Trevett on Maori Party
April 4th, 2009 at 10:10 am by David FarrarClaire Trevett looks as the Ministerial delegations for the Maori Party:
The announcement of the delegated responsibilities was barely noticed at the time. But for the Maori Party, it delivered the mana it was waiting for.
The full list of delegations is here. There hasn’t been a great deal of analysis of it, to date.
The list is extensive and, critically, delivers distinct areas of responsibility and funding in social policy that affect the lives of Maori people.
Among them, Tariana Turia has taken on responsibility for Maori and Pacific employment as well as the Government’s overall strategy on family violence.
In health, her focus includes provider development. But wider responsibilities include sexual health, diabetes, tobacco, communicable diseases and breast and cervical screening.
Pita Sharples is expected to find ways to address Maori over-representation in crime, as well as more effective rehabilitation of Maori offenders. In an area dear to his heart, he gets responsibilities for Maori education such as kohanga reo and kura kaupapa.
In some ways these areas are more significant than their main ministerial portfolios of Maori Affairs for Pita Sharples and the Community and Voluntary sector for Tariana Turia.
Indeed.
The challenge for the Maori Party is to deliver in areas it has long accused others of failing in.
The expectation they must perform in these areas is crystal clear. To Mrs Turia falls the task not only of “addressing” family violence but of “reducing the impact” of it.
Mr Key puts a premium on performance – and his support parties are not exempt.
He will also expect Maori ministers to toe the same line of accountability for how public money is spent, and Mrs Turia has already begun the process of measuring the effectiveness of each dollar.
By giving the Maori Party exactly what was asked for, Mr Key has put his faith in them to deliver on it.
The column is a very good read abotu some of the challenges ahead.
Related posts:
- Will the Maori Party co-leaders stay on?
- National – Maori Party Agreement
- Will the Maori Party have peace in our time?
- Maori Party Leadership
April 4th, 2009 at 10:24 am
The first thing the Maori party has to decide is whether it will approach these problems from the perspective of colonisation, group rights and wrongs etc or whether it will reward and expect individual responsibility and self improvement.
The biggest problems now facing Maori derive from the social welfare system. I suspect that this is a no-go zone for the Maori Party, in which case they can try every trick under the sun without making a dent in Maori achievement and development.
Young motherhood and the DPB, and the Housing NZ entitlements that flow from these circumstances place an almost insurmountable hurdle in the paths of many Maori families. Once you have all these benefits, there is absolutely no way that you can earn a similar income in the job market. So they are trapped. Then come the second, third and fourth children, with no dad around (at least not one that WINZ knows about), no role model for working and earning an income. The cycle continues and expands, leading to a whole matrix of social ills, hence low life expectancy, poor health, poor mental health, the attaction of gangs, low educational achievement.
So the first port of call for the Maori Party must be the social welfare system otherwise they might as well pack up their tents and head back to their Marae and into retirement.
Vote:April 4th, 2009 at 11:57 am
The Maori Party cannot do this on their own. Every area of underperformance for which they have been granted delegations is mirrored by a National Party minister’s portfolio – health, welfare etc. The National Party is even more frightened by ‘third rails’ such as welfare reform.
Prediction: don’t expect to see anything other than hot air emerge from all of this.
Vote:April 4th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
This is typically John Key’s managerial style as Prime Minister. He delegates a lot of responsibility but then expects results. If you sign up with the Maori Party then you give them responsibility, providing you have confidence in the calibre of the people you delegate to. Peters Sharples I think is a very competent individual. He should have wide ranging responsibility.
Vote:April 4th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
PS I do not agree welfare is no-go for the Maori Party. I think they are prepared to think the unthinkable on welfare and the National Party will back them.
Vote:April 4th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I guess in hindsight none of this should be a surprise. Key spoke pre election about the right of all kiwis to pursue their aspirations and reach their full potential. For too long handwringing and hot air has been de rigeur when it comes to the underachievement of those with maori ancestry. We have heard all to often about how they need to be part of the solution and now they are. I doubt Key has an interest in failure, so Sharples et al should get the full support they are entitled to in taking on the tasks they have been given.
I wish them well. I have never been a big Sharples/Turia fan, however I wish them every success. After all they admitted post the election, that they got more in a week out of National than they did in 9 years with Labour, this a prime opportunity for the Maori party to make the most of this and make a real difference. The Nats have a vested interest in their success as it will further erode the support maoridom for no real reason seemed to continue to give to Labour without question, and which they so arrogantly took for granted.
BBTB
Vote:April 4th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Freedom101 is right about the Maori Party not being given freedom on issues. From what I’ve heard, already there are disagreements on particular issues, and there is a degree of frustration. This might be minor, and part of the divergence that characterises any coalition, and completely resolvable. It might be evidence of more serious conflicts, or at least the seeds of such. Too much hot air and the Maori Party might start wondering what this Government is doing for them.
I’m in no position to say, of course, but will watch the situation with interest.
(And none of this is to say that they would have got more respect for their opinions from Labour)
Vote: