With parliament in recess for the next two weeks,
we spoke to the Minister of Maori Development
Te Ururoa Flavell earlier today.
I am wanting to reach out
and help with the work done under Te Puni Kokiri.
Those are Whanau Ora issues,
development issues and land issues under my umbrella at this time.
I am wanting to reach out to the communities of this region,
there is nothing above and beyond that.
In your region of Te Waiariki,
how is the clean up of Edgecumbe going?
As they are currently living under extreme difficulty
because of Cyclone Debbie and Cook.
Is the government planning
on establishing shelters for the victims?
What are the iwi of the region doing to help?
There is a lot of help.
I was there yesterday and I helped a few families whilst there
- carrying belongings outside of their house.
We could see and feel the effects of the cyclone.
A lot of houses on one particular street are all condemned.
I really feel for the four or five families
who had to get rid of a lot of possessions
that were collected over the years.
So what are the helpers doing?
Some are helping the homeless, gathering food,
reaching out and helping clean houses
- and of course we have the Maori Wardens,
Te Puni Kokiri and the marae doing their part also
by feeding the volunteers in the past week
and for a few days to come.
My heart is sad for the people
who are really going through tough times because of this.
Yesterday,
I saw a family who has no possessions now,
so I am sad for them.
But they are a brave a strong bunch,
and are also receiving lots of help
from the volunteers in the days just gone.
The Auckland committee of your party has endorsed your party's candidate
Shane Taurima to stand as a candidate.
When will the national council make this official?
The plan was,
to send the word through to the main council within the month.
So we can go through with what Auckland has decided.
But that is what's planned on our calendar so far.
What will be the value of Taurima?
Well Shane hasn't been named officially by them yet,
but from what I've been of him he is smart and knowledgeable in politics,
he has been a right hand man to me in the last few years,
we have seen his education and bravery in talking on issues.
He has a big heart for his iwi Maori.
So we have thought he would be ideal to represent Auckland
and I will leave it to our council to settle.
To finish our segment, Minister, the Ture Whenua Maori Bill
- when will be its last reading?
And do you agree to the added changes to the bill?
It is meant to be in parliament with the committee,
the House will have the opportunity to debate over it.
That's meant to happen when parliament meets next,
and the last reading should take place in June.
But who knows how it will go in the house.
I agree with the changes, as some were created by me.
I went through a lot to make sure the changes meet
the requests and advice given by people.
Some are happy, some are not
and some don't see the point of the changes.
However, I tried to listen to the communities across NZ
and on that I believe it's ready to be presented in government.