Hereora Dave: Budget Debate 
Hereora Dave: Budget Debate 
[Volume:639;Page:9572] 
DAVE HEREORA (Labour) 
: 
 I take this opportunity to take a call in support of Budget 2007. The Budget provides for an increase in resources to foster a greater sense of national identity. It recognises the importance of Maori culture in reinforcing the dynamic and unique identity of Aotearoa both nationally and internationally. Key investments have been made in Maori broadcasting in Maori language and culture and in understanding the Treaty and the Treaty settlement processes to enhance the place of Maori in the building of our distinct New Zealand identity. 
I think it is important to place on record what that means by giving a detailed description of that allocation. If we look at future-proofing for Maori broadcasting we see that Maori language and culture are inextricably linked to the maintenance of Maori identity. Significant investments have been made in the Maori broadcasting sector over the last 5 years with the establishment of Maori Television and greater coordination by Te MangaiPaho of the Maori radio network. Budget 2007 provides resources to complete the expansion of this sector and better enable Maori to share stories culture and language across Maori communities and New Zealand. These are key investments. 
The Budget provides for $23.1 million over 4 years for Maori Television to transition into digital technology and programming $4 million over 4 years in additional resources to strengthen the iwi radio network and $160000 for Te MangaiPaho to enable it to complete infrastructure changes within the organisation. 
The other initiative to support te reo Maori is significant resourcing across Government to support the promotion and use of Maori language. In relation to iwi radio there is some background that I think needs to be raised in this debate. In 1990 the Government reserved frequencies for the promotion of Maori language and culture to enable the full coverage of iwi tribal areas. This was in response to Wai 11—that is the te reo claim—and Wai 26/150 which was the claim on the radio spectrum. There are currently 21 Maori radio stations operating on a Maori-reserved frequency that are funded by Te MangaiPaho. These are the stations that will be the recipients of this new funding. Funded stations are required by Te MangaiPaho to broadcast for a minimum of 18 hours per day at least 4 of which must be in the Maori language. 
In 2004 Te MangaiPaho was successful in seeking funding for training for iwi radio employees through the Budget bid process. The bid was for $1 million over 4 years. Punga.net the radio distribution service and switching system is a web-based switching service implemented in April 2001. It was used by iwi stations to access national programmes—that is the news service—funded by Te MangaiPaho and linked to each other to share locally produced programmes. Punga.net allows iwi stations to access the distribution service 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Te MangaiPaho sought funding for an additional $1 million per year for the operational costs of iwi radio. This will enable an increase of $50000 per iwi radio station funded by Te MangaiPaho. 
The reason for increasing the amount of operational funding to iwi radio is that iwi radio has not received an increase in operational funding since Te MangaiPaho assumed responsibility for funding of the 21 iwi radio stations in 1995. The advent of Maori Television has made it difficult for iwi radio to retain staff and attract high-quality broadcasters. Iwi radio needs to remain competitive. Cost increases in compliance measures a commitment to ongoing staff development and station overheads have been met through cost cuts in other areas predominantly salaries and wages. Inevitably this has led to an industry-wide reliance on the goodwill enthusiasm and commitment of staff and volunteers which is not sustainable in the long term. 
An increase in operational funding will help to strengthen the labour force and the outcomes of Maori radio broadcasters by building maintaining and retaining capability skills within the industry. An increase in operational funding will enable iwi radio to build on the quality of the programmes iwi stations currently broadcast and assist them to create new exciting high-quality programmes. Te PuniKokiri is currently refining the strategic direction of Maori broadcasting. This work programme will likely look at what the optimal landscape is for iwi radio and determine funding thereof for iwi radio to enable the ongoing quality of broadcasts on iwi radio. 
Iwi radio stations provide a vibrant and innovative place within the broadcasting landscape and play a vital role in promoting Maori language in the community and in the Maori language revitalisation efforts. An increase in operational funding will help to strengthen the labour force and the outcomes of Maori radio broadcasters by building maintaining and also retaining capability skills within the industry. An increase in operational funding will enable the stations to build on the quality of the programmes they currently broadcast and assist them to create new exciting high-quality programmes. 
The other area that I think is important to put on record is in relation to understanding the Treaty of Waitangi and processing Treaty settlements. Budget 2007 provides further resources to increase process on Treaty settlements. Last year the Government increased funding for the Office of Treaty Settlements to further progress Treaty settlement negotiations. This Budget adds to that by allocating an annual funding increase of 25 percent to the Waitangi Tribunal for the key role it plays in Treaty settlement processes. The Budget provides for $7.664 million over 4 years to the Waitangi Tribunal. Understanding the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand is important for all members of our society. The Government has focused resources this year into extending the Treaty 2 U exhibition to enable it to tour schools in partnership with the ASB. The Government has provided an additional $530000 to the exhibition along with an equal contribution from the bank. 
The other area is the makeover to Te Rerenga Wairua which is in Cape Reinga. The Budget provides for $6.5 million to develop Te Rerenga Wairua which is already one of New Zealand’s premier tourist destinations. The development project has been under discussion for several years with local iwi and other agencies and is expected to deliver significant economic and social benefits to the far north. 
Efforts to conserve newly found Maori artefacts that by law are deemed to be prima facie owned by the Crown will be supported through an additional $121000 over 4 years via the Arts Culture and Heritage vote. A further $120000 over 4 years is provided through the same vote to authenticate protected objects such as taonga through an authorised certificate of examination from the museum. 
 I move on to supporting our whanau—that is our young and our old. The Budget does focus on whanau through Maori preschoolers who will benefit from increases in a range of funding rates for early childhood services including kohanga reo. This will reduce the need for costs to be passed on to parents and further increase Maori participation in the early childhood education of their choice. There will be a major expansion of facilities for kura and wharekura with over $100 million budgeted for property development. 
A 10-minute opportunity to take a call to put on record a detailed description of what Budget 2007 provides for Maori is not enough time. So I want to take this opportunity to talk about KiwiSaver in my closing comments. KiwiSaver is an opportunity to promote vision. It is about saving. It is about painting a message to our population to consider saving as a real option for the future particularly for Maori who have not had the opportunity to have money to save in the past. This is a great opportunity to promote that discussion nationally so that people are focused on thinking about their future. I do think it is a wonderful opportunity. It is a policy that has vision. I find it quite hard to accept that National is opposing this policy as it does possess the opportunity for us to take care of our future and allow the opportunity for our children to think seriously about the true principles of saving and the benefits of it. Kia ora.