Henare Tau: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
Henare Tau: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:661;Page:9511] 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 I congratulate the Minister of Maori Affairs on a job well done but it is a job that is only half complete. I think it is wonderful news that we have seen an increase in community assistance whereby the Government or the Crown—call it what you will—is telling the community: “Here is some money you know the problem you know the issues and you should go and sort it out.” without the interference of every policy maker who is employed by the Government. 
I congratulate the Minister I congratulate the Prime Minister and I also congratulate the Maori Party and National on being able to see through the last 9 years of what has been nothing short of a Fabian conspiracy. It is time to stop treating the indigenous people of this land as some sort of basket case and to realise that they can do things for themselves. With a bit of leadership from our Minister of Maori Affairs our Prime Minister and the two parties involved in the coalition agreement that is what we can achieve. 
I will take just a couple more minutes to concentrate on national standards. I believe that this policy underpins the next 20 to 30 years of this nation’s development. It is undoubtedly—undoubtedly—the most important policy that we have been able to achieve in our short short time on the Treasury benches. I congratulate Anne Tolley on her kaha her strength in the midst of some old-style left-wing union politics. 
I will finish by saying—well not “finish”; I think I will go for my full 5 minutes—that driving around in a red bus with “Axe the Tax” on it which has been paid for mind you by the New Zealand public and not by the Labour Party is embarrassing. It is embarrassing to take all that money which could have gone into national standards or into Whanau Ora but did not and have only six or seven people turn up to hear those Labour members speak. I just thought that I would get that off my chest. 
I think that these are important times for Maori. I tell members that we have seen much over the last few years in terms of Maori development. I must take off my hat to the previous Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia. At least he tried. At least he gave it a bash. He was in the job for 8 years. There were some significant movements and I take off my hat to the previous Minister. But as a people we cannot wait any longer. The clarion call that has gone out to our Minister of Maori Affairs is that he should get on with the job. He should not worry about what the Opposition says; he should get on with the job. 
Without our development the country does not go anywhere. Without our input the country does not go anywhere. We can take any department we like be tourism or education and we see that Maori input is essential for the growth of this nation. Once we realise that then we will be a better nation for it. The leadership is already out there in our communities. The Maori community has done it before and we will do it again. This is not something new. I wish the Minister well in his next 12 months and for however long he is in the job.