Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says issues affecting his people had put pressure on his party's support arrangement with the government.Dr Sharples is a Maori Party co-leader but his speech today at an Auckland marae about race relations was in his
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says issues affecting his people had put pressure on his party's support arrangement with the government.
Dr Sharples is a Maori Party co-leader but his speech today at an Auckland marae about race relations was in his ministerial role.
He said the support arrangement with the government was "very difficult and stressful" at times.
The government's decision not to have special seats for Maori on the Auckland super-city was an example as well as its feet dragging on signing up to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Dr Sharples said the government had agreed to support the declaration but with too many caveats attached.
"I am dedicated to completing this exercise and to pull back these caveats. I believe adopting the declaration would mean recapturing some of the courage and momentum in advancing race-relations that we lost with the Auckland seats."
The Auckland seats decision was "regrettable," he said, and failed to acknowledge the history of Auckland Maori and what they had been through.
"It seems to me to be poor reward for such a major role played by Ngati Whatua in ensuring that the city of Auckland could survive, grow, and flourish. So I feel that the Auckland city seats decision is a missed opportunity, lost to the politics of the day. I am saddened by that course of action."
Dr Sharples said his party's agreement was as an example of leadership in race relations but it was difficult.
However, he said Treaty issues were making good progress.
Dr Sharples also talked about the plight of Asian immigrants who he said tended to be ignored and that Maori had to share some blame.
"To me, personally, I feel shamed at those admissions. I feel it is a role that we must complete – and powhiri our Asian settlers – as a Maori, I feel it is our duty.
"Perhaps, a major event consummating the Asian contribution and acknowledging their presence towards new settlers is another project towards good race-relations," he said.
