Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Copyright TVNZ Access Services 2013.
Captions were made possible with funding from NZ on Air.
15 May 2013
Coming up on Te Karere...
It's the eve of the budget - what will be in it for you?
It's a tough living for a single mother,
so here's what I think should come first
in the government's new budget.
We continue our extensive coverage
on where you think the Government should spend your taxes.
The Government says there'll be more money to go around
- are better days to come?
This school isn't just feeding the kids education to their kids,
but food as well.
Stay tuned for more.
Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere.
There'll be no hand-outs in tomorrow's budget,
but Finance Minister Bill English says
it will provide reassurance and optimism.
There'll be housing and child poverty announcements,
but will it make a difference for low income Maori families?
Irena Smith looks at what we can expect.
Bill English has a smile on his face,
but we won't know why until tomorrow.
With many families hoping to buy homes,
the budget will hopefully help them fulfil this dream.
But it looks like the Government will have to wait
until the costs of the Christchurch rebuild come down.
This economist says he doesn't see how Maori,
especially low income and those in the regions
will gain much from the budget.
Employment is another big focus for the Government.
That's one way of easing the other pressures families are under.
He says it's the only serious long term fix and the Government agrees.
No doubt the Government
will want all its prospects to come to fruition.
If not, they will be left with bills that will stay with them
until the next election.
Irena Smith, Te Karere.
A single mother of three lives in Te Kuiti to alleviate
the financial pressure.
We hear what she has to say about what the Government
should prioritise in this year's budget.
This is Te Ingo Ngaia and her children.
They live in Te Kuiti.
My main job is looking after my kids.
I have three.
It's just me running myself.
Despite the difficulties in raising kids alone,
she's also doing her doctorate and working to support her family.
Rent is her biggest bill.
I have worked hard to get the things I want.
My second biggest bill is my car.
I'm still paying that off.
Since she doesn't have time to have a garden,
all the food for the house is bought from the supermarket.
What's your favourite breakfast?
Nutrigrain.
So it's not like Nutrigrain is cheap.
Ngaia won't consider the benefit at all.
It's about $500 a week on the benefit for single mothers.
That's why Te Ingo Ngaia has decided to work for more money.
Ngaia is not ashamed of seeking help from community services.
Going to seek help, doing research on government help.
My iwi help pay my study fees and there's help in the community.
Due to her struggle,
these are what she thinks should be prioritised
in the Government budget.
Focus on growing youth and family health.
The government should also focus on transport,
and lastly growing initiatives that encourage youth
and children back to the environment.
But for now,
Ngaia is focussed on working for her family.
Raiha Johns, Te Karere.
Government will allocate an extra $158 million over four years
to Tourism in the Budget tomorrow.
Hinerangi Goodman spoke with Doug Tamaki
of Tamaki Tours in Rotorua.
Doug Tamaki says it's no surprise
the Prime Minister has plans to boost NZ tourism.
The Tamaki family have been in the tourism business
for the last 24 years, mostly here in Rotorua.
But in that time, there have been many ups and downs,
but due to sheer determination to get on top of it all,
today, they are flourishing.
The reasons as to why so many small Maori businesses
and others have gone under,
have been because of obstacles such as the Resource Management Act.
During the next five years,
plans are in progress to expand Tamaki Tours.
Hinerangi Goodman, Te Karere.
A school has implemented their own 'feed the kids' initiative,
one that has been organised
by families and teachers of the school.
Not only do they want to provide sustenance for their kids,
but to help improve their learning.
But the school says they need financial support
from the Government.
Kids go to school to be fed education.
But at KKM o Puau Te Moananui a Kiwa in Glen Innes,
they're also feeding the students food.
If students are fed,
they're content and will focus more on learning and education.
The idea for feeding the students came from the school itself.
There are lots of benefits.
Students are more settled in the classroom.
This initiative has only just begun, and the results are evident.
The food is also healthy and wholesome.
Families are giving donations and so are the teachers and the school.
Now everyone's being fed healthy and nutritious food.
But if the Government can help out with funding in tomorrow's budget,
that would be awesome.
