The settlement is a resolution for the people of Tuhoe, who have long fought for reparation for the confiscations and injustices faced by the iwi at the hands of successive governments throughout history. I have said many times over the years, there is no amount of money that can erase the harm and burdens that many iwi faced in colonial times and still do today.
This said, now there is opportunity for Tuhoe and others to move forward and find peace, with increased ability to work alongside the government, advocate for themselves and help future generations to move forward.
I acknowledge the work of Tuhoe in travelling down this difficult path and hope that success will follow for them.
Statistics have emerged showing that in the first month of the Maori Electoral Option campaign, 728 people from the Waiariki electorate switched from the general roll to the Maori roll, 738 changed from the Maori roll to the general roll and 446 newly eligible voters signed up to the Maori roll. What is going on? Here I was thinking that all Maori would be jumping at the chance to get back on the Maori roll and have their views really count - but the statistics reveal a different story.
As MP for Waiariki, I am responsible for the well-being of everyone enrolled on the Maori roll living in Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Turangi, Murupara and everywhere in between. It is the greatest privilege to be able to serve you all but as the area is so huge, it is difficult to cover all the needs of the area.
If we can bring people back to the Maori roll, the areas become smaller, there are more seats and we may be able to achieve the goal. If anyone would like advice on this, feel free to visit my office.
I welcome your feedback. Phone (0508) 924 274 or email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz
Tena ano tatou katoa.
I te tuatahi, ka tangi te ngakau ki te kohine nei ki a Mihinui Tamiana i mate ohorere na te ringa o Mahuika inatatanei. Ahakoa a tatou titiro ki taua aitua, he moumou te kotiro ra. He tamariki noa iho, kaore ano kia puawai, ko te whare tangata tonu kua ngaro, koia nei te aroha. Heoi ano, ka nui ki te hunga i aitua i taua parekura.
Inatatanei i whakatika te Whare Paremata mo te ekenga o Ngai Tuhoe ki konei, waitohu ai i ta ratou kokoraho he whakatau i nga take raupatu, i nga kohuru i nga mau herehere, te mea, te mea. Kua ki ake au i nga tau kua hipa, e kore rawa nga moni ka tukuna ki nga iwi e utu i te mamae i nga taumahatanga kua rongona e nga iwi, heoi ano, ko te ahua nei kua eke ki te wa mo Ngai Tuhoe ki te whakatau i nga take, na reira, ka anga mua te iwi me nga uri. Me mihi ra, ka tika. He ara tapokopoko te ara i whaia. Ko wawata raua ko tumanako e tatari nei kia puawai noa.
Katahi ano nga tatauranga ka puta, e mea ana, i te marama tuatahi o te "Maori Option", i te Waiariki nei, 728 kua whakawhiti i te rarangi Pakeha ki te mea Maori, a, 738 kua hoki ki te rarangi Pakeha, a, 446 he mea hou. E hoa ma, kei te aha tatou? Anei au e whakaaro ake ana ka kaha hoki mai te ao Maori ki tona ake rarangi, engari, katahi te pohehe ko tera. Titiro ki nga tatauranga! Kei te korero tatou mo te rohe nei, mo te Waiariki, ko nga taone penei i a Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Turangi, Murupara, a, whitu rau o nga mano o nga kaipoti 16,000 o te rarangi Pakeha, e pirangi ana ki te hoki mai ki te kainga! He honore nui toku noho hei mema Paremata mo te rohe nei engari no tona whanui i etahi wa he uaua toku whai atu i nga hiahia o te iti me te rahi, o nga iwi me nga whanau katoa o te rohe. Ma te hoki mai ki te rarangi Maori kua nui noa atu nga turu, kua iti iho ko nga rohe pooti. E te iwi, ata whakaarohia!
Whakahoatu nga pepa. Mena kaore i te mohio me pewhea e taea ai te rehita, me whakapa mai ki taku tari.
