Displaying 1 - 24 of 31 results.

Strengthening the focus on whānau, hapū and iwi, and consolidating Māori leadership, are the key principles underpinning the proposed new Māori Language Strategy which the Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples, has released today for consultation with Māori language stakeholders.

“Te reo Māori is the cornerstone of our Māori culture and identity. We must look to new approaches to continue our journey of language revitalisation in order for it to survive,” said Dr Sharples.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

The Minister of Maori Affairs today pays tribute to the descendants of Te Whakatōhea rangatira, Mokomoko, and welcomes the passing of the 3rd reading of  the Mokomoko (Restoration of Character, Mana, and Reputation) Bill.

“The passing of this Bill marks the end of a long journey for Te whānau a Mokomoko, who have fought to restore the character, mana, and reputation of their tipuna Mokomoko, who was tried, convicted and executed for his alleged role in the murder of Rev Carl Sylvius Volkner,” said Dr. Sharples.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

The Government has received the Constitutional Advisory Panel’s final report which recommends that the conversation about New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements should continue, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples say.

The 12-member independent panel spent more than six months having a conversation with New Zealanders about  our constitutional arrangements. These included the role of the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori representation in Parliament and local government, the Bill of Rights Act and other matters.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Bill English
  • Māori Affairs
  • Deputy Prime Minister

Te Puni Kōkiri will have an enhanced strategic and leadership role across government, as part of changes announced by the Minister of Māori Affairs, Dr. Pita Sharples today.

“There will be changes to refocus Te Puni Kōkiri’s core functions, which will position them better to lead the Crown-Māori relationship into the future, and to help the Crown deliver greater results for Māori,” said Dr. Pita Sharples.

“The changes reflect the fact that Te Puni Kōkiri’s work has become too thinly spread.”

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples confirmed today that the Independent Review of Public Funding to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board is underway.

“A lot of work has been completed to establish this independent review, with Ernst & Young commissioned to carry it out. I am pleased that this has moved forward with urgency,” says Ms Parata.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Minister Dr Hon Pita Sharples have met with representatives of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board tonight to discuss the allegations made against them.

“While we were encouraged by the actions that the Trust has taken so far, which they have advised us of tonight, we have informed the Trust that the Ministry of Education will be commissioning an independent, specialist audit firm to review the controls the Trust has in place to assure itself that public funding is being used appropriately.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Hekia Parata
  • Education

The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board has announced two new education initiatives as part of this year’s 70th anniversary celebrations of one of New Zealand’s greatest war heroes.

In recognition of the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Second Lieutenant Te Moana Nui a Kiwa Ngārimu, the Board will invest $250,000 into resourcing histories of each of the Māori Battalion's four rifle companies and related initiatives.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Hekia Parata
  • Māori Affairs
  • Education

Māori Affairs Minister, Hon. Dr. Pita Sharples is reassuring people that there is no agenda to get rid of the New Zealand Maori Council, and is urging Māori to have their say on the Māori Community Development Act 1962 which is currently out for public consultation.

The Act established three mechanisms to support Māori community development; the New Zealand Māori Council supported by three levels of Māori Committees, Māori Wardens and Community Officers.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Māori are now well placed to draw on a proud history of innovation to grow collective assets, Māori Affairs Minister Hon. Dr Pita Sharples said today.

Dr Sharples was hosting an event at Waka Maori based in New Zealand’s America’s Cup Village aimed at celebrating Māori business innovation.

He drew upon the story of San Francisco’s Silicon Valley and said the small area had built a huge economy based on ground-breaking ideas and innovation.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Māori Affairs Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples urges Māori business leaders to hold steadfast to our traditions as the Maori economy grows.

Dr Sharples spoke today at the Māori Bootcamp being held this week at Stanford University. The Bootcamp is focused on Māori in primary industries and exposes leaders to world-leading business perspectives.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

The Government’s Drivers of Crime programme continues to make excellent progress in reducing offending and supporting victims, a new progress report released today by Justice Minister Judith Collins and Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples shows.

Launched in December 2009, Drivers of Crime coordinates the crime prevention work of the justice and social sector agencies to tackle the underlying causes of crime.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Judith Collins
  • Corrections
  • Māori Affairs
  • Justice

The first comprehensive public consultation on the Māori Community Development Act since it was passed more than 50 years ago will take place throughout September, Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.

Dr. Pita Sharples said “the Māori Community Development Act 1962 had its genesis in a national conference of Māori leaders – 51-years on Māori people are being consulted on its future.”

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

“We’re not asking you to turn into a Māori language expert overnight: We’re just asking you to give it a go.”

