Te Ururoa Flavell: I relish challenge of duties ahead

Te Ururoa Flavell was sworn into his ministerial roles last week in Parliament. Photo / Supplied

Waiariki - greetings again.

This is the first article since the election so let me say thank you to Rawiri Waititi, Pat Spellman and Annette Sykes. These were the candidates who fought for the Waiariki seat. It is appropriate that there was a fierce battle here as there are many issues to address. I acknowledge them for their commitment.

Let me also acknowledge those who gave their votes to me or the Maori Party, both Maori and Pakeha. Because of your belief in the Maori Party, Marama Fox is now in Parliament. It will be up to us now to set the agenda for things Maori into the future so we thank you for your support.

This week, ministers were sworn into ministerial roles and I have been fortunate to gain a few, namely, Minister for Maori Development, Minister for Whanau Ora and Associate Minister for Economic Development.

I am very humbled by these appointments and to be following the footsteps of my colleagues Tariana Turia, Pita Sharples, Tau Henare, Parekura Horomia, Koro Wetere, Sir Apirana Ngata, Matiu Rata and many others.

I know I have but three years in this appointment so I have to work hard and that is what I intend to do.

There are perhaps three strands to the work. Firstly, to address some of the findings of the Ministerial report on Poverty, second to strengthen Whanau Ora as a pathway to families being self-sufficient and third, to open doors to economic development so the benefits are felt by the country as a whole. The biggest task is to link all of these together.

So, can I thank you all again indeed the Daily Post for acknowledging our reo. Stay well under the cloak of those who have passed on.

Maori translation

Waiariki e tena koutou katoa. E hoa ma koia nei te mihi ki tena ki tena o koutou. Koia nei te panui tuatahi mai i te kowhiringa pooti no reira me mihi tuatahi ki a Rawiri Waititi ratou ko Pat Spellman, ko Annette Sykes. Koia nei te hunga i tohe nei mo te turanga Maori o Waiariki. E tika ana ki tohe mo te turanga i te mea, he nui nga take e pa nei e pa tonu nei i a tatou. E mihi atu ana au ki a koutou.

Me whai whakaaro au mo te hunga i tuku mai i a ratou pooti ki a au tae atu ki te Paati Maori, Maori mai, Pakeha mai. Na te kaha o a koutou whakaaro nui mo te Paati Maori, kua eke a Marama Fox ki roto i te Whare Paremata. Ka riro ma maua nga take Maori katoa e kawe no reira koia nei te mihi o te ngakau.

No tenei wiki tonu nei, i whakapotaehia te Runanga Minita a kua whiwhi i a au ko etahi turanga nui whakaharahara, ara ko tera o te Minitatanga. Ko te turanga Whakawhanake Maori, ko te Minita mo te Whanau Ora, me te tuarua mo nga Take Ohanga, Pakihi hoki. Kua noho au i te whakaiti na tenei honore nui, ara, ko te whai i nga tapuwae o taku hoa o Tariana, o Pita, o Tau Henare ma, Parekura Horomia ma, o Koro Wetere ma o Ta Apirana Ngata ma, o Matiu Rata, me te tokomaha.

Kei te mohio tonu au e toru tau noho iho tenei noho, no reira me mahi i te mahi, koia nei au e whakaaro ake nei. E toru pea nga whainga matua. Tuatahi, ko te whakatinana i nga putanga o te Purongo a Minita mo tenei mea mo te Pohara, tuarua, he whakapakari i te kaupapa Whanau Ora hei huarahi ki te oranga o te whanau, ka toru, ki te whakapuaki i nga huarahi katoa ki nga take ohanga, kia hoki mai nga painga ki te motu whanui. Ko te mahi tino nui ko te tuitui i enei mea katoa.

No reira, e hoa, ka mihi ano ki a koutou katoa tae mai ki te nupepa nei i whakanui i te reo Maori. Noho ora mai i raro i te manaakitanga o te wahi ngaro. Tu Maori mai!

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz Phone 0508 924 274

• Te Ururoa Flavell is the co-leader of the Maori Party, Minister of Maori Development and the MP for Waiariki.