infonews.co.nz

Pita Sharples

332 posts | 2 images

Member for Tamaki Makaurau, Maori Party Honours/decorations CBE for services to New Zealand in education 1990 Current parliamentary roles Co-Leader Deputy-Chairperson, Maori Affairs Committee Member, Regulations Review Committee

Joined August 2007
13,409 profile views
News Images
Conservation 9 Feb 2009
Maori conservation cadetship course already oversubscribed

The Minister of Mäori Affairs says the new Tauira Kaitiaki Taiao conservation cadetship will promote kaupapa Maori in conservation, build relationships between tangata whenua and conservation agencies, and train young people for good jobs.

644 views

Maori 6 Feb 2009
Waitangi Day Address: Hon Dr Pita Sharples

WAITANGI —  I thank Bishop Kitohu Pikaahu for his invitation to speak to you today.

807 views

Maori 4 Feb 2009
Minister of Maori Affairs keenly anticipates Waitangi Day

Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples says this year’s Waitangi Day celebrations will demonstrate how Maori people are feeling about their importance to the incoming government.

234 views

Environment 4 Feb 2009
Maori Party scrutinises Resource Management law review

Resource Management laws have significant impacts on the ability of tangata whenua to maintain their cultural relationships with their natural heritage and environment, and any changes will be closely watched, says the Maori Party.

179 views

Economy 28 Jan 2009
Sharples opens Maori economic workshop

The Minister of Maori Affairs called for Maori leaders to consider bold initiatives to address the impact of the economic crisis on Maori and New Zealanders, as he opened his economic workshop in Wellington this morning.

219 views

Deaths 28 Jan 2009
MP expresses condolences to Naitoko whanau

AUCKLAND CITY — E te tamaiti, e te taonga kua moumou nei, takoto mai ra, takoto mai ra, takoto mai ra i te poho o to whanau.

340 views

Deaths 27 Jan 2009
Poroporoaki: Gerry Merito

533 views

Economy 24 Jan 2009
Minister of Mori Affairs calls economic workshop

WELLINGTON — The Minister of Mori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples, has called for a Mori economic workshop to be held on Wednesday 28 January in Wellington.

339 views

Education 28 Nov 2008
Sharples welcomes rethink on early childhood regulations

Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education Dr Pita Sharples has welcomed the decision by the Minister of Education Anne Tolley to defer implementation of regulations for early childhood education centres.

262 views

Deaths 16 Nov 2008
Poroporoaki: Renata Raiti Aperahama

“Kua timata to takahi haere i te ara wairua, e Koro Ki Muriwhenua, ki te Rerenga Wairua.

426 views

Politics 7 Nov 2008
Maori Party reports further electoral irregularities

Dr Pita Sharples has today revealed that some voters casting an advance vote were told that they could not vote for the Maori Party unless they are on the Maori roll.

119 views

Politics 7 Nov 2008
Sharples takes issue with media advice on voting

Dr Pita Sharples is furious at statements by some media commentators that a vote for the Maori Party is a wasted vote.

99 views

Politics 8 Oct 2008
Speech: 'The Treaty - you never know it'

I was struck by a comment I read the other day by veteran Treaty activist, Robert Consedine.

608 views

Politics 7 Oct 2008
Tidy the spare bedroom, Maori warned!

The message for Maori in the latest Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update is pretty clear – tidy up your spare bedroom and clear out the garage, because rellies are likely to want a place to stay.

636 views

Maori 25 Sep 2008
Speech: Te Roroa Claims

Tena koe Mr Speaker.

464 views

Politics 24 Sep 2008
Speech: Fisheries Act 1996 Amendment Bill - Dr Pita Sharples

Well, you know there’s only 44 days left till an election when suddenly everyone wants to consult ‘the Maori’.

144 views

Police 18 Sep 2008
New policing powers right over the top  Maori Party

The Maori Party is concerned at reports of new powers for the police to intercept communications, enter and search premises and detain suspects – as part of core policing.

124 views

Politics 13 Sep 2008
No nation has monopoly on fighting terror  Maori Party

Every nation should examine its role in the so-called ‘War on Terror’, and the Minister of Defence should consult tangata whenua on overseas deployments to fight terrorism, says Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples.

134 views

Community 12 Sep 2008
South Auckland communities vibrant and close-knit  Maori Party

AUCKLAND — Maori Party MP for Tamaki Makaurau, Dr Pita Sharples, today vigorously defended South Auckland against negative stereotypes used by outsiders.

