MEDIA STATEMENT

The Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Maori Party Co-Leader | MP for Tamaki Makaurau

Thursday 26 January 2012

Kauhau ki te Motu a te Pirimia: PM’s State of the Nation Speech
Comments by Dr Pita Sharples, Maori Party Co-leader

Maori Party Co-leader Dr Pita Sharples is disappointed at the obvious omissions from the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation speech this afternoon.

“This was not a speech about the health of this nation – it was almost exclusively about the economy and budgetary matters,” said Dr Sharples.

“There was nothing said about the well-being of our nations peoples.

“I didn’t see the word poverty – even though the government has set up a Ministerial inquiry into poverty.

“The Treaty was not mentioned once – even though we have already begun to review the constitution of Aotearoa.

“And there was no reference to Maori in his speech – so our people must see that only the Maori Party in Parliament is able to bring their most important issues before the House of Representatives and the Government.

“This makes it pretty obvious to Maori that politics is not a game – it’s a full-time commitment. The government acknowledge Maori only when it suits them – we are the tangata whenua.

“The time has come for Maori to back the Maori Party once again, to advance their issues in debates in Parliament.

“It is through mutual respect, honour and good faith among the peoples of this nation, through unity, positive relationships, and consideration for each other, that Aoteraroa will thrive and be great,” said Dr Sharples.

Kauhau ki te Motu a te Pirimia

Ka papouri te kaiarahi takirua o te Torangapu Maori, a Takuta Pita Sharples, i nga korero wareware i te kauhau aronga whanui a te Pirimia i te ra nei.

“Kaore te kauhau nei i korero mo te oranga o tenei whenua, engari kē mo te ohanga me era momo ahuatanga,” te ki a Takuta Sharples.

“Kaore he paku aha e pā ana ki te oranga o nga iwi o tenei whenua.

“Kare i rangona te kupu poharatanga – ahakoa i whakaturia e te kawanatanga tetahi Komiti Minita mo te rawakore.

“Kare i rangona te kupu Tiriti, ahakoa kua kōkiritia te arotake kaupapa-a-ture.

“Kare hoki i rangona te kupu Maori i tana kauhau – kia kaua tātou e wareware, ko matou ko te torangapu Maori anake te ropu kei rō Whare Paremata e kawe ana i nga kaupapa Maori ki te aroaro o ngā Mema Paremata.

“Ma konei e kitea e te iwi Maori, ehara ngā take torangapū i te mahi haututu noa iho – he tautohe roa ke. Ehara i te kawanatanga te tikanga, me whakamanatia te iwi Maori, kaore ranei – ko tatou te tangata whenua.

Kua tae ki te wa, me hoki rarau mai a Maori mā ki a matou, kia kawea, kia whawhaitia o ratou kaupapa ki roto o Paremata.

“Ma te korowai o te rangatiratanga nga tangata katoa o te motu ka noho tau i roto i te hari me te koa, ma te kotahitanga, ma te whanaungatanga, ma te manaakitanga, ka kitea he oranga mo to tatou whenua o Aotearoa.

________________________________________

© Scoop Media