As this goes to print, the Budget has been and gone and Parliament moves to debate its merits and pitfalls. It is that one vote that really determines who is in Government and the scene for that is set immediately after the elections. If you can pass the Budget with the accumulated number of votes, we have stable Government.
The Maori Party signed a Relationship Accord with Government with one goal in mind - to focus on our whanau, do all we can to protect their wellbeing and increase opportunities. In Budget 2012 this came through in gains achieved. We describe it in terms of securing sustenance and support for our most vulnerable; protecting those who need support; re-establishing and strengthening connections. He peka kai, he peka whakaruruhau, he peka herenga.
We also speak about a transformation agenda with a focus on better outcomes. Our emphasis has been on preventing rheumatic fever, improving cancer services, continuation of enviro-kura, home insulation and initiatives to support Maori early childhood education; in Maori media and mainstream schools. Our priorities are clear. We need to look after the vulnerable and that means a real focus on better health and wellbeing - whanau ora. We'd like to think we punch above our weight and while we do not get everything we want, one day in Government is better than three years in opposition.
Looking after the vulnerable isn't new. The arrival of Kingi Tuheitia and Tainui to Opatia, Okere recently for the Poukai is a part of an initiative started by Te Puea to look after "te pani, te pouaru me te rawakore". The link to Tainui is through both Ngati Pikiao and Tuhourangi but the Poukai is shared every year between Ngati Pikiao marae for now.
The great thing about this day is it consolidates relationships of Te Arawa to Tainui, is an opportunity to reflect on "the orphaned, widowed and poor" in our communities, allows for debate on topical issues and is a unifying factor when sometimes there is much that divides us. As the saying goes "kotahi tonu te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai e te miro pango, te miro ma, me te miro whero."
