Martin Tracey: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMartin Tracey: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 20 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16915. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.TRACEY MARTIN (NZ First)to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement in regards to Te Pātaka Ōhanga “there were no instances of TPO using public money inappropriately”?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education):I stand by my statements based on the findings of the Ernst and Young report which said: “we did not identify any instances of Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust providing public funding to Te Pātaka Ōhanga”. Te Pātaka Ōhanga is not the responsibility of Ministers of the Crown. As owners of the private company that is the trust’s responsibility. I have done my job and it is a matter of deep frustration that the trust has not done its job. My office received an email on Monday evening outlining a range of concerns and allegations that were serious and specific. Once it became clear on Wednesday morning that the trust was not acting to restore public confidence despite being given every opportunity I had no choice but to refer the matter to the Serious Fraud Office. The public wants answers from the trust and so do I.Tracey Martin: In light of that answer and her answer to primary question No. 4 earlier today is it the Minister’s view that a $50000 koha is an appropriate way for an organisation to spend public money and is she aware of any other publicly funded organisations where this has happened?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Also as the report makes clear in terms of that specific matter of the $50000 it said: “During our testing we noted one koha payment of $50000 made in December 2012 to a related party. The payment was a matter discussed in Committee by the Board and related to the substantial contribution made by the recipient during the extended Waitangi claim process. The Board has the authority to make such a payment”—Tracey Martin: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was whether it is the Minister’s view that a $50000 koha is an appropriate—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I heard the question and the Minister has in detail made reference to the $50000 koha. The answer is addressing the question that was asked.Tracey Martin: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just to clarify when the question asks “Is it the Minister’s view …” and the Minister states the view of Ernst and Young is the Minister’s view now the property of Ernst and Young?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is now directly questioning a ruling I have given as to whether the question was answered. What the member now needs to do is listen to the answer allow the Minister to complete it and then ask further incisive questions to get what she wants from the Minister.Tracey Martin: Has she been advised by the board of the identity of the recipient of the $50000 koha payment; if so will she disclose their identity?Hon HEKIA PARATA: No I have not but I have advised the board that I think it should disclose it.Tracey Martin: Does she agree that it could be perceived that her department and her ministerial responsibility has failed in the effective monitoring of the bulk funding of the $92 million of taxpayers’ money that has been allocated to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust board which she is responsible for; if not why not?Hon HEKIA PARATA: No; because these allegations were brought to my attention on 15 October 2013. On 16 October I commissioned an independent review with very publicly available terms of reference of an internationally reputable independent firm Ernst and Young to carry out this review. As soon as I had the report available and was able to meet with the board within an hour and a half I made it publicly available.Tracey Martin: Would the Minister agree that her department’s failure of oversight over this public money has now put the taonga of kōhanga reo at risk; if not why not?Hon HEKIA PARATA: No; because the Ministry of Education monitors the kōhanga reo and it reported in October that there was no indication of impropriety of public funding. That has been confirmed here. But what I do think has happened and is putting at risk this taonga is the trust board’s failure to step up and act responsibly in making public these allegations and how it deals with them.