Sharples Pita: Address in ReplyText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSharples Pita: Address in Reply[Sitting date: 09 December 2008. Volume:651;Page:51. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party): Tēnā tātou. The Māori Party stands to congratulate the Hon Dr Lockwood Smith on his election to the prestigious role of Speaker of the House of Representatives. I would also like to acknowledge the magnificent job done by the past Prime Minister Helen Clark over the last 9 years and her achievements over that period.In his first words to the House as Speaker-Elect Dr Lockwood Smith drew our attention to those who have taken the call of duty offshore—the place names are up here on the Chamber walls—and fought in the battlefields of North Africa Egypt Greece Crete Europe and Asia; those who died in honour for Aotearoa. We remember them and we think of that proverb: “He toa taumata rau”—bravery has many resting places. Bravery is found in the actions of a man who fled persecution in Afghanistan who survived a disaster at sea and who sought refuge in New Zealand to build a home for himself and his five children. But bravery is also found in the homes of some 16000 New Zealanders who are the new unemployed in the homes of 230000 children who did not benefit from the in-work tax credit of Working for Families and in the homes of the 23 percent of Māori children who are living in poverty.It is a brave nation that tackles the crime of poverty the injustice of inequality and the offence of violence. We in the Māori Party are proud to rise to the challenge to be part of the solution and to take up the opportunity to contribute to a better future for all. The Speech from the Throne is a road map ahead to guide us to that future.The Māori Party is honoured to be taking a turn in the driving seat advancing our kaupapa articulating a strong and independent Māori voice in the best interests of theentire nation. We are profoundly aware that just because someone is in the driving seat that person does not have to run people over. That is why we welcome the opening statement in theRelationship and Confidence and Supply Agreement between the National Party and the Māori Party. It is a statement that recognises that mana maintenance and enhancement are important for both parties to the agreement.The word “mana” is variously described as leadership influence prestige power authority and control—many things. This type of arrangement did not need the numbers to happen. The arrangement was one that transcended voting power to recognise the importance of acting in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi the Treaty of Waitangi. The Māori Party has spoken freely of its desire to act as an instrument for the Treaty partner—not as the Treaty partner but as the link to bring the voices of the signatory to Te Tiriti o Waitangi into this Chamber. I make that distinction. The opportunity given in this arrangement is an opportunity that was endorsed by our people in the fast full and frank consultations schedule that we entered into some 3 weeks ago.Hon Pete Hodgson: How many turned up?Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES: My smallest meeting was 50. My largest was 250. We must ensure that we all use this time wisely.The Māori Party brings to the arrangement with National a clear focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi whānau ora and investing in the economy to lead the productivity on a grander scale. We will be working hard to ensure that in all developments the impact on our people is clearly recognised. Our ministerial responsibilities in health education justice social development Māori affairs and the community and voluntary sector emphasise our priorities for the next term. We seek significant outcomes in whānau ora through working to eliminate poverty advocating for social justice and advancing Māori social cultural economic and community development in the best interests of the entire nation.None of us can ignore the warning given in the Speech from the Throne that we are entering into very difficult times that have not been seen since the days of the Great Depression. But there are other tensions that we must address. Treasury’s advice to the Minister of Finance described these medium-term economic challenges as globalisation international integration technological change natural resource pressures demographic changes and increasing expectations on the State. As Minister of Māori Affairs my concern will be to ensure that there are policy levers in place that advance Māori economic development in areas such as aquaculture energy forestry tourism Māori land and agribusiness.Māori agribusiness on its own already contributes over $1 billion to our economy with another 450000 hectares of Māori land to be further developed. Michael Ahie chief executive of Shirlaws has challenged us to: “release the economic potential of Māori particularly on the land where most of the assets are held.” He described this as the Māori edge the resilience and flexibility with an inherent acquired trading ability. We might call this mana Māori derived from the strength of our relationship with the land and the legacy of our ancestors who adapted to and adapted the natural resources handed down to them to sustain themselves and future generations. Such factors—mana—are not only of value in Māori commercial and economic development. We must stay focused on the pivotal goal of whānau well-being and cultural resilience.We are pleased to hear the Speech from the Throne give weight to vulnerable New Zealanders to those who work hard but who may suffer redundancy or add to the unemployment queues. This House must take as a starting point the fact that 22 percent of young Māori aged between 15 and 19 are currently unemployed compared with the national average of 14 percent. We must hold that 22 percent in our vision; we mustlook into their faces and make a promise to their future that they will not be left behind. Our future growth and prosperity depends on them.My colleague Tariana Turia will be dedicating her efforts across health and social services towards achieving whānau ora. We know that the solutions are far more likely to be successful when owned and determined by the people themselves. We know too that Māori cannot afford to be spectators. We must actively engage with all our whānau to revitalise our time-honoured traditions that have held us in good stead until now. We must live by kaupapa that enable us to restore good health and well-being to all of us.The Speech from the Throne identified a host of areas in which the Māori Party has an active interest. We will be participating in the review of the emissions trading scheme to ensure that we encourage environmentally responsible choices including encouraging the biggest emitters to change the way they do business. We have a strong interest in ensuring the relevant sections of the Resource Management Act that recognise and provide for the relationships of Māori and our culture and traditions with our ancestral lands water sites wāhi tapu and other taonga are taken into account in giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.Tangata whenua have a vital interest in water—the rivers the lakes the springs—the mahinga kai that are an integral part of their tribal mana. We are delighted to hear that the Government will demonstrate fresh energy in resolving and achieving durable Treaty settlements as well as having the courage to review the Foreshore and Seabed Act and to initiate a constitutional review to critically examine Māori electoral participation. We are all desperate to curb the so-called long tail of underachievement that stigmatises many of our schools and in particular the underwhelming outcomes that have featured as an indictment on Māori education for far too long. As Associate Minister of Education and Minister of Māori Affairs I will be channelling considerable energy into the literacy and numeracy programmes that have proven to be so successful.It is time to be brave on many fronts. The Māori Party is prepared to step up and do the work necessary to ensure that a strong and independent Māori voice is heard in every debate on every issue and in every home as we as a nation unite in our resolve to invest in a brighter future for all. Tēnā koe.