10. Question No. 10—Māori DevelopmentHon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour) to the Minister for Māori DevelopmentQuestion No. 10—Māori Development10. Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour) to the Minister for Māori Development: Is he committed to the goal of achieving 1 million speakers of te reo Māori by 2040?Hon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for Māori Development): I'm committed to encouraging as many people as possible to learn and speak te reo Māori—Te Reo Rangatira.Hon Willie Jackson: Why is this Government attempting to cut courses along with other Māori initiatives then that are designed to grow te reo speakers?Hon TAMA POTAKA: There are many ways for people to learn te reo Māori: on the marae in the kāuta and even here in te Whare Pāremata Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Hon Willie Jackson: Point of order Mr Speaker. I don't think the question was even addressed.SPEAKER: Well it certainly was addressed. The question was relating to how people might learn. You certainly got an answer.Hon Willie Jackson: Thank you for that clarification Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Anytime—anytime.Hon Willie Jackson: Has the Minister advocated to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to support or stop plans to reduce the pay of public service with te reo Māori expertise?SPEAKER: You know how—you've got to get that accurate. I think you—Hon Willie Jackson: I can do it again Mr Speaker no problem.SPEAKER: Just have another shot at it.Hon Willie Jackson: Has the Minister advocated to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to support or stop plans to reduce the pay of public service with te reo expertise—sorry Mr Speaker public servants?SPEAKER: Oh that wasn't the bit—you got the other bit right.Hon Tama Potaka: Mr Speaker can I please have that pātai read out again so I understand what it is?SPEAKER: Yeah most certainly. Sorry to interrupt you.Hon Willie Jackson: Thank you again Mr Speaker. Has the Minister advocated to the Minister of Finance in terms of her strategy around stopping plans to reduce the pay of public service—public servants I should say—with te reo hea Māori expertise?Hon TAMA POTAKA: We were elected to get the economy back on track and are aspirational for Māori and New Zealanders. To the extent which I'm able to I understand that the Government is reviewing all allowances across the Public Service.Hon Willie Jackson: Is the Minister going to fight for Māori or is he going to cower to the whims—SPEAKER: No. No you can't do that.Hon Willie Jackson: —of the Minister of Finance—SPEAKER: No Willie sorry. Hon Willie Jackson that's an out-of-order question. You can have another go—get it in order.Hon Willie Jackson: Can the Minister commit to Māori that he will not cut any further initiatives that are designed to preserve te reo?Hon TAMA POTAKA: I'm committed to advocating and speaking te reo Māori every day.Hon Willie Jackson: Point of order Mr Speaker. He didn't even touch that question—didn't even address it.SPEAKER: Well as you know—Hon Willie Jackson: Come on Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: As you know—as you know—all Speakers sitting here will say that if someone answers a question they are addressing it. That's pretty clear in Speakers' Rulings all day long. As far as the—and I've been on the end of questions feeling a little bit let down like yourself but that's none the less the answer that's been given.Hon Member: It's not time for utu Gerry.SPEAKER: So the question—no of course it's not. Now don't get like that. Sorry—a private conversation there. So the Minister may wish to say a little more about ongoing intentions.Hon TAMA POTAKA: E kaha ana au ki te tautoko i te anganga whakamua o te reo Māori; ki wiwi ki wawa ki tēnei Whare.[I strongly support te reo Māori being spoken everywhere and in this House.]Hon Shane Jones: Will the Minister beyond te reo Māori support pūeru Māori—art weaving and costume-making—given that Parliament has been presented with a headdress upon the leader of the Māori Party's head—SPEAKER: No that's out too.Hon Shane Jones: —which looked like a muttonbird?SPEAKER: No no sorry. Nice try; not flying.