But no matter what, this kai programme will continue.
Anzac Pikia, Te Karere.
After the break,
will tomorrow's budget feed the kids?
Hone Harawira gives us his predictions.
And if Maori are big owners of fisheries assets,
where are the jobs for Maori?
Child poverty will be a focus in tomorrow's budget
and the government has hinted there may be provision
for a targeted food in schools programme.
But Prime Minister John Key
has also reiterated his strong belief
in personal responsibility.
So what does that mean for Hone Harawira's Feed the Kids bill?
The Mana Party leader is in our Wellington studio, and joins me now.
Tena koe, Hone.
The government says they have their own plans for feeding the kids
- how is their different to yours?
I don't know, because I haven't seen it.
But my bill ensures that all students
from low-decile schools are fed, not just a few.
That's what I've been hearing form the PM.
They want to put some towards particular groups,
but mine is to feed them all.
Do you have the numbers for your bill to pass?
Not at the moment, but I want to keep pushing the cause,
and for all groups to be lobby it;
to take it to the Prime Minister and his MPs like Peter Dunne.
Even for support from the Select Committee,
just to get the whole country talking about it.
Maori Party said they fought with the Government
to get more money for poverty stricken children and families.
Is this a sign that having a place at the table is working?
It must be that battle is another building, because nobody hears it!
There's only one bill I've heard of, and that's my bill,
the Feed the Kids Bill.
I acknowledge the Maori Party for supporting my bill
because there are over 270,000 kids who are living in poverty.
If they have other ideas, then let's talk about them
so that the whole nation can hear.
Let's put the budget aside now.
Northern iwi leaders met to discuss
the government's prospects of mining in your electorate.
The group seems to think that it's the way to go
because it will create many jobs in Northland.
What's the good in creating a lot of jobs
if the environment is harmed because of it?
That's my problem.
Put it out to everyone so that the good and bad can be discussed.
Let's get back to feeding our kids -
farming, fisheries and the like should come first.
There are also other avenues available to us.
And finally, Hone, the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-elections -
Labour and the Maori Party have their pool of names
under consideration at the moment, how about Mana?
Will you have a contender?
Yes, but there are still those
who are seeking support from their own groups.
We'll see who they are.
I've heard there are five who want to stand.
One even came to talk to me at Parekura's tangi!
I answered that is was a special day for my friend
and told them to wait until Monday.
That person didn't turn up though.
- Who was that person?
A Scotty somebody?
Hone Harawira, thank you for your time.
I swear it wasn't me.
Maori have had a hand in the fisheries for the last 30 years,
and one the Maori Fisheries Trust's main goals is to work
towards Maori prosperity,
iwi fisheries representatives who attended the AGM
say that goal has yet to be achieved.
Talking fish and value,
as in industry value that the government aims to double by 2025.
It's a plan that will involve iwi and off shore companies.
However, iwi fisheries leaders are challenging the patient capital
of big companies who are harvesting Maori assets.
The argument is that there's not enough growth
or opportunities for Maori throughout the sector.
The government currently spends
around $600 to $700 million on Science and innovation research.
Only 1% of which trickles down to Maori.
Sir Mark Solomon, who recently returned from a trade trip to China,
now New Zealand's biggest market, says in order for New Zealand
to survive over there, there must be collaboration.
That is also part of the government's plan.
Kereama Wright, Te Karere.
Maori Women's Development Inc. is branching out.
Today they're opening a new office in Wellington.
Maori Women's Development Inc.
supports Maori women climbing the Business ladder.
The doors have opened to the Maori Women's Development Inc offices,
something strongly supported by the Maori Women's Welfare League
who are about to launch their new website.
They're a branch of the league
and rely on their elder counterparts to make progress.
Progress that led to praise.
The UN has said
that Maori women rank 3rd in entrepreneurship.
Good, aye.
The past Presidents of the League are the strongest supporters
of the Maori Women's Development Inc.
This will be a place where our people can learn those skills,
and it has begun.
They know that they must study business.
Their own new offices,
they are free to help others do well in the business sector.
Peata Melbourne, Te Karere.
After the break, the weather.