Whaitiri MekaMEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): The Māori Party claims to be the independent voice for Māori but its voting record and its policy priorities are nothing but a sham. The Māori Party is showing that its true agenda is one of privatisation empowering corporate elite and cutting secret deals with its National mates behind closed doors. We have seen all of this. It voted to sell off State houses it cut a dodgy deal with National over the despised Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms and it is driving through unwanted Māori land reforms in the face of massive opposition.Meanwhile on urgent critical issues facing Māori like a lack of emergency social and affordable housing we get what? Silence. When the emergency housing blowout scandal dominated headlines a month ago we got silence. We waited an entire week for either Te Ururoa Flavell our Minister for Māori Development or Marama Fox to come out and rage against the injustice of Māori whānau and thousands being moved from cramped motel to cramped motel but all we got was silence. They came to be the independent voice but silence is all the Māori Party has to offer our people on critical issues that really matter like having a safe dry and warm home; like having a sustainable job; like workers' rights; and like access to affordable and quality healthcare. The housing crisis disproportionately affects Māori and it should be a key priority kaupapa for the Minister for Māori Development. It is his job to lead public policy for Māori and to provide guidance to the Government about policies affecting Māori well-being. The only comments on housing that you will get from the Minister is when he can promote a papakāinga project as evidence that Māori are finding our own solutions to housing. Papakāinga is a hugely positive and worthwhile initiative—started under Labour I might add—but it is a drop in the ocean.Where is the leadership from Te Ururoa Flavell? Where is the leadership to speak up for whānau sleeping in cars garages and cramped motel units? Where is he? Hundreds of years of institutional knowledge is getting gutted out of the Māori Land Court. I will tell you where he is; he is pushing through Te Ture Whenua reforms that are massively unpopular and unwanted by Māori land owners Māori legal experts academics institutes and leaders. Where is the leadership Mr Flavell? Mr Te Ururoa Flavell's and Marama Fox's silence on the issues that really matter to Māori is really an admission that they have no influence on this Government where it counts. And when they are called out and held to account they say criticism is either playing politics or even lies. That is not debate; that is lazy analysis and an attempt to shut down debate.The Māori Party has sold out on the RMA reforms. Nobody wants this bill and it is only the two votes from the Māori Party that will get it over the line. They cut a secret deal outside of the select committee process to ensure National and Nick Smith will pass this bill. The concessions that it has gained for iwi participation is nothing compared with what it has put at risk. Iwi and hapū already have 123 co-governance arrangements with local authorities in New Zealand—83 percent of local authorities already have some kind of arrangement with Māori either through memorandums of understanding advisory boards or joint committees. The Māori Party is missing the big picture on National's Resource Management Act reforms by supporting a fundamentally flawed bill.Now more than ever a vote for the Māori Party is a vote for National. Voters were coming back to Labour last election because they know we can provide the stable leadership and support they need. They know we are going to build 100000 affordable homes 6000 more emergency beds and pump more funding into healthcare. We are going to invest in resources to grow jobs and we going to invest in our classrooms where the need is wanted. Our Māori MPs in Labour are united and valued and we are listening to our people. Kia ora tātau.