Harawira Hone: State Sector Management Bill — First Reading 
Harawira Hone: State Sector Management Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:666;Page:13693] 
HONE HARAWIRA (Maori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Kia ora tatou katoa e te Whare. I am all for holding the State sector to account particularly in respect of the Crown’s accountability to Maori. But just because a bill says it is about achieving “gains in terms of financial efficiencies effectiveness and future viability of agencies” that does not mean that there will naturally be any benefit to Maori. In fact the restructuring of the State sector over the past 30 years has had quite devastating results for Maori—in respect of forestry rail and electricity—so we are not naturally inclined to accept restructuring as necessarily being of any value at all to the wider Maori community. But we do support annual reporting on the capability of the State sector to achieve outcomes for Maori because such reporting will highlight the fact that in many cases what has been done for Maori by the Crown can normally be done far better and far cheaper by Maori for Maori anyway. 
In respect of this particular issue today we recognise that whether it be through Whanau Ora Maori economic development housing or education the empowering of whanau hapu and iwi to develop their own future is the only model that can lead to genuine and sustainable success. Therefore we are keen to see any outcomes achieved across the State sector that will improve the situation for tangata whenua. When we look at the provisions in this bill to amalgamate a number of existing agencies—the Ministry of Research Science and Technology and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology into a new Ministry of Science and Innovation and the National Library and Archives New Zealand into the Department of Internal Affairs—we find we will need to reserve our support until we see whether that will lead to better performance and better outcomes for Maori. Government agencies are often restructured in the belief that the change will lead to better performance but bigger does not always mean better particularly when considering issues around the development and management of intellectual property. 
I want to focus on the proposed amalgamation of the Ministry of Research Science and Technology and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology into a Ministry of Science and Innovation because of the importance of research and development in driving Maori innovation. In the past both the foundation and the ministry have made very little funding available for the achievement of Maori research goals or the development of Maori research capability. There have also been some quite glaring inconsistencies in the review of funding for Maori research. Maori researchers have spoken openly about their frustration in respect of Ministers who have not sought or have ignored advice from Maori research personnel. We will be looking to this bill to see whether the interests of the Treaty and of both Treaty partners are protected and to see for example whether Maori will have equal access to the $140 million that has been set aside over the next 10 years for natural hazard funding and whether Maori are actively involved in the water and energy funding from Vote Research Science and Technology over the next year. 
If this bill passes its first reading we will raise questions in the select committee about whether the new funding arrangement includes any Maori-specific goals such as the development of Maori research capability and the development of knowledge that will be of benefit to Maori communities. If so we will be asking how much is allocated to such goals and whether such funding is ring-fenced for Maori-specific goals or is just contestable funding. 
As for the other key amalgamation of the National Library and Archives New Zealand I will be looking at the submission of Te Ropu Whakahau. This organisation of Maori librarians has been in existence since 1992 and has advocated for the improved management of Maori workers Maori material and Maori clients and for the recognition and implementation of Maori intellectual and cultural property rights. The organisation has a key role to play in the improved management of Maori issues taonga Maori Maori clients and Maori staff in the profession and it is only right that it be specifically involved in any future development of this bill. I take the point raised by the previous speaker about the importance of the independent status of the National Library and Archives New Zealand and the need to ensure that their future is not wrapped up with commercial expectations or the other political expectations of a Government department such as the Department of Internal Affairs. 
The Maori Party will support this bill in its first reading in order to allow time for all Maori groups and individuals who have a stake in this issue to tell the select committee what they think of this bill and how they think it might be changed to improve services to Maori in the future. Our vote beyond the first reading will be determined by what we hear at the select committee. Tena koe.