Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6257] 
9.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Did the contract with Maori Sportscasting International for coverage of the New Zealand Maori rugby tour of Australia specify a replacement commentator for Mr Tame Te Rangi and was the New Zealand Maori versus Australia game in Perth on 15 June 2002 broadcast by Maori Sportscasting International as specified in the contract? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 The contract between Te Mangai Paho and Maori Sportscasting International did not specify a replacement commentator for Mr Te Rangi. Te Mangai Paho has been advised by Sky television that a broadcast did take place. 
Rodney Hide 
: How come this Minister or his officials do not realise that following the $18000 grant approval on 30 May 2002 Mr Hemana Waaka flew business class the very next day to Brisbane where he picked up his brother D J Waaka to replace Mr Tame Te Rangi for a 3-week jaunt around Australia and that Mr Waaka and his brother after flying from Brisbane to Perth business class and staying in Perth for a nice week did not even commentate and broadcast the game between Australia and the New Zealand Maori because “they couldn’t be bothered”? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I have heard that allegation. Any breach of the contract is for Mr Gardiner to follow up on. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Is the Minister satisfied that the interim chair Mr Wira Gardiner is taking decisive action surrounding Te Mangai Paho? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Yes most certainly. 
Katherine Rich 
: Will the Minister now call for an immediate and comprehensive review and audit of every Te Mangai Paho funding decision for the last 3 years given that both the chairman and chief executive officer knew that Mr Tame Te Rangi had recommended the $18000 funding for his trip 3 days before Mr Waaka and Mr Te Rangi were scheduled to depart yet still approved the funding 1 day before Mr Waaka was due to depart having declined Mr Te Rangi leave; or does this Minister think that kickbacks last-minute approvals for funding money spent on 3-week holidays in Australia and contracts that are not even fulfilled let alone monitored are acceptable? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Most certainly not. That is not acceptable. But can I assure that member that I have tried to fix it up and I will fix it up. That is the role and if the member did not understand a review is being undertaken by Mr Gardiner. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Prime Minister brought to his attention his responsibilities which are to have found out himself some time during the last 12 months of this very serious breach what was going on and to undertake his responsibilities as a Minister of Maori Affairs in any responsible Cabinet; or has she told him that he could have second or third-class standards because he is Maori? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: As a member of the tangata whenua can I say quite clearly that Ministers rely on quality information and advice. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked the Minister a very particular question which was whether the Prime Minister had brought to his attention over the last 12 months his responsibility as a Minister of Maori Affairs in respect of this breach which has been alive for 12 months now or whether she had told him he could follow second or third-class standards because he is a Maori. Neither of those questions was answered. I do not know what the tangata whenua has to do with it. Well I know what that means here—we all do. I will explain what it means. Referring to the fact that someone is tangata whenua—that is of the land—has no bearing on this issue whatsoever because this is of the airwaves. I want the Minister to answer my question. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I am more than aware of my responsibilities and I am not a second-class citizen in this country. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Does the Minister find it peculiar that in spite of Te Mangai Paho funding no Maori language broadcast of the rugby match in Perth on 15 June actually occurred and not a single person complained or even noticed the omission at the time; what does this tell the Minister? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Yes and Mr Gardiner is investigating it. 
Rodney Hide 
: Can the Minister explain to this House and to the public of New Zealand why under his administration Te Mangai Paho funded two Maori sportscasters—namely Maori Sportscasting International and Ruia Mai—$18000 each to travel to Australia and broadcast the very same games in Maori; if this Minister cannot explain that has he given any consideration to resigning in favour of someone who can explain? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Mr Gardiner is working on that matter and I have not given any consideration to resigning. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Prime Minister talked to the Minister about the image this creates for Maori in this country particularly young Maori when a Minister she has appointed and in whom she expresses confidence performs this way in the House—to the extent that two grave breaches have now been disclosed on this one contract alone the issue of the broadcast from Perth—and 12 months later has him saying that some other person namely Wira Gardiner will do his job for him? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I spoke to the young leadership group in the town hall yesterday and those people were very happy with me—like most of the people I talk to. I try to model myself on the elder statesman of Maori in this House and to follow the way he performs. Mr Gardiner worked with him and for him. 
Rodney Hide 
: In the light of the Minister’s utter reliance at question time on the work and findings of Mr Wira Gardiner is not the clear message to Maori at the next election to vote National in order to get a Minister of Maori Affairs who can come to do the business in Parliament that people expect of any Minister of Maori Affairs rather than the rhubarb that this Minister dishes up day after day? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Most certainly. I invite that member to come with me on the road to visit Maori at marae and in community groups to see what he has to say in front of them and to read some of the faxes from Maori people that I have in support of my performance. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I accept that challenge to go to every marae that Parekura Horomia goes on to meet the people— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member knows that is not a point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Rodney Hide 
: Do you want to come too Winston? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No no. I have been there. I would like in all fairness to table the E9 following the 2002 election which shows the level of Maori support that the National Party had. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that. Is there any objection? There is. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave to table four documents which I will go through in turn. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well go through them very briefly please. 
Rodney Hide 
: The first is the itinerary around Australia for Mr Waaka and Mr Te Rangi. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Rodney Hide 
: The second document is some pages from the Treasury-led report explaining how Mr Tame Te Rangi was supposed to go and abdicated. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Rodney Hide 
: The third document is the list from the web of the hotels they stayed at on their 3-week trip. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Rodney Hide 
: And the fourth document is the Minister of Maori Affairs’ original answer to written question No. 619—I will give the number because there has been some confusion over these questions—in which the Minister says that the broadcast went ahead when it did not. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that question. Is there any objection? There is.