Ririnui Mita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Ririnui Mita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:653;Page:2780] 
4.  
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: What steps is he taking to ensure that Maori have a voice in the Government’s decision-making processes? 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (Acting Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 The Minister along with all other Ministers who share this responsibility have taken great strides in ensuring that Maori have a greater voice in the Government’s decision-making processes. Across many steps the Maori voice is heard by the Government and is included in and informs decision making. The Minister and I believe that Maori need to be participants in decision making— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is probably a fairly obvious point of order. This is an answer on behalf of the Minister. A Minister acting for a Minister cannot say “the Minister and I believe”. She is speaking his words. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the member makes a valid point. It is a shame to interrupt but it is correct. I ask the Minister to continue her answer on behalf of the Minister. 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: Across many steps the Maori voice is heard by the Government and is included in and informs decision making. The Minister believes that Maori need to be participants in decision making not recipients of it. As the member who asked the question knows although Maori had no voice in the previous Government that clearly is not the case with this Government. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: If the Minister was serious as he claims about ensuring that Maori have a strong voice in the Government’s decision-making processes why did he and other members of the Maori Party sign a confidence and supply agreement with National promising not to pursue the entrenchment of the Maori seats here in Parliament? 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: As part of the agreement between the Maori Party and National there are certain understandings that do not include the issue of the entrenchment. That agreement is available in public. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: How does the Minister on the one hand as Minister of Maori Affairs insist on including Maori seats on the Auckland City super council; and on the other hand as the co-leader of the Maori Party allow his right to pursue the entrenchment of the Maori seats in Parliament to be traded away? 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: Quite easily. The Minister—[ 
Interruption 
] Quite easily. 
Hekia Parata 
: Tena koe e te Mana Whakawa tena tatou e te Whare. What outcomes have been achieved by listening to the Maori voice? 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: The Minister has achieved impressive results in a short space of time. I can list them: economic workshop Job Summit—he being in charge of five streams—drivers of crime Treaty summits and Auckland governance. I could go on but I will not. 
Kelvin Davis 
: Will the Minister join Labour members on the hikoi to support Maori representation in Auckland later this month and will he encourage the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs and National Maori members to do the same; if not why not? 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: That is a decision I am sure the Minister will take in good time. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: If the Minister of Maori Affairs is serious about supporting Maori representation will he pledge to support Labour in its pursuit to entrench the Maori seats and will he now put it on the public record that he and his Maori Party colleagues will vote in support of my member’s bill to entrench the Maori seats; if not why not? 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: Since Labour never did it in the 9 years that it was in Government the Minister will take time to see what that party’s proposal is all about.