Katene Rahui: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
Katene Rahui: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
[Volume:673;Page:19530] 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 Coming to the Appropriation (2010/11 Supplementary Estimates) Bill today I am reminded of a phrase used by Dr Martin Luther King: “the fierce urgency of now”. The fierce urgency of now is about all of us considering what is in the best interests of our iwi hapu whanau and mokopuna. The Appropriation Bill provides us with a perfect opportunity to assess the progress the Maori Party has made in putting in place policy to make a better future for us all. In this term the Maori Party has secured more than $600 million for our people and has convinced Government to recognise indigenous rights. No other party in the history of Parliament has achieved that. 
Although plenty can be said from the sidelines the real action is alongside Government. Evidence of that is very clearly outlined in this bill. In schedule 1 we see ample evidence in agriculture and forestry of our achievements as a result of our negotiations with the Government in respect of the emissions trading scheme. In Vote Agriculture and Forestry we see reference to implementation of the emissions trading scheme and indigenous forestry climate change research and the Afforestation Grants Scheme. I will just update the House on the progress achieved because of the Maori Party’s negotiations in this area. The Agriculture Emissions Trading Scheme Advisory Committee was formed to provide independent advice on bringing agriculture into the emissions trading scheme. It included the strategic advice of Roger Pikia the Chief Executive of Te Arawa Group Holdings as well as Edward Ellison a sheep and beef farmer of Ngai Tahu and Te Atiawa whakapapa. 
In afforestation the Government has made a commitment to the Iwi Leadership Group to investigate land that could be made available for carbon farming. It has also agreed that officials will work with the Maori reference group executive to develop a standardised contract structure. In this respect agriculture and forestry provide an excellent example of the type of progress Maori can expect when there is a strong and independent Maori voice sitting alongside Government. As constituents in Te Tai Tokerau have been telling us it is better to be in the House immersed in the action than to be sitting on the outside washing windows and waiting.  
The emissions trading scheme reaped far more benefits for Maori as a result of our negotiations than in these two areas alone. Under our emissions trading scheme negotiations the Maori Party halved the petrol and power levy increase. Electricity prices would have increased by 10 percent; we got that reduced to 5 percent. Petrol and diesel prices would have increased by 7c per litre and we got that down to 3.5c. In terms of dollars and cents it would have cost the average whanau about $165 more per year if the Maori Party did not intervene. On top of that approximately 6000 low-income Maori whanau have had their homes insulated as a result of the Maori Party negotiating a 100 percent subsidy for housing insulation for those with a community services card. I will repeat that: 6000 whanau have directly benefited from Warm Up New Zealand. 
The next vote I come to is Vote Communications and in particular broadband investment in rural supply and schools. The Maori Party has been delighted with the progress we have made in establishing Nga Pu Waea the Maori broadband working group. This work has three immediate impacts: first the potential to monitor the price of mobile charges for the householder; second the opportunity to increase digital accessibility for marae; and third it will lead to employment and training opportunities in information technology. All the statistics show us that an estimated 20 to 30 percent of New Zealanders do not have access to digital technology. This includes people living in rural and isolated areas; Maori Pacific peoples and other ethnic groups; people on lower incomes; people with disabilities; and older New Zealanders. 
The broadband deal that the Maori Party has negotiated enables Maori to have access to cutting-edge technology while also providing opportunities for trade training and employment. The extended powers of Nga Pu Waea mean that marae kohanga kura wananga iwi runanga and Maori providers will also benefit from the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband. 
The next vote I refer to is Vote Education. I am interested in the $5 million set aside as interventions for target student groups the $3.5 million for support and resources for teachers and the $2.6 million for strategic leadership in the sector. The Maori Party in responding to calls from our people has been adamant that we need to lift the performance of key educational institutions if we want to achieve the outcomes we so desperately need to see. In the 2011 Budget we have been able to make the gains that Maori have been calling for for so long. There is $9 million to support iwi to develop school community language initiatives; $3 million to Te Runanganui o nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa for curriculum and resources based on the philosophy of Te Aho Matua; $8 million to realign kura transport assistance which has been capped since 1995; $60 million to build new kura kaupapa Maori; $17 million to allow an additional 20 schools to participate in the Te Kotahitanga teacher training programme which is training in cultural competencies; and $6.5 million for family-based literacy programmes in all decile 1 2 and 3 schools. 
I have heard various reports over the last few weeks from Labour list MP Mr Davis who wants to promote education as part of a successful Maori future and from former MP Mr Harawira who speaks of his dream that every child will be able to read write and count. The Maori Party has far greater aspirations for all our tamariki. We are not just talking about wanting them to be successful; we are putting in place interventions so that they are. We are working with teachers to improve cultural competency. We are addressing transport barriers. We are supporting whanau to upskill in literacy. We are actively engaging with iwi. We are placing emphasis on te reo Maori. We are developing priorities that are designed to make education meaningful and relevant to all Maori children and young people. And we are doing those things by working with the Government by exercising our leverage to ensure progress. 
Finally I commend the Hon Dr Pita Sharples the Minister of Maori Affairs for the investments outlined in the Maori affairs appropriation to provide integrated whanau social assistance. This appropriation has been responsible for the provision of Kaitoko Whanau. There are 50 workers nationwide who work with all members of the whanau to support them to access proper support to advocate for their needs and to ensure that as a whanau they are all moving forward together. Oranga Whanau involves placing kuia into communities to work with new parents to give them support and guidance on being good parents and to raise happy healthy tamariki. We have developed a very successful Mara Kai programme. We have funded over 450 mara kai nationwide to support whanau to grow their own kai and rebuild community connections at a time when money is tight. This is about community resilience. And of course there is Whanau Ora. 
There is so much that could be described that emerges from having a relationship with Government. If anything this update reminds us just how important it is to place the issues before the decision makers and the funders if we really want our aspirations to be achieved.