Horomia Parekura: Estimates Debate — In Committee Procedure 
Horomia Parekura: Estimates Debate — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:618;Page:14413] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I heard the prattle from the deputy leader of the National Party. It suggested—like his leader Don Brash who mirrors Don Quixote in the sense of tilting at windmills—a whole lot of hot air in relation to what we have not done for Maoridom. I say to Mr Brownlee that he is mirroring the practices of Dick Whittington in looking back too much. We are not into the deficit model and we are not into Maori remaining in dependency. We are certainly surging forward and the last 5 years have shown as much. 
I pick up in relation to Te MangaiPaho as he suggested that there were 40 recommendations and 60 percent of that has been done. Maori Television did get started whereas that party failed even to consider it. These estimates provide for substantial investment in realising a positive future for Maori through whanau development enterprise development partnerships education employment and housing. Key areas of investment include new initiatives strengthening whanau investing in sport and cultural activities—where our people are at—and promoting whanau and enterprise activities. We are clear about the differentiation between mana and moni. Mana our tikanga our culture our inheritance tuku-ed to us—passed on to us—by our ancestors as the first indigenous people of this nation. We do want to make money. We do want to get into commerciality. There are just some people who want to keep us behind false mirrors and in a make-believe world in which we have to be dependent on the Crown and those things that take us backwards. 
We are strengthening Maori language. This is the week of Maori language. I tell that lot to try harder. It is encouraging when one goes overseas to understand that most people recognise indigenous languages—that they do have two or three languages under their belt. What is wrong? Why do that lot fear it? That is the problem. All that we do is do the haka and get macho encouraged by the dastardly game of rugby. 
We have really tried hard to ensure that the expansion of the Maori Business Facilitation Service goes forward. The Labour Government continues actively to demonstrate its commitment to accelerating the advancement of Maori. Our focus is on Maori succeeding as Maori wherever and in whatever field they choose. We have provided a real platform for Maori to reach their potential not stymie it. The appropriations contained in the estimates for Vote Maori Affairs demonstrate the commitment of this Government to Maori development by providing the resources necessary for Maori to reach their aspirations. This Budget is designed to provide a pathway for Maori to elevate their profile from dependency to vision and from grievance mode to economic and social opportunity. 
Without a doubt this Government has a lot to be proud of in relation to its achievements with Maori. Maori unemployment is almost at its lowest for 20 years. That is progress! There are 40000 more Maori in work and in the last 10 years there have been more Maori in trade and industry than there ever has been. Maori participation in tertiary education has almost doubled. The Leader of the Opposition prattled on suggesting that Maori qualifications are less significant than their Pakeha counterparts. What a lot of rot! That was what the Orewa speech was about—scratching that itch which some of those members are well practised at doing. That was what that speech was about. Do not make believe that it was about something else! 
Maori Television and Iwi radio stations are a great asset. Maori are now managing an increased proportion of the commercial assets in the fishing and forestry sectors. Thanks to this Government Maori are now living longer and enjoying life more fully. All that the deputy leader wanted to talk about was eating—opening his mouth and going to barbecues. He should lose some weight! This Government is demonstrating a real commitment to supporting Maori in their aspirations to be healthy wealthy and wise. We will be the people of the future. We will become healthier wealthier and wiser. We aim to strengthen Maori whanau and to ensure that all Maori have a secure sense of culture and an opportunity to participate in this great nation. We are not a divisive or a separatist Government. We believe in recognising the rights of the tangata whenua in this country. 
Vote agreed to.