Miffed adviser says gap-closing too slow

By ANGELA GREGORY Maori issues reporter

A leading Maori policy adviser to the Labour Party, Barney Manaia, says the Government is not delivering on its Closing the Gaps programme.

Mr Manaia, chairman of the party's Maori policy council, said he was disappointed with what he called inadequate progress on the implementation of Closing the Gaps.

He had helped to write the policy to tackle Maori underachievement, and was unimpressed with its delivery so far.

"Labour is not doing any better than National ... and National was pretty bad," he said. "I don't see Labour hitting the ground running."

Mr Manaia did not believe he was judging the Government's performance prematurely.

"I think it is time for [Maori Affairs Minister] Parekura Horomia to front up and make the hard decisions ... He has had his honeymoon ... It's time for something meaty to happen."

Mr Manaia, a school principal, was particularly aggrieved that a funding application was recently declined for a community hall based at the 106-pupil kura kaupapa (Maori language school) he heads in the Waikato. Te Kura o Waharoa, 7km northwest of Matamata, had sought $250,000 from a Ministry of Education financial aid scheme.

The kura hoped that the building would house adult education facilities, information and communication technology equipment and a sports academy - and provide space for a community constable.

Mr Manaia said Waharoa town had 65 per cent unemployment and the decile-one school had an all-Maori roll.

He said the rejection was just one example of "appalling" decision making under which the Government instead poured millions of dollars into areas such as the East Cape and South Auckland where schools had failed.

"We try and do something proactive and get kicked."

Waiariki MP Mita Ririnui, speaking for Mr Horomia, said he was sad the school's application had not succeeded.

"But the reality is, the ministry is guided by a regional committee which prioritises projects."



The ministry's Waikato district property manager, Des Butler, said the school project was worthy of support but other projects had higher priority.

"I don't see why it fits with Closing the Gaps ... Basically it was a hall for a school."

Herald Online feature: Closing the Gaps