Questions - Rights of indigenous peoples

Questions - UN Declaration on rights of indigenous peoples

9. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—Government Support
Wednesday 12 September 2007

[Uncorrected transcript—subject to correction and further editing.]

9. HONE HARAWIRA (Māori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) to the Minister of Māori Affairs: Ka aki ia i te Kāwanatanga ki te tautoko i te Kawenata Whakapuaki o te Pāremata Kotahitanga o te Ao mō ngā Iwi Taketake o te Ao, āpōpō nei pōti ai, te tekau mā toru o Mahuru, rua mano mā whitu, arā, he kawenata whakapuaki kua mahi nei te iwi taketake ki te whakatutuki mō ngā tau rua tekau mā whā ki muri?
[Will he put pressure on the Government to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which will be voted on tomorrow, 13 September 2007, a declaration that indigenous people have been working on for the last 24 years?]

Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Customs) on behalf of the Minister of Māori Affairs: No.

Hone Harawira: Does the Minister of Māori Affairs agree that indigenous peoples should have the right to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures, and traditions; to establish, control, and provide education in their own language; to live in freedom, peace, and security as distinct peoples; to enjoy full and effective participation in all matters that concern them; to have full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; to freely determine their political status; to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development; to be free from discrimination; and to not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories?

Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Many aspects of the Draft *Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will resonate here in New Zealand, but it would be difficult for the Government to take a position on an international declaration that is incompatible with New Zealand democratic processes and domestic legislation.

Darien Fenton: What is the Government’s position on the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I have been advised that the draft declaration is incompatible with the Government’s position. Tomorrow’s vote will reflect that.

Hone Harawira: Does the Minister of Māori Affairs agree with the comments of **Ms Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the *United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and co-ordinator of the **Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus, that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a historic milestone for the indigenous peoples who have been working on it for more than 22 years, and that States have a historical and moral obligation to adopt the declaration, which she characterised as the “key instrument and tool for raising awareness on indigenous people’s situations and indigenous people’s rights.”; if so, when is he planning on speaking out against his own Government’s stated opposition to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: There has been quite a long discourse on the *Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and quite recently it has been referred to as an aspirational document. In fact, during question time in the House last week one of the concerns I pointed to was that many countries intend to support it but have no intention of implementing it. That just cannot be the case.

Hone Harawira: Does the Minister of Māori Affairs agree with his colleague Nanaia Mahuta’s comments that *“the Minister is well aware that New Zealand has called for open and transparent consultations on the text”—of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—“and he is disappointed that such consultations did not eventuate, despite the continued efforts of a number of countries, including New Zealand, to trigger such a process.”; given his support for the consultation process, can he please explain to the House why there has been no formal consultation on the declaration with any of the major iwi in this country, the *New Zealand Māori Council, the *Māori Women’s Welfare League, the iwi chairpersons’ forum, the *Federation of Māori Authorities, or the Māori Party, which happens to hold the majority of the parliamentary seats representing the indigenous people of Aotearoa?

Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: No. Extensive consultation has been undertaken with a number of groups interested in this matter.

Darien Fenton: What has the Government done to improve opportunities for Māori?

Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Regardless of any international instruments, this Government is committed to ensuring that Māori participate equally and successfully in New Zealand’s economy and society. The Government’s priorities have proven to be successful in improving outcomes for Māori. The measures show an increase in the average income of Māori in the workforce, and a record low rate of Māori unemployment. More Māori are getting degrees, more Māori are owning their own business, more Māori children are in early childhood education, and more Māori are taking charge of their own affairs and assets. That is positive progress.

ENDS