Okeroa Mahara: General Debates 
Okeroa Mahara: General Debates 
[Volume:607;Page:4430] 
MAHARA OKEROA (NZ Labour—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
Nga mihi nui ki a koe i a koe e ako nei i te reo Maori. 
[ 
Much appreciation to you engaged in the process of learning the Maori language. 
] 
I do not know which party is facing political oblivion. I am not sure about that. I thought it was a major exaggeration when that accusation was made of the United Future party. That is a wholly questionable statement to make especially after the results of the last election. I think that member should be more accurate in his predictions. 
I am very pleased to be a member of the Labour Party because of its outstanding political leadership its commitment its courage its conviction and its strategic vision. What does it mean for Maori? I have been sitting here since 3 o’clock and I have not heard any of the previous speakers say anything about their Maori policy. All those members can do is acknowledge that there is a browning of the New Zealand population. [ 
Interruption 
] There is absolutely no reference to that member’s name. To me it sounds like a new brand of gravy. Get it right! 
Today I asked a very tightly framed question of the Minister of Maori Affairs. It was so tightly framed that it brought derisive laughter from the rest of the House. The reason that question was asked was to inform members of the National Party that there is an absolute purpose for capacity building. It allowed the Minister of Maori Affairs to explain the exact purpose to all members in this House. The purpose has nothing to do with that member Mr Hide holding up a photograph. Unfortunately we do not have a photograph of his latest booze-up but we know it was at Waiheke. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We have to be fair about this. The Speaker has repeatedly asked members of the Opposition not to refer to the capacity-building function organised by the friends of Parekura Horomia and others as a taxpayer-funded booze-up. It would only be fair— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The Speaker— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: He has asked us not to do it and I am just pointing out that the Speaker himself referred to that. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I am on my feet. The member will be seated. This is a perfectly debatable situation and I again urge members to restrain from raising points of order because all it attempts to do is break up members’ speeches. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Why has the Speaker now ruled that members of the Opposition may not refer to this function as a booze-up but members of the Government can? 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Because the Speaker ruled that during question time today. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. At question time today I was asked to rephrase a question in which I used the precise expression that this member has just referred to and that Mr Brownlee correctly in my view has raised with you. With respect your explanation to the House leaves me completely bewildered. I put it to you that if it is good enough for members on this side to have to desist from using that expression then the same yardstick must be applied to members opposite. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the honourable member. It is difficult to hear at times and I did not hear it that time but I will certainly be watchful in future. 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: I was referring to capacity building and the questions that were asked by the honourable member. They referred to how much we had expended since the year 2000. We have spent over $23 million. But that demonstrates a courage and a vision largely absent from the National Party benches. Not only that but we have very positive policy statements. We have a strategic vision that has been translated into key policy statements which have led to key actions in capacity building health treaty settlements education and even Maori television—in spite of the kinds of criticisms that Maori television has been subjected to. 
What does Maori television do for the cultural milieu of Aotearoa? It helps to promote the language and the cultural understanding. It is a very very key mechanism for our cultural understanding in this country. Even the Assistant Speaker is engaged in learning te reo. Why would he do that? The reason is that he wants to be culturally involved in a very dynamic part of our society. I absolutely applaud that member and other members for that. What do we have on those National benches? We have a policy merry-go-round—no policy no vision no strategic direction—te korekore. All those members can do is sit there and interrupt absolutely eloquent presentations and speeches made by people like me on this side of the Chamber. If that is all they can do I suggest that they need to turn their minds to something more dynamic like members of the Labour Party do.