This is the call from Māori Affairs Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples at the start of Māori Language Week 2013.  This year’s theme is Ngā Ingoa Māori: Māori names.

“For those of us with Māori names – just knowing someone is trying to say your name properly means a lot.”

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Ko Ōtawa te maunga
Ko Te Rapa-rapa-a-hoe te awa
Ko Hei te tupuna
Ko Takakopiri te tangata
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Waitaha te Iwi.

Mr Speaker, I am honoured to welcome the children of Hei, the people of Waitaha to New Zealand’s House of Representatives.  Descendents of Hei of the great Te Arawa waka.
Nau Mai, Haere Mai.

The story of Waitaha is hugely significant: an iwi whose members have never yielded to the Crown.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, ngā tamariki mokopuna o Haranui, Reweti, Kakanui, Araparera me Puatahi marae. Tēnā koutou.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to nga uri o Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara who have travelled here to join us on this important day.

I would like to acknowledge all those who made claims on behalf of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara and began this journey.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Today we turn south from Te Whanganui ā Tara.
We look across Raukawa Moana.
Past the resting place of Te Wheke a Muturangi.
To the lands of Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka a Māui.
The prow of the great canoe of Māui Tikitiki a Taranga.

It is my honour to welcome to this house the sons and daughters of:

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

The Ministers of Economic Development and Maori Affairs have appointed a five member Advisory Board to assist in the implementation of the recently adopted Māori Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, He Kai Kei Aku Ringa.

The strategy and action plan, prepared by the independent Maori Economic Development Panel, provides a blue print for Māori economic development through to 2040.

The Advisory Board’s responsibilities are on-going stewardship, monitoring and evaluation of the strategy and how it will be implemented.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Steven Joyce
  • Māori Affairs
  • Economic Development

Budget 2013 provides for new and increased funding for Māori language initiatives, Māori Affairs Minister and Associate of Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples says.

This lays the foundation for the Māori Language Strategy, which will be released later this year.

“Vote Māori Affairs provides $8 million over four years for a new Māori Language Research and Development Fund, which will be administered by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori to strengthen the evidence base for effective Māori language policies and programmes,” Dr Sharples says.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Budget 2013

Budget 2013 has provided more funding towards the highly successful Māori Affairs cadetship programme, which has supported more Māori into jobs and kept them there.

“We established this programme in 2009 to address Māori unemployment, and to provide Māori new to the workforce - or those with low qualifications - the opportunity to gain work experience and formal qualifications as a means of enhancing employment outcomes,” Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs
  • Budget 2013

Māori Affairs Minister, Dr. Pita Sharples has welcomed news that Waka Māori will be used in San Francisco during the America’s Cup, and says that the pavilion will show our Māori culture to the world.

Dr Sharples said “Waka Māori was a hit during Rugby World Cup 2011. It was used as a Māori cultural venue and events base, and clocked more than 400,000 visitors during the time that it was open.”

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Poroporoaki ki a Parekura Tureia Horomia
Ka tanuku! Ka tanuku! Ka tanuku koa te tihi ki Hikurangi, ka tanuku!
Haruru ana te Tai Rāwhiti i te hinganga o Parekura, tangi ana te motu.
E te rangatira, kua moe koe i te poho o tō whānau, o tō iwi. Takoto mai, takoto mai.
E kī ana te kōrero: ‘Rārangi maunga, tū i te ao, tū i te pō; rārangi tangata, ka ngaro, ka ngaro.’
He maunga tangata koe – he maunga aroha, maunga kōrero, maunga o ngā tikanga tuku iho a ngā tīpuna.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Tēnā koutou katoa, ānei rā te mihi ki a koutou katoa e kaha nei ki te hāpai, ki te tautoko i ngā whānau, ngā hapū me ngā marae maha puta noa i o tātou motu whānui nei o Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu.

Otirā me te mihi anō ki a koutou e kaha nei ki te poipoi i a tātou tamariki mokopuna, ka riro hoki ma rātou e hoe te waka apōpō. E tika tonu kia mihi ki o tātou mate e hingahinga tonu nei puta noa i te motu. E kore hoki e taea te karo te taonga nei a te mate. Ka maumahara tonu ki a rātou o ngā hoia i mate i te pakanga tuarua.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Education

Eight outstanding Māori leaders of tomorrow have been recognised with education scholarships totalling $115,000.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs

Nimen Hao.

Tēnā koutou.

Greetings.

I acknowledge our honoured guests and key speakers.

Thank you to the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges and the New Zealand China Council for bringing us together in this ground-breaking event.

As our Prime Minister has already mentioned, today’s forum realises a milestone goal for our Government as we strengthen relationships and networks with the Chinese people.

  • Pita Sharples
  • Māori Affairs