Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4278] 
5.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Did any of his Ministerial staff attend the awards dinner on 6 July 2002 in their role as commentators for Maori Sportscasting International; if so what action has he taken given that he told this House yesterday that he did not believe Te Puni Kokiri’s expenditure on the dinner acceptable? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 Yes one of my staff attended the awards dinner in a private capacity. As signalled yesterday in the House I have communicated in writing my concerns to the chief executive of Te Puni Kokiri. 
Rodney Hide 
: Has the Minister any concerns over how Mr Hemana Waaka has been paying back civil servants politicians and their staff—especially as he pays his “volunteer sportscasters” under the counter through TAB accounts to dodge tax—or will Miss Gail Parata be pushed out of the Minister’s office just like Mr Te Rangi was to save the skins of those higher up the food chain? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No. 
Mita Ririnui 
: What was the purpose of the training development wananga held by Maori Sportscasting International Ltd? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I am advised that the purpose of the wananga was to train staff in the use of the different broadcasting equipment and in commentating and reporting techniques. A lot of those members who attended did so in a voluntary capacity like several other Maori around the country. 
Katherine Rich 
: Why does the Minister think it is appropriate that Te Puni Kokiri should undertake the review of Te Mangai Paho’s funding of Maori Sportscasting International when it has also funded the same organisation to the material benefit of three Ministers and their staff and why does he not call in the Auditor-General and have a proper clean-up? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: There will be a proper clean-up. There is an independent person in the make-up of the three-party group that will review this whole exercise. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Prime Minister spoken to the Minister about his performance on this and other issues or is it the case that in her administration there is one standard for certain Ministers and any old standard where Maori Ministers are concerned? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The Prime Minister talked to me on several occasions. I am not afraid of being Maori unlike some other Maori in this Parliament. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Point of order Mr Peters. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Could the Minister of Maori Affairs describe or name those Maori members to whom he refers? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Did the member want a supplementary question? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Yes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thought he was raising a point of order. I should have called another member ahead of him but as he is on his feet I will allow him to ask a supplementary question. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I thought the member was raising a point of order because it is absolutely out of order to reflect on the character of any member. I am not aware of which Maori member the Minister of Maori Affairs was referring to but to say that someone is afraid to be Maori is clearly a grossly insulting statement. I object on behalf of whoever the member is whom the Minister referred to. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Objection has been taken. I ask the Minister to withdraw his comment. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Prime Minister had any cause to talk to the Minister about this particular issue; if so what was the comment she left with him as to his performance on it? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I remind the member that this is an operational matter at this stage. I have responsibilities here that I manage like every other responsibility in this portfolio. 
Rodney Hide 
: When did the Minister find out that his executive assistant was working for Maori Sportscasters International as a commentator and that she had been flown to Auckland for the old-fashioned booze-up at the expense of Maori Sportscasters International via Te Puni Kokiri and what did he do when he found out about it? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I found that out recently but details regarding all the people whose airfares were paid for were tabled in a public report on 6-8 July 2002. The staff member in question continually does that along with a whole lot of other volunteers. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [ 
Interruption 
] They do not like it do they? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is one all and that is where it stops. 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Can I raise an issue to do with the supplementary question that was asked by Rodney Hide implying that some politicians have been paid in terms of the original question? I believe that impacts on all politicians in this House and I challenge Rodney Hide to get up and name the politicians whom he is implying were paid. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am ready to help the member. The meaning of the word “politician” is much wider than just members of Parliament but if Rodney Hide was making any comment about any current member of Parliament he will stand and withdraw that comment. 
Rodney Hide 
: What am I withdrawing and apologising for? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I said that if the member had made any comment denigrating any member of Parliament in the supplementary question he asked—and I am not talking about the use of the word “politician” because that term has a wider meaning than just a member of Parliament— 
Rodney Hide 
: I didn’t. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: He did not? Right. 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I actually wrote down what the member said and he referred to politicians and in terms of the supplementary question he was referring to the politicians in this House. I am asking Rodney Hide whether he is telling the truth and if he has got the guts to name the politicians. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: First of all the member made an offensive reference to another member of this House. He will now stand and withdraw and apologise for that comment. 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Secondly I have been told by Mr Hide quite specifically that he was not referring to a member of this— 
Rodney Hide 
: No I didn’t say that. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: This is just trifling with me now. I asked the member a particular question. The word “politician” goes much wider than members of this House. I asked the member whether he had been referring to any particular member of this House. Did he say yes or— 
Rodney Hide 
: Point of order Mr Speaker— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I want the member to answer my question. 
Rodney Hide 
: I am not answering a yes or no question because you have changed the question. The question you asked me Mr Speaker as  
Hansard 
 will reflect was whether I was denigrating any MP. No. My question was this and let me read it to the House for Mr Samuels’ benefit: “ ... how Mr Hemana Waaka has been paying back civil servants politicians and their staff”. “Paying back” does not mean just money; it means having a dinner and a booze-up. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well the member has made that comment. He has assured me that he meant it in that way and of course the member’s word will be accepted. Did the member want to ask a supplementary question? 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. When Mr Dover Samuels sat down he suggested that one of the people who had gone to the booze-up was Richard Prebble. I most certainly did not. I understand that Dover Samuels went but I certainly did not. 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: Mr Speaker I know that you have wide interpretations about the description that was made in terms of the implication by Rodney Hide in his identification of politicians but I ask you to think again. In the context of his supplementary question he was talking about politicians being paid. I think it is incumbent upon that member if he is actually telling the truth to this House to identify who the politicians are in terms of his question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I have— 
Rodney Hide 
: I am happy to. 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: The member should get up or shut up. 
Rodney Hide 
: I am very happy to name the politicians. The ones who have been paid back are Mr Dover Samuels who was invited along for a knock-up dinner and a booze-up and his entourage; Mr John Tamihere who was invited for dinner and a booze-up along with his entourage; and then we find out today that staff members of the Minister Parekura Horomia—whose department oversaw the $10000 grant—also got a knock-up dinner and a booze-up. I am sorry but in common parlance that is referred to as the payback. 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I ask for your considered ruling in terms of the very wide loose gruesome explanation or interpretation that Rodney Hide has placed on that. When one is responding and saying that somebody is being paid I take that as meaning remuneration in the form of money and not in the fact that we were invited to a dinner so I ask for—[ 
Interruption 
] Absolutely I was there and I will front up. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have called for order. Please be seated. The member has asked me to look at the transcript—well I presume he has asked me to have a look at the words. I will certainly examine the transcript. 
Rodney Hide 
: Mr Speaker— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: A supplementary question? 
Rodney Hide 
: I am just trying to work it out. I have lost count. Have I had two supplementary questions yet Mr Speaker? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have now had enough and I am going to impose a lot stricter discipline than I have done. I do not like doing this but I am going to impose it from now on today. The member may of course have up to three or four more supplementary questions and then for the rest of question time his party would get none. He has had two supplementary questions. If he wants a third then he is of course entitled to take it.