185 views

News 11 Sep 2008
Cuba a model for national mobilisation  Maori Party

The Maori Party offers both condolences and congratulations to the people and government of Cuba, for the unfortunate loss of life during the recent hurricanes, and also for their fortitude and the systematic mobilisation of people and resources which prevented a much greater disaster.

98 views

Transport 11 Sep 2008
Public Transport - 'Mind the Gap': Dr Pita Sharples

WELLINGTON — Ten days ago a cloud descended over Wellington.

274 views

Politics 8 Sep 2008
New Zealand Forum on the Family

AUCKLAND —  In the Mori Party we have a highly sophisticated, extensive network of intelligence coming in to prepare us for events such as this.

184 views

Politics 5 Sep 2008
Speech: Affordable Housing - Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill

Ten years ago, the Hikoi of Hope called on Government and community to urgently improve housing for low-income New Zealanders.

954 views

Energy 3 Sep 2008
Speech: Biofuels

In the Maori Party we live by a belief that our people are our greatest wealth.

729 views

Finance 3 Sep 2008
Speech: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill

This is a Bill with a primary purpose of implementing regulations for “non-bank deposit takers”.

306 views

Transport 3 Sep 2008
Speech: Public Transport Management

The Maori Party comes to this Bill, fuelled by our commitment towards developing options to support cheap, free regular, reliable and frequent public transport.

614 views

Maori 2 Sep 2008
Monolingual Maori language dictionary praised

Spring is here, and with it the revitalisation of life itself is celebrated with the launch of He Pataka Kupu  te kai a te rangatira, the very first monolingual Maori language dictionary to be produced for highly proficient speakers said Dr Pita Sharples, co-leader of the Maori Party.

299 views

Maori 2 Sep 2008
Monolingual Mori language dictionary praised

“Spring is here, and with it the revitalisation of life itself is celebrated with the launch of He Ptaka Kupu – te kai a te rangatira, the very first monolingual Maori language dictionary to be produced for highly proficient speakers” said Dr Pita Sharples, co-leader of the Maori Party.

472 views

Deaths 20 Aug 2008
Poroporoaki: Rei Hamon

The Maori Party has acknowledged the great loss to Aotearoa, of the Te Aitanga a Mahaki artist, Francis Rei Paul Hamon, CBE.

276 views

Maori 4 Aug 2008
Maori Voices in Parliament Still Strong After 140 Years

The importance of Maori representation in Parliament was set out clearly and powerfully in the first-ever speech by a Maori MP, according to the Maori Party.

266 views

Deaths 28 Jul 2008
Correction and apology: Dell Wihongi and Haki Wihongi

In a poroporoaki last night to Dell Wihongi of Te Rarawa, there was an error.

795 views

Politics 23 Jul 2008
Speech: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Kei te raruraru tonu au i te whakapakehatanga o tënei mea o te haua – ki te reo Pakeha, he dis-ability, he kaha-kore.

1,470 views

Politics 16 Jul 2008
Te Hauora o Ngati Haua Annual Whanau Violence Conference

Te Ika-nui-o-te-moana, or more commonly known as Te Hapuku, was a great Ngati Te Whatuiapiti leader of the late eighteenth century.

720 views

Alcohol 3 Jul 2008
Speech: Sale of Liquor

It is an interesting irony that while we are debating this Bill tonight, the Public Health Association conference in Waitangi is also debating strategies to reduce alcohol marketing and promotion at the local level.

1,348 views

Education 2 Jul 2008
Speech: Engaging Communities

When I was asked to speak at this conference on the focus of engaging communities in higher and tertiary education, there was one question I forgot to ask.

298 views

Politics 27 Jun 2008
Speech: Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation

As the debate on this Bill raged on last night, I found myself thinking about a time when I was Chief Executive of the Race Relations Office.

1,442 views

Politics 26 Jun 2008
Land Transport Management Amendment Bill

There is an out-of-Parliament experience that a select group of MPs get to have on a regular basis as we return to our homes.

257 views

Forestry 25 Jun 2008
Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill

Over night, the cloak of the mountain clan, he kahui maunga, has fallen.

743 views

Maori 25 Jun 2008
Maori Party outraged at Te Puni Kokiri bid to control Maori Wardens

AUCKLAND — Te Puni Kokiri’s efforts to seize control of administration and funding for Maori Wardens threaten to sabotage the role and effectiveness of the wardens, according to the Maori Party.

909 views

Politics 24 Jun 2008
Neighbourhood Botch or communities that care?

In my electorate of Tamaki Makaurau, the appropriations that relate to the expenses incurred and capital expenditure for 2007/08; are not what people are talking about.

