Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Minister of Maori Affairs

7 April 2009 Media Release
Maori Affairs Minister Opposes Decision

The Minister of Maori Affairs has dissociated himself from Cabinet decisions on local government reorganisation in Auckland, saying it is not good enough that tangata whenua, plus the largest Maori population in the world, will have no guaranteed voice.

“Tangata whenua laid the foundations for this city,” said Dr Sharples. “They provided the land, the shipping lanes, the natural resources and even the military protection that allowed the city to get established and thrive.

“They welcomed the early settlers, and have loyally contributed to Auckland for nearly two hundred years. The huge sacrifices they have made have all been for the benefit of others,” he said.

“The public and the government cannot turn round now and say the views of tangata whenua on the development of the city and the region are of no account. That will damage a relationship which underpins the unique character of Auckland. No good will come of that.

“Maori seats are not a matter of special rights or privileged position, but of building a future on solid foundations of justice,” said Dr Sharples. “Without distinctive Maori councillors and mana whenua positions, as the Royal Commission recommended, Maori will almost have no chance of being elected to the board. Representation at-large will cater for the corporate few, while tangata whenua and grass-roots have been marginalised and relegated to the community level.

“I know the issue of local democracy has been a concern to the government. One of the biggest and most distinctive communities that must be represented is the Maori community, made up of members of tribes from all over New Zealand.

“The Royal Commission recognised both these points, after their exhaustive consultation process. The government has over-ridden their views, and says no further consultation is needed. I beg to differ,” said Dr Sharples.

“The point of consultation is to take notice of the viewpoints you hear. Before the government sets aside the Royal Commission’s recommendations, it really must inform itself by listening to the people,” said Dr Sharples.

“These announcements are not in the best interestes of Maori and I will be organising a consultation hui for Maori to discuss the best ways we can respond,” said Dr Sharples.

Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Minister of Maori Affairs

7 April 2009 Media Release
E kore te Minita Maori e whakaae

Kua tu wehe mai te Minita Maori i te whakatau a te Runanga Minita mo te hanga o nga kaunihera o Tamaki Makaurau, i runga i te whakaaro, kaore i te tika kia kore e whai reo motuhake te tangata whenua, haunga ano te nuinga noa atu o nga iwi Maori.

“Na te tangata whenua te kaupapa o tenei taone i hanga,” hei ta Takuta Sharples. “No ratou nga whenua, nga moana, nga rawa katoa, na ratou ano te timatanga o te taone i wawao, kia tipu kaha ai.

“I pohiri ratou ki nga tauhou, i manaaki pai ratou i te taone, i nga rua rau tau kua pahure. Ko nga taumahatanga i pikau i te tangata whenua, hei painga katoa mo etahi atu,” hei tana.

“Kaore i te tika kia huri tuara te kawanatanga inaianei, te marea ranei, me te whakaaro, kaore he mana o te reo o te tangata whenua e pa ana ki te taone, ki te takiwa. Ka rarua te whanaungatanga o nga iwi, i takea mai ai nga ahuatanga motuhake o Tamaki Makaurau. Kaore he painga o tera.

“Ehara i te mea, hei whakaiti enei turanga motuhake i etahi atu iwi, engari he hanga kaupapa i runga i te tika me te pono. Ki te whakakorea nga reo Maori motuhake i tohua e te Komihana a te Kuini, e kore te tangata Maori e eke ki nga turanga kaunihera. Ka riro ke ma nga tangata whai rawa anake, ma nga kaporeihana nunui ranei. Ko nga iwi maori noa iho, ka whakarerea ki te taha, ki nga raorao,” hei ta Takuta Sharples.

“Kei to mohio au, kei te maharahara te kawanatanga mo te whai mana o nga hapori. Ko tetahi o nga hapori nunui, ko te huinga o nga iwi Maori, mai i nga topito o te motu, kei Tamaki Makaurau e noho ana.

“Ka kite te Komihana a te Kuini i enei tikanga, whai muri i ta ratou toronga whanui ki nga iwi katoa, engari kua whakahetia a ratou tohutohu e te kawanatanga; hei aha noa iho te toronga ki te iwi. Kaore tera i te tika,” hei tana.

“Ko te take o te toro ki te iwi, he whakarongo ki nga korero e puta. Ki te whakahetia nga whakatau a te Komihana, me timata ano te kawanatanga ki te whakarongo ki nga iwi.

“Kaore he painga ki nga iwi mai i enei whakatau a te kawanatanga, a, kei te huri au ki te karanga hui e whiriwhiri ai nga iwi Maori, me pehea te whakautu,” te kii a Takuta Sharples.

ENDS

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