MEDIA STATEMENT
Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Co-Leader of the Maori Party
Embargoed until 3pm on 20 May 2010

$9 million: Support for Maori business

The Maori Party’s desire to see entrepreneurship and enterprise in the Maori economy will be given a lift because of the $9 million secured by Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples, who negotiated the funding in his capacity as Minister of Maori Affairs.

Budget 2010 provides support in several areas for Maori business to contribute to the economic recovery and help Maori get ahead under their own steam.

“We recognise that there is untapped entrepreneurial talent out there among our people and these funds should, among other things, help bring that talent to the fore.

“We also know that iwi are major contributors to the economy, and owners of large natural resources, so these funds will also support them to investment in tourism, geothermal, water power plants and other schemes,” Dr Sharples said.

“Maori economic growth is good for Maori and good for the nation."

$4.5 million of new money has been allocated to grow Maori productivity and export growth, and to support Maori innovation. A significant amount of this money will be put into developing units and training to up skill Maori working for Maori in the primary sector.

“The Maori asset base is concentrated in dairy, tourism, meat, wood and seafood – most of New Zealand’s key export earners. There are huge potential economic returns from our investment in skills and training for Maori in the primary sector.

“Key drivers of growth for Maori in the ‘innovation economy’ include the creation of knowledge and innovation, technological advances, research and development, and education and skills,” Dr Sharples said.

The other $4.5 million has been set aside for initiatives currently being developed to strengthen and promote Maori tourism.

“Maori culture offers a unique dimension for New Zealand’s tourism industry so any strengthening of the leadership in the Maori tourism sector will be of benefit."

Other Budget 2010 initiatives included developing a ‘Brand Maori’ to gain premium prices for Maori-produced goods exported to niche markets and support for a delegation of Maori business leaders at the World Expo in Shanghai, to be funded from existing allocations.

Iwi and Maori were also likely to benefit from the $1.5 million for iwi/Maori partnerships to identify priorities in science.

END

Maori_Party__Budget_2010_Media_Kit.pdf

ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE THE ELECTION

1. A guarantee by the National Party that it will not seek to remove the Maori seats without the consent of the Maori people.

2. Review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act completed.

3. Implementation of the Goulter Report to enable extra funding for very large electorates to improve access to MPs for constituents (the increased funding will provide vital support to 6/7 Maori electorates).

4. Undertaking from Government to consider constitutional issues including Maori representation and establishing a group by early 2010.

5. Maori Party input into the process of Government appointments, with recommendations being considered ‘in good faith.’ In some occasions two Maori appointees have been considered. New fresh faces.

6. Established Maori Economic Development Taskforce, following the Maori Economic Workshop held in January 2009.

7. Established a Taskforce on Whanau ora and report released. $134 million announced on 6 May 2010.

8. Agreement on Maori Flag
9. Maori Family Violence strategy published, review of services.

10. Government dropped plans to rewrite Treaty clauses in the Resource Management Act in the face of opposition from the Maori Party.

11. Te Ao Auahatanga Hauora Maori received international award from the University of Toronto. $5 million a year available under fund for Maori health providers to develop and implement a pilot or new service, share and spread innovative information to improve Maori health.

12. Tobacco displays: Consultation has begun on a proposal to ban the display of tobacco products in all retail outlets in New Zealand. Tobacco tax: excise on loose tobacco (Roll your own) increased 14%. Eexcse on all tobacco products to be increased for 33.3%.

13. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People 14. Budget 2010: Maori language review; Maori economic taskforce; Whanau ora; supporting Maori innovation; digital literacy; disabilities; migrant and refugees; Whare oranga ake. Etc.

(Page 12 of 12; Maori Party Media Kit; 20 May 2010) 15. Advocacy on behalf of whanau, hapu and iwi 16. Support for Carers Strategy. New Ministerial (Disability Issues)

ETS gains negotiated between the Maori Party and the Government:

Impacts of power and petrol price charges will be halved.

A specific proposal to enhance the Government’s energy efficiency assistance (including home heating and insulation) for low income households.

Treaty clause in the legislation to ensure Crown’s obligations to its Treaty partner are not compromised by the ETS.

Recognition that iwi have issues with respect to deforestation provisions and their specific Treaty settlements where they have unknowingly been disadvantaged.

A commitment from Government to work with iwi and the Maori Party to find solutions for iwi with forests returned in Treaty settlements pre-ETS.

Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group to play an ongoing role in international negotiations to allow for offsetting.

Potential for Treaty partners to be jointly involved in afforestation programmes to deliver both climate change and biodiversity benefits.

Maori Party to be consulted closely on review of the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative and terms of reference and membership of the reference group.

Allocation of NZUs to iwi quota holders in respect of the fisheries industry.

Maori Party to be consulted, and iwi agricultural interests represented, in an agricultural advisory group.

Maori Party input into a National Policy Statement under the Resource Management Act on indigenous vegetation to protect New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.

Government to work with the Maori Party to invest in domestic research priorities and an international initiative to address agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Maori Party input into ongoing dialogue on a broader environmental policy programme.

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