341 views

Diplomacy 24 Jun 2008
Parliamentary Notice of Motion on Zimbabwe

Rt Hon Helen Clark: I move that this House express outrage that violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe have led Morgan Tsvangirai, to withdraw from the second round of the election for the presidency scheduled to take place on 27 June.

265 views

Politics 19 Jun 2008
Criminal Procedure Bill - third reading

Tena koe Mr Speaker.

191 views

Waste 18 Jun 2008
Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill

Madam Speaker, last night my colleague, Dr Pita Sharples, shared with the House his knowledge about the essential importance of whakapapa to tangata whenua.

338 views

Tennis 18 Jun 2008
Auckland Domain (Auckland Tennis) Amendment Bill

AUCKLAND — Like others, I would like to meander through the game of tennis, having been a small town champion myself in former days, in the Hawkes Bay.

921 views

Court 3 Jun 2008
History in the making for our tamariki

Mori Party Co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples, today congratulated the Child Poverty Action Group on their historic challenge that kicks off today in front of the Human Rights Review Tribunal in Wellington.

201 views

Maori 30 May 2008
PM spins budget for Maori  Sharples

“Maori Party criticism of the budget is down to Earth, because our members are mostly grass roots people, who get the least from Labour’s ruthless budget,” said Maori Party Co-leader Dr Pita Sharples, who is in Australia.

182 views

Politics 28 May 2008
Ron Mark's allegations defy reason and demolish his credibility

Ron Mark’s fantabulous allegations about the police inquiry into the murder of the Kahui twins are a perfect example of why politicians should check their facts before they speak, says Dr Pita Sharples.

265 views

Politics 22 May 2008
Budget Debate 08 - Dr Pita Sharples

Budget Day is the day when one side of the House rise to their feet in applause while the other side throws brickbats and dissects the dollars.

272 views

Politics 21 May 2008
Speech: Minimum wages and growing pains

A report hit the headlines yesterday which should be compulsory reading alongside this Bill.

343 views

Education 21 May 2008
Long-awaited operational funding fails to impress - Dr Pita Sharples

“In a time in which 185,000 New Zealand children are living in severe or significant hardship, a five percent increase in operational funding for schools isn’t the boost in investment that we were hoping for” said Maori Party Co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples.

223 views

Employment 14 May 2008
Employment figures an absolute shocker - Dr Pita Sharples

Mr Speaker, yesterday was a Down Day.

228 views

Politics 13 May 2008
Urgent Debate on Toll Holdings  the return of trains and ferries to Crown ownership

The Maori Party comes to this debate with a range of feelings about the Government’s snap announcement to buy Toll's rail and ferry business for $665 million.

154 views

Politics 12 May 2008
National Party grandstanding on P  Sharples

 

Maori Party Co-leader Dr Pita Sharples has accused National’s leader John Key of grandstanding on ‘P’, with his call for a tougher line on gangs involved in drug dealing.

303 views

Employment 9 May 2008
Unemployment disparities the real shocker  Maori Party

“Unemployment figures in the March quarter Household Labour Force Survey are not only an ‘absolute shocker’,” says Maori Party employment spokesperson Dr Pita Sharples, “they are a national disgrace”.

199 views

Politics 7 May 2008
Rangatiratanga means sovereignty for Aotearoa New Zealand

The contradictions in the government’s policies on climate change and strategic assets highlight the lack of broad principles guiding the nation, says the Maori Party.

208 views

Crime 7 May 2008
'Go straight to the police, Mr Rankin' - Maori Party

The Maori Party has dismissed as grossly irresponsible the behaviour of David Rankin from Northland in not reporting a serious crime.

161 views

Crime 5 May 2008
Maori Party congratulates police for crackdown on 'P'

Everyone who has faced the scourge of P, and the havoc it has wreaked on families and communities, will be elated to hear of the Police crackdown in South Auckland today, said Dr Pita Sharples, MP for Tamaki Makaurau and Co-leader of the Maori Party.

169 views

Fashion 4 May 2008
Maori Party congratulates 'the most beautiful woman in the world'

Kahurangi Taylor last night confirmed what her parents always knew, when she won Miss World New Zealand.

2,474 views

Maori 1 May 2008
Maori Party Recognises National Significance of Kingitanga

The Maori Party honours the distinctive presence of the Kingitanga as an important force in the past and future design of a nation.

445 views

Corrections 30 Apr 2008
Maori Party keen to debate solutions, not distractions

The Maori Party’s approach to dealing with offending and punishment is to champion programmes that work, not to argue over failed policies and extremist views, said Dr Pita Sharples.

