Whaitiri MekaHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Māori are pleased that this Government a Labour-led Government is delivering to their people throughout the country. They have achieved more under this Government in two years than they ever have under that lot for nine years. I'm proud to belong to a party that puts people particularly Māori people before politics. We've taken on the big challenges. We've taken on the big challenge to address the big long-term issues that that side neglected and Māori were neglected under the National Government. Māori and Pasifika were neglected under that Government.But let's talk about the policies. Let's talk about the gains that we have seen under this coalition Government. Let's talk about the billion-dollar targeted Budget in Budget 2018-19 the largest targeted Budget that any Government has committed to delivering wins for Māori. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about this year's announcement to teach history in New Zealand schools. Let's talk about that and the impact that's having throughout the motu with iwi excited that this Government believes that we've got to set our record right. That's what the Prime Minister talked about today.There was the previous speaker Louise Upston that talked about neglect of unemployment. I can say that under the Minister Willie Jackson the Māori unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in the last 10 years sitting at 8 percent. So where does she come from saying that we're not delivering employment to Māori?Of course our commitment to having one million speakers of Te Reo by 2040 is huge. The contribution that we've made in terms of the kōhanga reo movement and $30 million is again addressing a real need in our language nest that is trailblazing the return of our language here in this country.I want to also talk about Hōkai Rangi which is Minister Kelvin Davis' commitment strategy of breaking the cycle of reoffending and imprisonment. I want to talk about the $156 million unlocking the potential of Māori whenua that Minister Mahuta is leading around the motu and in my electorate Ikaroa-Rāwhiti where 30 percent of Māori freehold land resides. That is a huge acknowledgment of the economic potential of utilising Māori land and that's what this Government's about. It is about language it is about land and it's about telling our history but it's also about acknowledging the economic potential that sits with Māori and Māori land and Māori land trusts. It is exciting to be part of a Government that is doing this delivery here. Of course also we saw in this House the official Rua Kēnana Pardon Bill. That is huge for the people in Rua Kēnana's whānau from Tūhoe—an amazing piece of work that we are doing here. Of course we're talking about suicide and mental health commitment—$12 million towards Māori and Pacific suicide prevention. There isn't a community across our Māori electorates where suicide isn't a big issue. The mental health commitment of this Government and the contribution of over $2 billion in mental health services is a serious contribution and investment by this Government and I know Māori communities and Pacific communities are going to benefit by that policy announcement. Of course we've stopped selling State houses. Housing shortages are a big issue throughout our electorates and this Government is working with Māori land owners around papakāinga around building more social and State houses. It is exciting to be part of a Government that is delivering gains and wins for Māori. Of course there's the wardens—there's the wardens. We're recognising the significance of the Māori Wardens' institutions in this Government and so we're investing money in our wardens. Language wardens land housing—we've done it all but there's more to do. There's more to do. This is two years. This is merely two years—a half a billion dollars of targeted funding towards Māori initiatives. These are the gains that we've seen in the last two years but there's much more to come. There's much more to come and I want to acknowledge the hard work of the Māori Ministers that go in to bat on behalf of our communities. I want to acknowledge the hard-working and aspiring leadership of our Prime Minister the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern who is leading by example. She is leading an inclusive Government a fair Government and a Government that's delivering and that is listening to the needs of our community. It's a great time to be part of this Government and I look forward to the next year—and also to when we win in 2020—to deliver more gains for Māori. Kia ora.