Shock Revelations in the House at loss of Maori Development Programmes

Tariana Turia, Co-leader Maori Party

Tuesday 23 May 2006

“In response to questions from the Maori Party today, Dr Michael Cullen revealed that seven programmes aimed at whanau, hapu and iwi opportunities for greater self-determination have been axed by their minority Government” stated Tariana Turia.

“In March 2003, the Prime Minister Helen Clark, told people gathered at the National Whanau Development hui at Te Wananga o Raukawa,

“if you disempower people by controlling their budgets, their every move and every decision, you don’t actually enable people to grow and stand tall, and that’s important””.

“Today in the House, the Government has done exactly that - controlling the decisions of the people, with new names, new programmes, dreamt up by bureaucrats in Wellington”.

“Tangata whenua want the freedom to determine their own way forward, and this Government wants to return us to the failed assimilationist policies of the past” stated Mrs Turia.

“The total control over the Treaty settlements process by the Government and its bureaucracy are all part of a master plan to control Maori futures. We must not allow this” concluded Mrs Turia.

Background Information

Maori Affairs Programmes Axed by the Labour Minority Government

1 Capacity Building: Budget 2000 [Closing the Gaps] announced “additional funding to implement initiatives in response to assessments provided by communities”.

“Capacity building is Māori development by themselves for themselves” Hon Parekura Horomia - Māori Affairs Minister

2 Capacity Assessment : Budget 2000 [Closing the Gaps] announced “increased funding to provide hapu, iwi and Maori organisations with an ability to assess strengths, weaknesses/preparation of development funds”.

3 Local Level Solutions: [Closing the Gaps] Budget 2000 announced “innovative self-identified solutions developed locally, by whanau, hapu, iwi and Maori communities and implemented to meet their own development priorities”.

4 Direct Resourcing Fund : Budget 2001 [Reducing Social Inequalities] announced “a $15m programme to support whanau, hapu, iwi and Maori communities to identify their own priorities and draw on their own skills to develop highly innovative solutions”.

5 Whanau Development: Budget 2004 announced new funding ($14m in total) to “focus on strengthening and supporting whanau based action and research programmes”.

6 Whanau Development: Budget 2004 announced new funding ($14m in total) to “focus on strengthening and supporting whanau based sporting and cultural activities”.

7 Whanau Development: Budget 2004 announced new funding ($14m in total) to “focus on strengthening and supporting whanau based enterprise development”.

ENDS

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