234 views

Gambling 30 Apr 2008
The Social Hazard of Gambling - Dr Pita Sharples

Maori Party co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples, says the announcement that the Gambling Helpline will be forced to close in October, due to failed contract negotiations with the Ministry of Health, is a tragedy in light of recent reports describing the adverse impact of gambling upon communities as a social hazard.

437 views

Corrections 22 Apr 2008
Supporting Children and Families Outside of Prison

Every Christmas, there is a standard feature that grabs space in every local paper.

511 views

Education 17 Apr 2008
Te Takawaenga Maori (Tertiary Institutions)

I was excited about the invitation to join a hui entitled, strategising for success.

299 views

Politics 15 Apr 2008
Notice of Motion: Penal Populism or Soft Liberalism?

The Maori Party is pleased to support the Notice of Motion with respect to Vote Audit, Vote Ombudsmen, Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and Offices of Parliament.

186 views

Politics 14 Apr 2008
Speech: Keeping Kids Safe

In our busy lives, driven by over-full schedules, a day can often be punctuated by the ringing phone, the rush of email traffic, the urgent meeting - unanticipated but taking priority over all.

216 views

Education 10 Apr 2008
'$10 billion student debt a mortgage on NZ's future' - Sharples

'User pays' education has mortgaged our future as a nation, says Dr Pita Sharples, Maori Party spokesperson on tertiary education.

186 views

Sport 9 Apr 2008
Championing Indigenous Causes Through Sport

AUCKLAND CITY — Two years ago, on the eve of Waitangi Day, an ex-Navy diver, Robert Hohepa Hewitt, spent four days and three nights lost at sea.

501 views

Electricity 9 Apr 2008
Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill

Many people in the history of our great nation are remembered for their exploits – Hone Heke for chopping down the flagpole, Sir Apirana Ngata for his determined efforts in parliament, Sir James Henare for leading the Maori Battalion and his statesmanship, Buck Shelford for his leadership in rugby, and so on.

338 views

Politics 8 Apr 2008
Protection for traditional knowledge and cultural expressions

The definition of a generation gap is when one accidentally refers to a CD as a 45’ or asks if a particular track is available in LP form.

269 views

Politics 4 Apr 2008
Maori Party supports Children's Commissioner

The Maori Party strongly endorses the Childrens Commissioners views on the Summary Offences (Tagging and Graffiti Vandalism) Amendment Bill, says co-leader Dr Pita Sharples.

172 views

Conservation 3 Apr 2008
Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill; Third Reading

AUCKLAND — There’s a Maori tourist company in the electorate of Tamaki Makaurau that is picking awards up faster than the Maori Party is rising in the polls.

423 views

News 31 Mar 2008
No place in New Zealand for chain gangs and tent prisons - Maori Party

The Sensible Sentencing Trust prefers the sound of its own rhetoric to a search for sensible solutions, says Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples.

255 views

Business 28 Mar 2008
'Watch your language, mate!'

AUCKLAND CITY —  

An advertising billboard that invites people to ‘Rent a car ...

279 views

Maori 19 Mar 2008
Financial Review : Ministry of Maori Development

At the start of this month, the Marae Digipoll of over 1000 Maori voters, revealed that if the opportunity arose, over 40% of those surveyed, would transform into Mozzies – Maori living in Australia.

311 views

Politics 18 Mar 2008
The situation in Tibet

Madam Speaker, three years ago, in July 2005, when the chairman of China’s National People’s Congress arrived here at Parliament, he did so by first snubbing the official powhiri that had been arranged in his honour.

241 views

Politics 13 Mar 2008
Budget Policy Statement

I have been wondering whether this Budget Policy Statement 2008 will be top of the pops in the six o’clock bulletin, or will the real pressing issue for New Zealand be on naming the MPs who are travelling on a so-called taxpayer junket to Eastern Europe? Meanwhile, across the world, all eyes are on a controversial list published in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper.

159 views

Politics 5 Mar 2008
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families

There were a few events in the last few days which gave me room for great optimism.

177 views

Maori 5 Mar 2008
Maori Trustee and Maori Development Amendment Bill

In 1921, the Government of the day, created a position ostensibly to protect and enhance the interests of Maori clients and their resources.

363 views

Deaths 29 Feb 2008
Poroporoaki: Missy Teka

“My darling Missy, you are always on my mind Wherever you may go, you take a part of me” .

