Aboriginal Senator's Welfare Message An Inspiration For Maori
Wednesday 25th Aug 1999
Donna Awatere Huata
Media Release -- Social Welfare
Australia's only federal Aboriginal politician will make history in his maiden speech tonight urging governments to stop
throwing more money at indigenous communities, a message ACT Maori Affairs Spokesman Donna Awatere Huata said should be
heeded by politicians and Maori in New Zealand.
''Australian Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway's message that the welfare cycle in Aboriginal communities must be broken,
is exactly the proactive stance we need in our own Maori communities," said Mrs Huata.
"I have known Aden since his days with the Aboriginal Land Council and am extremely pleased that his work for Aboriginal
people is now beginning in Parliament. He has come from the very communities he speaks off and knows just how damaging
the culture of welfare dependency has been for his people.
"Maori have fallen into the same trap as the Aboriginal people. We think of ourselves as victims of the welfare state
rather than taking responsibility to get our kids and ourselves educated to get jobs and look after ourselves.
"We too are in a self-defeating cycle of dependency and just throwing more money at the problems in our Maori
communities is not the answer.
"Welfare has done nothing to take us forward, it has instead become our greatest sickness. It has sapped our potential
and ability to look after ourselves and our children. Like the Aborigines, particularly in rural communities, many Maori
have become marginalised and disenfranchised.
"I totally agree with Senator Ridgeway that the welfare culture must be stopped and our people must become less welfare
dependent and more self-sufficient.
"His words are an inspiration for the Aboriginal people and the Australian Parliament. They are also an inspiration for
Maori and our Parliament," said Donna Awatere Huata.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.