Paraone Pita: Broadcasting Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Paraone Pita: Broadcasting Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
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PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Tena hoki tatou. I want to make one or two comments about the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. Although New Zealand First will support the bill I ought to say that we certainly share some of the disquiet expressed by previous speakers particularly in terms of the ongoing funding and placement of Maori programmes. As we live in 2008 with the digital age well and truly upon us it seems appropriate that the sort of funding provided for in this bill is supported. 
I looked up the Broadcasting Act 1989 which the bill before the House amends. I would think that those who are strongly pushing things Maori would have taken the opportunity of submitting a Supplementary Order Paper to include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in this amendment bill. 
Hon Member 
: Why didn’t you? 
PITA PARAONE 
: Members know why members of New Zealand First did not—because we do not believe in them. 
It seems to me that this country can have legislation that affects Maori that does not need to include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. It just reaffirms the point that New Zealand First has always argued which is that the principles do not exist. They are a figment of someone’s imagination a figment that much of this House supports. I would have thought that some members would raise the issue given that this amendment bill is all about enabling the broadcasting funding agencies like Te Reo Whakapuaki Te Irirangi commonly known as Te Mangai Paho to fund the production transmission and archiving of new forms of digital content. 
There has not been any reference to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi particularly from those Maori members who have spoken in the past with regard not only to this bill but to a lot of other bills where a lot of emphasis has been placed on those principles. I would think they would have taken the opportunity to do so in respect of this amendment legislation. Quite clearly this House does think we can have legislation—even legislation that as in this case refers to Maori broadcasting—that does not need to make any reference to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. 
I know that my leader and other members of New Zealand First have often asked those who have supported the notion of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi to actually articulate just what those principles are and if they are able to articulate them to explain why the principles are not listed in legislation. I hope that someone who has very strong views on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi being included in legislation might take a call after me to suggest that the principles should be included. But I signal to anyone who has that notion that New Zealand First will certainly not support it. 
As the previous speaker from the Maori Party pointed out it is almost 21 years since the Maori Language Act came into being. I believe that this amendment will add impetus to what the Maori language is all about. 
Hone Harawira 
: Stop pushing in on our research here. 
PITA PARAONE 
: My brother from Te Tai Tokerau Mr Harawira must have had an oversight on his part or in reality he believes that there is no such thing as the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and that we can have good legislation like this amendment bill without making any reference to those principles. 
But I have to say that New Zealand First certainly supports the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. 
Hone Harawira 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would like to point out that New Zealand First’s bill was actually a bill to oppose the Treaty of Waitangi. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: That is out of order and the member has been here long enough to know that. 
PITA PARAONE 
: It is important that those who are charged with the fiscal provision for organisations like Te Mangai Paho will take this amendment into consideration when they are placing requests for increased funding because surely they will need it. As a number of our old people pass on I think it is important that the recorded comments they have made are properly archived so that the mita o te reo is maintained. 
I acknowledge the increased use of the language today but much of the language that is in use today is different from when I was growing up. Be that as it may it also shows that te reo Maori is a living language and moves with the times. In conclusion I reiterate the point that New Zealand First will certainly be supporting this amendment bill. Kia ora.