12. Offenders—Initiatives to Improve Outcomes for Māori OffendersKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) to the Minister of CorrectionsOffenders—Initiatives to Improve Outcomes for Māori Offenders12. KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) to the Minister of Corrections: What recent agreement has been signed with the Kīngitanga to improve outcomes for Māori offenders?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister of Corrections): This morning the Department of Corrections and the Kīngitanga signed an accord to work together to improve outcomes for Māori offenders. The accord commits Corrections and the Kīngitanga to work together to develop initiative to improve outcomes for Māori. I applaud the Kīngitanga for stepping forward and recognising it has a role in working with Corrections to improve the well-being of Māori. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: What specific areas of agreement does the accord cover? Hon LOUISE UPSTON: One of the four areas of mutual interest identified in the accord is the rehabilitation of Māori prisoners. Participation rates in rehabilitation programmes run by Corrections including drug and alcohol treatment and parenting skills already have high levels of participation by Māori. The department also offers a range of rehab services specifically for Māori with around 1300 places available on these programmes each year. This accord will help ensure that these programmes are targeted at achieving even better rehabilitation outcomes for Māori. Ron Mark: When Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has to ask a question about the Government's Kīngitanga accord what has happened to the Māori representation in the National Government—or are they no longer relevant or do they disagree with the accord? Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no ministerial responsibility whatsoever. Ron Mark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have just made a ruling. I hope the member is not going to disagree. If he is raising another point of order I am happy to hear it. Ron Mark: Well no I was asking you is not the fact that they might not agree with it be a ministerial—Mr SPEAKER: No I have heard it now. The member is on the dangerous ground of arguing with the Speaker. I have made a ruling that there is no ministerial responsibility. The member may not have heard me but that is my ruling. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: What other initiatives are already in place to improve outcomes for Māori prisoners? Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Around half the prison population are Māori and it is important that Corrections keeps building on the initiatives it already has in place to improve outcomes. Corrections has established a Māori advisory board with representatives from seven iwi organisations to provide advice on policy development and the design of services for Māori. The department also employs a specialist team of Māori advisers whose objective is to continually promote improvement in the department's services for Māori. I seek leave to table a copy of the accord between the Department of Corrections and Kīngitanga for the House's interest. Mr SPEAKER: Is that document publicly available?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: No. Mr SPEAKER: On that basis I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular accord. Is there any objection? There is objection.