te Heuheu Georgina: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
te Heuheu Georgina: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:606;Page:3465] 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (NZ National) 
: 
 In my view three points arise in the context of the Prime Minister’s speech—not because she addressed them but for the reverse reason: she did not address them. The first is that the economic and social advancement of Maori is critical to New Zealand’s future growth prosperity and well-being. The second point is that the Maori economy is poised for expansion and growth. The third is that all governments have a clear responsibility to create a framework that enables individuals and communities to flourish and grow and in doing so to build a nation together. Maori are most certainly included in that third point.  
On the first point the economic and social advancement of Maori this Government uses words that suggest it understands that but its actions show that it does not. No nation can afford to carry a significant chunk of its population that is underachieving is welfare-bound and has little prospect of improving its condition. Maori are a big part of that chunk but that chunk of people also includes other New Zealanders. This Government for all the effort it supposedly puts into the Maori community has shown that it is not capable of understanding the importance of advancing Maori economic and social well-being. We still have near to 400000 people on welfare. A fair number of those are Maori. There is an unacceptable rate of illiteracy. Fourteen percent of all those about to enter the workforce cannot read or write. A lot of those are Maori. 
Some communities are facing epidemics of preventable diseases such as diabetes and obesity and in some drug and alcohol abuse is rife. Parts of our communities have substandard housing. One in three children are living in poverty. The Government likes to boast that it has brought down the rate of unemployment. The rate of general unemployment is running at around 4 percent but the rate of Maori unemployment still sits at 11.5 percent. That is not acceptable and that does not match the words of this Government.  
That is what I mean when I say that the Government is great on words but short on action. None of those issues are being addressed. The Prime Minister can boast about the relationship building with Maori communities that has been going on for the last 3½ years but political relationship building and hui no matter who convenes them are not addressing those basic problems at all. That is not good for Maori or for New Zealand. New Zealand suffers when Maori economic and social well-being is not advanced. This Government has no answers on the issues I have raised.  
My second point is that the Maori economy is poised for expansion and growth and while the Minister of Maori Affairs likes to boast about that as though he had a part to play in it I say it has happened despite this Government. Much of the growth and expansion in the Maori economy occurred in the 1990s and that was acknowledged in a report launched by the Minister of Maori Affairs last week. It will be a case of shame on this Government if that growth and expansion does not occur. Maori collectively own assets and businesses that produce $1.9 billion each year. That demonstrates the capacity of Maori when they are given the right environment—and they were given the right environment in the 1990s—to grow to develop their assets and to create wealth for this country. It also gives lie to the myth that Maori are a drag on the economy. They are not—not in respect of the business enterprises they are running. The drag comes in when the Government keeps Maori tied into dependency and does little to address some of the basic issues facing our families.  
I refer to a recent speech given by Rob McLeod the senior Maori businessman who is now chair of the Business Roundtable. He refers to—in fact he laments—this Government’s anti-business and anti-growth policies. That comes from a man who for much of his career has been involved in business and has participated in growing businesses. So he has some grounds on which to lament the anti-growth policies of this Government. His conclusion after a survey that was done by the  
New Zealand Herald  
at the end of last year is that New Zealand’s growth will not go anywhere unless this Government gets off its behind and starts to promote policies that actually support and enhance business development and enterprise. Maori business is included in that and it will be a case of shame on this Government if the growth and expansion that is poised to occur in the Maori economy does not occur.  
The third point I referred to is that the Government has a clear responsibility to create a framework that enables individuals and communities to flourish and grow and in doing so to build a nation together. Part of building a nation together is that we take everybody with us and if Maori communities and individuals require that extra resourcing and funding be put into those communities then that is done with the support of the wider community because it benefits the wider community to support such policies. However this Government wants to keep the Maori vote and it is now looking at a party New Zealand First that is quite capable of capturing that vote— 
David Benson-Pope 
: Aw! 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: Actually that is true. Why did John Tamihere get stuck into that Maori group in New Zealand First yesterday? It was because that group poses a threat to the Maori vote that is now currently held by a Government that treats that vote in a condescending patronising manner. It is shameful that the Government does that.  
This Government advances Maori interests in a way that turns the community off. In terms of capacity in the 1990s National promoted treaty settlements and policies that advanced Maori health education and such. We brought the New Zealand public along with us and showed there was a clear balance to be struck. This Government has no idea of that balance. The reason is that this Government is for getting the Maori vote and says to heck with anybody who gets in the way of that aim. Maori are most certainly included in the nation-building exercise. In respect of their own assets they have shown that they are as capable of helping to create wealth for our country as the next person. This Government will have to answer to the Maori people if it gets in the way of nation building that brings Maori Pakeha and all other interests along.  
I go back to my three points. The economic and social advancement of Maori is critical to this nation. The Maori economy is poised to grow and expand and this Government ought to be creating a framework that enables the nation to grow. It is doing none of those things and it does not understand any of them. The Prime Minister’s speech was short on any vision that addressed those matters. The Labour Party will suffer at the next election when New Zealand First grabs more of the Maori vote.