1,001 views

Corrections 21 Feb 2008
Corrections Amendment Bill

Last Friday’s Herald contained an interesting response from the Chief Executive of Corrections, in response to the Patten report inquiring into systematic corruption at Rimutaka Prison.

282 views

Politics 21 Feb 2008
Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill - Dr Sharples

Te Tiriti o Waitangi promised protection of Maori custom and cultural values.

172 views

Politics 20 Feb 2008
New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Amendment Bill 2007

The concept of guardianship is well known in Maoridom.

246 views

Police 20 Feb 2008
Policing Bill

Tena koe Mr Speaker.

157 views

Maori 14 Feb 2008
Don’t leave our kids behind says pita sharples

"How it can be that the Treaty partner is sitting on an unemployment rate almost 2.5 times higher than for other New Zealanders?” asked Dr Pita Sharples, Co-leader of the Maori Party.

230 views

Politics 12 Feb 2008
Response to Prime Minister's Statement to Parliament

Tena koe Madam Speaker.

174 views

Police 5 Feb 2008
Maori Party Raises Question about Police Weaponry

The tragic death of a Pasifika man in Mangere during a confrontation with police, has brought to the surface ongoing concerns about the nature of the police arsenal relied on in crisis incidents.

156 views

Entertainment 17 Jan 2008
Big Day Out may become Last Day Out For a While - Dr Pita Sharples

Legislation on Ticket-Scalping Needed.

184 views

Council 9 Jan 2008
Tamaki Makaurau MP Supports call for ARC surplus to go towards Eden Park Upgrade

AUCKLAND — Tamaki Makaurau local Member of Parliament, Dr Pita Sharples, has come out in support of the call for Auckland Regional Council to allocate part of its $34 million surplus to the upgrade of Eden Park.

249 views

Politics 8 Jan 2008
Government Challenged to face facts around Support to Sole Parents

Maori Party co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples, has today demanded the Government take seriously research released by the Rotorua Peoples Advocacy Centre which highlights a disturbing level of discrimination being levelled at sole parent DPB recipients.

194 views

Politics 19 Dec 2007
Government’s '13th hour' Concession to Citizenship

The Maori Party has today been pleased to learn of the Government’s announcement to establish a Citizen’s Jury to review electoral administration and political party funding.

161 views

Politics 18 Dec 2007
Speech: Adjournment debate

As our memory casts back over this last year, we think of those who have passed beyond the veil.

264 views

Maori 13 Dec 2007
Maori Purposes Bill

As has been noted before, this Bill is an omnibus Bill amending four Acts.

299 views

Politics 13 Dec 2007
Companies (Minority Buy-out Rights) Amendment Bill

The Maori Party comes to this Bill, aware that many of our whanau, hapu and iwi are taking up the company structure as laid out in the Companies Act 1993.

223 views

Education 12 Dec 2007
Speech: Tertiary Education Reforms

It is timely, indeed to be thinking of tertiary reforms - the day after the University of Auckland has confirmed their decision to eliminate open entry into the University from 2009.

262 views

Maori 6 Dec 2007
Maori Party Welcomes Ombudsman's Recognition of a 'Blot that needs to be Erased'

The Maori Party has today endorsed the strong criticism conveyed by the Ombudsman, Mel Smith, regarding the government's failure to address the over-representation of Maori, and to a lesser extent Pacific peoples, in the criminal justice sector.

311 views

Education 5 Dec 2007
Proposals to ditch ‘open entry’ questioned by Maori Party

The Maori Party believes that the proposal from the University of Auckland to abandon their open entry policy, and the suggestion from Victoria University that they also consider capping entry to some courses, represents a real threat to Maori tertiary education.

213 views

Health 30 Nov 2007
Pak 'n' Save Approach to Babies has to go

Maori Party Finance Spokesperson, Dr Pita Sharples, has today expressed relief that Wellington’s Capital and Coast District Health Broad has scrapped its ill-thought out bribe to evict newborn babies from hospital within six hours of birth.

227 views

News 23 Nov 2007
‘Maori Party attends international forum working for global good’

Dr Pita Sharples has today reflected on the United Nations Parliamentary Assembly campaign meeting he attended this week in Geneva (‘Palais des Nations’).

166 views

Media 15 Nov 2007
Confusing the Line Between Journalistic Freedom and Lawful Reporting

WELLINGTON — Dr Pita Sharples has today urged the media to consider disclosure of sources, describing it as a matter of national importance.

521 views

Politics 13 Nov 2007
Appropriation (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill

Every year, on the 9th August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous is celebrated.

201 views