It’s a red letter day for the people of Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay who will be delighted with the $9.2 million dollars that the Government will spend immediately in the region, says Ikaroa Rāwhiti MP the Hon Meka Whaitiri.

“I am excited that the money from the Tuawhenua Provincial Growth Fund has been earmarked for projects that range from improvements to Gisborne’s inner harbour to kick-starting a $20 million Wood Processing Centre of excellence in the city.

The Māori Development Minister’s admission that his unpopular Ture Whenua Māori Bill won’t pass into law prior to the election is a victory for Māori landowners, but only a change of government will keep the Bill gone for good, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.

“Te Ururoa Flavell has finally realised that when you’re in a hole, stop digging.

Rather than accusing critics of his Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill of telling ‘lies’, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell should show some backbone and front up to a debate on the issue, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.

“Te Ururoa Flavell attempts to shut down debate on his unpopular Māori land reforms by calling opponents to the reforms ‘liars’.

The Minister of Māori Development must make amends for botching what was supposed to be his stellar policy move with Māori land reform, says Labour’s Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.

Splits and divisions over crucial policy matters like RMA reform and Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill reveal an already unstable MANA-Māori alliance which is obviously falling to pieces, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.

The Māori Party have lost all credibility with their support for National’s unpopular Resource Legislation Amendment Bill (RLA) which will undermine local democracy, damage regional economies and do nothing to help Māori in to desperately needed housing, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson Meka Whaitiri.

Māori will miss out if National’s highly unpopular Resource Management Act overhaul is supported by the Māori Party, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson Meka Whaitiri.

Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell’s announcement just before Christmas of further wānanga on the proposed Maori Land Service (MLS) is premature and meaningless when the MLS still has no confirmed business case, says Labour’s Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.

“This announcement was made at 4pm on a Friday afternoon two days before Christmas and is a classic example of the way this Minister operates.

With the number of Māori households waiting for homes increasing by more than 20 per cent in the past year, it’s time the Māori Party admits its support of the Government’s state house sell-off has made life worse for whānau, Labour’s MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti  Meka Whaitiri says.

“At the end of June, there were 1648 Māori or whānau waiting for homes on the Social Housing Register. This is 100 more than the previous quarter and a whopping increase of 21 per cent on the 1355 Māori wanting to be housed last June.

Ruataniwha Dam promoters Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) still has hurdles to clear and a lot of work to do before ratepayers and taxpayers will have confidence in the scheme, says Labour’s MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Meka Whaitiri.

“We need sustainable water management for all users in the region but so far, many more things have gone wrong rather than right for Ruataniwha.