Adrian Rurawhe: We must help ease misery

HOMELESS: New Zealand has pledged to take Syrian refugees but we could be doing more.PHOTO/AP

I AM HEARTENED that New Zealand is responding to the refugee crisis, although the number is just tinkering around the edges.

It was only a matter of time when this global crisis would reach our shores. We in the Labour Party have called for an emergency intake of 750 over the next year. We are certain that, with the right resources, a further 750 above our current quota would be possible in the next financial year.

People up and down the country called for Kiwis to open their hearts and homes to these families, and the Government had to respond. Although it is not as generous as we could be, we welcome this response, because at least it will be an additional 100 people that New Zealanders will now be helping, and that is a good thing.

Although it is just a start, this will help additional refugees and their families. But we will continue to put pressure on the Government to bring forward the review and increase the quota.

New Zealand has a proud record of being a responsible global citizen but on the issue of refugees we are sadly lagging behind the rest of the world, and have done so for quite some time. Most New Zealanders embrace the Maori proverb: "What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people." The time has come for our nation to uphold this proverb by showing our compassion to the Syrian people who have been forced to leave their country.

Another matter before us is the flag issue, which is proving to be contentious, with four final designs chosen from the 10,000 that were submitted.

It is a lot of money - $26 million - to spend on a referendum, and how many people actually want a new flag? Most of the people I have spoken to do not want us to change the flag and just think that it is a waste of money.

There are many more pressing issues facing our whanau and communities, with almost a million people living below the poverty line. Spending $26 million on a referendum is a poor use of taxpayers' money.

I am also concerned that the Government has put the cart before the horse. I think that we need to have consensus on constitutional arrangements and the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in those arrangements before we change the symbol that represents who we are.

As with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, this is not being discussed. But as the Treaty partner, this conversation needs to take place before changes are made.