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Budget 2012 will provide $7.6 million over the next four years for an education programme that gives schools and children a hands-on approach to looking after the environment, Environment Minister Amy Adams and Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today.

Enviroschools and Te Aho Tu Roa (the Maori immersion approach) encourage children, their schools and their families to think and act sustainably – at school, at home and in everyday life.

Described by economists as a “sleeping giant”, New Zealand’s Māori Taniwha economy is “wide awake and hungry for business” says Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples has opened a small office in Glen Innes to help tenants involved in the Tamaki Transformation Programme.

“This major urban renewal project is disruptive to some of the long-established communities there, while state houses are upgraded or reconfigured to meet current and future demands,” said Dr Sharples.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples has announced the membership and terms of reference for a working group to refocus and strengthen Te Puni Kokiri.

“I am looking for a more strategic influence and impact from Te Puni Kokiri, as was indicated in the Māori Party’s Relationship Accord and Confidence and Supply Agreement with the National Party,” said Dr Sharples.

The Treaty of Waitangi settlements process is restorative justice in action says Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.

Speaking at the launch of JustSpeak’s paper on Māori and the Criminal Justice System, he recalled the recent settlement of five Treaty of Waitangi claims.

“The victims were the families of Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Manawa. Tribes and families who, on the 29 March 2012, forgave years and generations of offending,” said Dr Sharples.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Minister Pita Sharples have announced the establishment of an expert reference group on the Māori-medium teaching workforce.

The reference group will advise the Government on how to increase the number of high-quality, te reo-fluent teachers in Māori-medium education.

The ten strong group, who will meet for the first time today, is made of up principals, academics and business leaders.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples has congratulated his colleague, Trade Minister Tim Groser, for saying te reo Maori should be taught in all primary schools.

“I welcome Minister Groser's comments. His work at global meetings would show him that most people in the world today are bilingual or multi-lingual,” said Dr Sharples.

Former Minister Georgina te Heuheu has been appointed to the Board of Māori Television, Māori Affairs Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples said today.

“Mrs te Heuheu has been appointed to the Board for three years, effective immediately, and she will replace the current Chair of the Board when his term expires on 30 April 2012,” said Dr Sharples.

The Minister of Māori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples, is encouraging people to make submissions on a Māori Economic Development Panel: Discussion Document which was released today

“Māori are significant players in the New Zealand economy, with assets worth $36.9 billion, but when Māori realise our full potential, we can contribute so much more than we do already,” Dr Sharples says.

Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson confirmed today that New Zealand will be sending a waka taua (war canoe) as the country's official participant in the Thames River Pageant, which marks the Diamond Jubilee celebrating the 60th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II on 3 June.

Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples says the formalisation of a collective of Maori tradesmen in Christchurch today shows ‘whanaungatanga in action’ – and the value of traditional cultural bonds to meet a modern crisis.

Speaking at the launch at Rehua Marae this afternoon, Dr Sharples said: “These guys forged strong bonds when they came together on the old Maori Affairs Trade Training Scheme thirty, forty or fifty years ago – and now those links will give extra value to the people of Christchurch as they rebuild after the earthquakes.

Survey results released today show visitors to te Waka Māori during Rugby World Cup 2011 rated the experience as highly or higher than other RWC 2011 events and venues.

“Almost 180,000 people visited Waka Māori and survey respondents reported an average satisfaction rating of 8.2 out of 10; and 27 percent gave it ten out of ten,” said Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples.

“Results of similar surveys were 7.7 out of 10 for the Fan Zone and the Cloud, and 7.8 out of 10 for the REAL New Zealand Festival,” said Dr Sharples.

Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples has expressed support for the staff of Te Puni Kokiri, who have been given a preliminary briefing by the Chief Executive on the Ministry’s operating environment.

“How the Ministry manages their fiscal pressures and efficiency dividend is of course an operational matter for management. I expect to be consulted on the Chief Executive’s proposals for how Te Puni Kokiri continues to deliver the most effective services to the public, within the budget they have been allocated,” he said.

Associate Education Minister and Maori Party Co-leader Dr Pita Sharples says the ten-year anniversary of the Enviroschools Foundation is a milestone that’s really worth celebrating.

Speaking at a function in Hamilton this evening [6.30pm Wednesday 18 January 2012] Dr Sharples congratulated the Foundation, and all its support partners, for carrying on their work.

Associate Corrections Minister Dr Pita Sharples says a recent incident involving prisoners diving for food in a marine reserve is most unfortunate.

"As I understand it, this reintegration programme teaches prisoners a way to help support themselves and their families, and how to sustain the natural environment,” said Dr Sharples. “These are valuable social and cultural skills which prisoners can contribute to their community after they are released.

The Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples, is inviting contributions for designs for tukutuku panels that will enhance the New Zealand Wall in the United Nations Headquarters General Assembly building in New York.

While at the UN Headquarters in 2010, Hon Dr Sharples identified an opportunity to both demonstrate New Zealand’s long-term commitment to the UN, while showcasing the unique cultural identity of Māori as tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa.