For more on this and the reaction
to the reforms let's cross to Parliament now
where the co-leader of the Māori Party Rawiri Waititi
is standing by.
Rawiri, tēnā koe.
Kia ora Oriini, otirā, kia ora tātou.
The RMA is out, one law into three new laws - what's your reaction?
This is just the beginning.
I support what was said by the person who was on before me.
We need to carefully discuss how the aspirations of Māori can be met
across every law.
Because if there is a change of Government,
Te Tiriti o Waitangi needs to be there.
It can't be there out of lip service,
everything it contains needs to be made a reality.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is something that we as the Māori Party
are vehemently vocal about including
in the changes of existing legislation,
as well as the creation of brand new legislation,
and also the correction of existing legislation.
Ministers need to consider these issues at great depth
and it's their responsibility to explain to iwi
what the purpose is behind these changes.
Minister Parker says
the new laws will provide an effective role for Māori.
Do you believe that will be the case?
Oh well in time we'll be able to see what happens.
For a long time the Government has been saying
that Māori should have an effective role,
and well, we haven't seen that eventuate yet.
So, we need to continue challenging the Government
so we can continue to give voice to the big issues
facing Māori currently.
We shouldn't be ignored,
we should be visible in these issues.
So, currently, things are right,
however, over the next few days we'll be able to see clearly
if Māori will have an effective role
and if Māori will have mana through this bill.
Great.
Let's change the subject to what happened yesterday
which has been a big talking point for Māori.
Labour Party list MP Tamati Coffey has made a number of statements -
your reaction?
Oh well,
maybe I should put it like this.
I'll refer to the oral traditions of my elders
regarding my ancestor Tamahae who said
'such a shame to waste my taiaha on a nobody!'.
So I don't care what he had to say.
What's important is that I'm making a stand to give Māori space,
and a voice,
and to be able to stand there on our own terms
in tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake
on issues that are of national significance.
We are tied to this land and this house.
The laws of the land are created in this house.
Let us not forget that it was our ancestors who allowed this building
to be established here.
We shouldn't view this as only a Pākehā building
and that we have to do things the Pākehā-way.
Absolutely not.
Our ancestors allowed this building to be here.
What I'm doing today is challenging the laws that are oppress us here
in this house as we go about our daily business.
Today, I was able to stand and submit my questions directly
to Nanaia and the Speaker didn't sit me down
so this is a win for Māori,
not just for the Māori Party,
but all Māori in general especially for our generations to come.
Great.
Thank you for that.
Just to round off our interview,
what do you believe needs to happen
to ensure that rules surrounding the dress code are appropriate,
in your view?
Our people know how to dress.
It's not for Pākehā to tell us what to do.
Māori for a very long time have been showing the world
how one should dress appropriately.
Clothes make the man.
And that's what I've been saying.
What I'm saying is appropriate Māori business attire,
based on the business attire which the Speaker was referring to.
We have a Māori business attire of our own
and it isn't the same as Pākehā business attire.
I refer back to my maiden speech where I recited
‘remove the rope from my neck so I may sing my song.'
So today, I stood, I asked my question,
and I was able to sing my song
because I'd freed my neck from the rope of Pākehā,
of the Speaker.
What a noble thing to have achieved.
My esteemed guest,
Rawiri Waititi,
thank you very much for making yourself available to speak to us
this afternoon.