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Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita R Sharples, today announced the appointment of Miriama Evans, Dr Rawinia Higgins, Hon Paul Swain and Nick Davidson to the Waitangi Tribunal.  Each has been appointed for a term of three years, from 1 January 2013.

They will join Professor Sir Hirini Mead who was reappointed as a member of the Tribunal today.

“All of these new appointees bring their own set of skills and experience to the Waitangi Tribunal,” said Dr. Pita Sharples.

Hon. Dr. Pita Sharples, Associate Minister of Education, has today announced the establishment of Puawaitanga scholarships for students enrolling in a Tutahi Maori Boarding School. These scholarships will be awarded to young people who demonstrate leadership potential, to help them to attend either Hato Paora College, Hato Petera College, Hukarere Girls College, St Joseph’s Maori Girls College, Te Aute College or Turakina Maori Girls College.

The community celebrations recognising the first section opening of the Pureora Timber Trail, part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, which were held over the weekend are the first step to see visitors travelling through ancient rain forests and across the ancestral homelands of several Central North Island hapū. 

“It’s a brilliant example of innovative Māori asset holders and government working together to realise the economic potential of their lands,” said Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.

Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Whangaokena te motu, ko Hinepare te marae. Te Whānau a Hunaara, Ngāti Porou whānui, e tangi! E tangi ki tō koutou koroua kua mate, ki tō koutou reo kōrero kua wahangū!

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples says the establishment of a Māori Economic Development Unit in the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will provide a new focus for New Zealand’s economic growth.

“The Māori economy is gaining strength, and revealing its potential to contribute to the New Zealand economy,” said Dr Sharples.

“Our traditional land-based assets are generating greater returns to owners, and supporting the development of the people through education scholarships, employment and in other ways.”

A new approach to boosting Māori economic performance will benefit all New Zealanders, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples say.

The Māori Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, He Kai Kei Aku Ringa, released at Parliament today provides a blueprint for a productive, innovative, and export-orientated Māori economy that will support better paying jobs and higher living standards.

Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples paid tribute to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Manuhiri descendants today as their respective Treaty of Waitangi settlements became law. 

Dr. Pita Sharples said “today marks a significant day for these two iwi who have walked a long road to have their grievances settled by the Crown.”

“As we moved through the final reading of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill we were reminded of the terrible injustices inflicted upon these iwi.”

Thursday 15 November 2012

Mr Speaker, I move that the Ngati Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, be now read for the third time.

The Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr. Pita Sharples has today congratulated Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei, and Structurflex Limited for winning a 2012 Industrial Fabrics Association International award of excellence for the design of Waka Māori.  The award was announced at the association’s international expo held this week in Boston, Massachusetts.

Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples has renewed his call for New Zealand history to be taught in all schools, saying a knowledge of history is essential to effective and inclusive education.

In a speech to the Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand in Palmerston North, Dr Sharples suggested that Māori children were not achieving well in education because teachers, along with other New Zealanders, are not familiar with the history and traditions that make Māori students who they are today.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples told Parliament today that he looked forward to the Mokomoko (Restoration of Character, Mana, and Reputation) Bill being passed so Te whānau a Mokomoko can move on to the next stage of their journey without the shame and stigma they have carried for so long.

In moving the first reading of the Bill, Dr Sharples said it gives statutory recognition to an agreement he signed with Te whānau a Mokomoko last year, on behalf of the Crown, to rectify unresolved matters relating to the free pardon granted to Mokomoko in 1992.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples welcomes the appointment of Michelle Hippolite as the new Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, and thanks the departing CE Leith Comer for his ‘active service’ over the past 12 years.

“Michelle has a very solid track record of public service and experience in a range of roles that will greatly benefit Te Puni Kokiri into the future,” said Dr Sharples.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time.

On behalf of the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, I move that the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Claims Settlement Bill be now read a first time.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples today paid tribute to Te Reo Māori Society and Ngā Tamatoa, on the fortieth anniversary of the Māori Language Petition being presented to Parliament.

“14 September 1972 was declared the first National Māori Language Day, and it marks the start of the most incredible struggle for the revitalisation of te reo Māori,” said Dr Sharples.

Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples welcomes the belated interest of the Labour Party in the Government’s decision to increase funding to reading programmes in primary schools.

“Labour’s leader may not realise that the 2011 Budget allocated $6.5 million to expand family-based literacy programmes to all decile one, two and three schools, building on the Reading Together programme.

Kaupapa Māori education has been part of the renaissance that has helped rebuild Māori people and culture in recent decades, according to the Associate Minister of Education, Dr Pita Sharples.

In a hard-hitting speech to the World Indigenous Lawyers’ Conference at Waikato University this afternoon, Dr Sharples said the destructive forces of colonisation were turned around in the 1970s and since.

Hon Dr Pita Sharples, Minister of Māori Affairs, has recognised the importance of Monday’s forum in bringing together various representatives across hapū and iwi to discuss their collective aspirations around water.

The theme of this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous People has been welcomed by the Minister of Māori Affairs as an opportunity to celebrate the work of indigenous media in influencing the social and political agenda.  The focus of this year’s International Day is "Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices".

The Minister of Māori Affairs has called a hui of iwi representatives and claimants to the Waitangi Tribunal on Māori custom and interests in fresh water.

“My hope is that, by coming together to discuss the issues, all groups will be clearer about each other’s thinking, and may be able to find a way to achieve their collective aspirations,” said Dr Sharples.

“Each iwi has its own customs relating to fresh water, and each will follow its own pathway to maintain its mana – and that is fine,” he said.

Minister of Māori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples, and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Tariana Turia, are pleased that the partnership between iwi, industry, tertiary providers and Government has received the confirmation of further investment in activities in Otautahi.

“We have been working within our respective portfolio areas, to increase the participation of Māori in trade-based careers at all levels” said Dr Sharples.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples says he has not advocated that people move into unsafe houses in the Christchurch red zone.

“My reported statement was in response to information I was given about a person who had been living in a car for some time, and my genuine concern for her health and wellbeing as winter was approaching,” said Dr Sharples.

“I told the Press reporter that my immediate priority was for the welfare of people in emergency situations, and that some solution had to be found.

E haruru ana te Tai Rāwhiti i ngā tai aroha e whati ana ki te akau!

Ko te riri a Tū! Ko te riri a Tū!

Kei te waipuke ngā awaawa o Motu, o Kereu – ko te mamae a Papa!

Te Whānau a Apanui! Ngāti Porou! Kei te tangihia to koutou rangatira!

E te uri o Horouta, e te tama a Tumatauenga, e te rangatira o te wa kāinga o Te Whānau a Apanui e tiraha mai rā i ngā marae o o iwi, takoto mai, takoto mai!

Takoto mai i te putake o Tihirau, i mua i ngā tauranga hi moki, i runga i ngā whenua tapu o o tipuna, kia tangihia koe e te motu.

E haruru ana te whenua, e ngunguru ana te iwi i te hinganga o te kauri tū teitei o te Wao Nui a Tāne!

E te rangatira o te Tai Tokerau, o te Ope Keri Kapia o te Rōpū Rua Tekau ma Waru, e te uri o Patuharakeke o Ngāti Wai, o Ngati Pūkenga, Takoto mai! Takoto mai! Takoto mai!

Ka haere taitama koe ki tawahi tū ai ki te mura o te ahi, ki te pae o te riri, ka toa koe!

Ka hoki mai koe ki te wa kāinga, ka eke koe ki te taumata o te kaumātua, ināianei kua mate koe! Aue te tangi!