga o Te Whakapuakanga o nga Tika Iwi Taketake i whakaaetia e Te Paremata Whakakotahitanga o Nga Iwi o te Ao a mehemea ae he aha ai? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Does he as Minister of Maori Affairs genuinely believe that it is just and ethical for this Government to vote against the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the UN General Assembly on September 13; if so why? 
] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: One of the issues that I have been informed of is that there have been a number of representations to try to modify the text to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and because some parties have taken a no-negotiation stance that has staggered the way in which this declaration has gone through its consideration. In response to the member’s question I say that I am also informed that at the 61st UN General Assembly session this matter will be voted on conclusively primarily because the chairman of the Working Group of Indigenous Peoples had made changes to the declaration that were not consulted on at all by member States. So that matter is yet to be voted on finally and will be done at the 61st session. 
Dave Hereora 
: What is the most recent report that the Government has seen from the United Nations in relation to New Zealand? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: The Government has seen an advanced unedited version of a report from the 70th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that recognises the reduction of socio-economic disparities between Maori and Pacific peoples and other New Zealanders and an increase in Maori language proficiency across all New Zealanders. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Kei te matau te Minita ki te korero a Te Whakakotahitanga Tika Tangata o nga Iwi Tuatahi mo nga whakahe ki te kape tuatahi o Te Whakapuakanga o nga Tika Iwi Taketake a Kanata Ruhia Colombia me Niu Tireni e ki nei: “Kei te rapu whakatikatika ratau e taka ana i raro i nga taumata o te ao whanui mo te ture tika tangata me te whakama ano.” a he aha nga mahi kai a ia hei whakatikatika i tenei? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Is the Minister aware of the comment from the First Peoples Human Rights Coalition about the opposition to the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from Canada Russia Colombia and New Zealand that “They are shamefully seeking amendments that fall below international standards of human rights law.” and what action will he be taking to rectify this? 
] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: In the first instance Te Puni Kokiri contributes to international policy that is largely led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In the second instance I think Maori have had enough of empty promises and the member may care to reflect on that. Indeed the Government is in the position of needing to reach a position on the rights of indigenous people where it is able to give effect to such undertakings internationally and domestically. I relay the concern expressed by Dr Cullen and alluded to by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that a number of countries indicated that they are voting for the declaration but have no intention of implementing it. The Government is mindful of the efforts taken to improve the lives and opportunities of Maori at home and that is where it counts. People generally expect that this Government will act consistently in that regard. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Is it the position of the Government that the Human Rights Council’s so-called Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in fact runs counter to the rights of so many indigenous people around the world; and is it a fact that no amount of Nicaraguan coffee-planter collectives’ visions of the world will change that? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: Indeed. Certainly the Minister is well aware that New Zealand has called for open and transparent consultations on the text and he is disappointed that such consultations did not eventuate despite the continued efforts of a number of countries including New Zealand to trigger such a process. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: He aha tona whakautu ki te pono o te korero ko tona Kawanatanga tonu te putake o nga huarahi “whakatupatotanga moata mahi kaika hoki” a Te Komiti Whakakore Kai Kiri a e takatu tonu nei hoki ki te whakapiri atu ki te taha o nga motu e whakahe ana ki te whakapuakanga otira a Amerika Kanata Ahitereiria Columbia Guyana Te Whetereihana o Ruhia me Surinam ma; kei hea te whakapono a ngai Maori mo te whiwhi Minita e takatu nei ki te porowhiu i nga tika taketake ki hea ra? 
What response does the Minister have to the fact that his Government not only has been the subject of early warning and urgent action procedures by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination but is now prepared to side with the countries opposing the declaration notably the United States Canada Australia Colombia Ghana the Russian Federation and Surinam; and—this is the real question—what confidence can Maori have in a Minister who is prepared to give away indigenous rights? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: I think that when one reflects on those countries that have expressed support for the declaration—Azerbaijan Cameroon China the Czech Republic Ecuador Guatemala—one will see that we have taken a considered position on this matter. More important our international position must reflect our domestic policy and all along we have focused on improving the lives of Maori back here back home where it counts. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I specifically asked what confidence Maori can have in a Minister who is prepared to give away indigenous rights. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I think the Minister certainly addressed that question.