September 03, 2014
Minister’s tono to go beyond government
Education Minister Hekia Parata has challenged those taking part in a Maori development hui to take a personal interest in the education of those in their whanau and hapu.
Ms Parata also told Te Pae Roa 2040 at Massey University that such conferences are still dominated by people who work for government.
She says if such a hui were held in 2040, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, she’d like the speakers to be business leaders, resource developers and wealth generators.
"Minimising the role of government in our lives, maximising our lives in the middle of our whanau is what true potential is about, so let's look to 2040 and ensure that over the interceding years that we develop success in those kinds of ways, where government is a bit player," Ms Parata says.
But a Ngati Porou lawyer says government can’t walk away from its obligations towards Maori development just yet.
Matanuku Mahuika told Te Pae Roa 2040 his tribe will produce a profit of about $10 million in the current year from its treaty settlement assets.
That compares with the $10 billion the government has to spend on education.
That’s why iwi need to collaborate with government on programmes that sustain their people and maintain their unique identity.
"Despite what Hekia said the government is still the biggest spender, they get to take money off us every year to spend on us, and so there is an opportunity for us to be directing that somewhere where we think it makes a difference," Mr Mahuika says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HEKIA PARATA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjE3MTU=
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MATANUKU MAHUIA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjE3MzA=
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