BestInBounds is in Gisborne to talk about National’s Maori affairs policy.

“Kia Ora Kotou Katoa

Thanks for joining me today in what is a lovely warm day in Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa. The main focus of today’s meeting is to talk about National’s Maori affairs policy - so let’s crack on!

As I have touched on in the previous two days, National pledges to support maori Entrepreneurship and equality of opportunity through a variety of schemes and incentives, through both financial and nonfinancial means. This is very much a grassroots program in which we hope to develop and reward business acumen amongst Maori - we are very much aware of the cycle of poverty which plagues some of the Maori community, and we understand the frustration amongst held by many Maori workers - especially young workers at the lack of opportunities available to them. National promises to fight every step of the way to ensure that Maori workers are afforded the same equality of opportunity as their Pakeha counterparts and are not discriminated against or disadvantaged because of their heritage in any way shape or form. Supporting Maori success at the grassroots is the only way in which we can affect societal change that will help Maori for the better - we want long term solutions, not the short term, short sighted ones on offer by the Greens. Let’s give Maori agency by providing the requisite help necessary to ensure they are well provisioned to take on the competitive business and labour markets ahead of them. Where this Green government has failed National will forge ahead to provide Maori with more opportunities than ever before with the security of knowing that we will fight every step of the way to ensure that they receive equality of opportunity.

Regarding land of significance to both Iwi and the Crown - National will go ahead with restoring various Taranaki Land wars sites as well as progressing Maori Land reform which works in partnership with iwi to ensure that the land is best utilised whilst ensuring Maori interests are recognised. Restoring these sites will not only provide a boost to the local economy, they can be used as a learning tool for our tamariki to show how far we have come as a nation, and the work we still have to go - these restored Pa sites will be a useful and most important visual learning tool which can no doubt be integrated into the local curriculum via class trips, providing our tamariki with a fun, material connection to our past. As well as this these sites hold tremendous cultural value to the Iwi and Hapu of the area - what better way to move forward than by embracing and recognising our past, so that we can move on together. Regarding the progression of land reform with Iwi, the relationships neglected by the Green government are exactly what national will work to improve on and embrace. By working with Iwi to ensure that Maori interests are recognised and taken into account, we can find ways to utilise Maori land for the betterment of all!

On the medical front lines, national has two policies which should ensure that the medical needs of Maori are met sufficiently and the genetic predispositions Maori have towards certain illnesses (in this case gout) are given the specialist treatment they require. Firstly the reinstatement of annual reporting requirements against a Maori Health Strategy for every RHB will ensure that we constantly re-evaluate and retool ourselves and how we treat the medical needs of Maori against a plan which will be crafted to take into consideration the unique circumstances Maori face in their health battles and aid RHB’s in identifying areas in which they can improve on regarding the care and provision of healthcare for Maori. Furthermore National seeks to ensure that Maori and Pasifika have equitable access to uric acid lowering medication to combat the gout which they have a genetic predisposition towards. In doing so we seek to safeguard the wellbeing of Maori and Pasifika regardless of the economic situations they may find themselves in - nobody deserves to suffer because their circumstances mean they cannot readily access crucial medication.

As you can see - our plan for Maori affairs is wide ranging and covers a variety of fields - in doing so we want to prove to the Tangata Whenua that we are not the stereotypical pro-establishment party the leftists paint us as. You’ve put your faith in the establishment - the Green Government, and they have failed you. So it’s time to put your faith in a party that has your best interests at heart and will actually be there to fight for you.

Lets get it right!

Vote BestInBounds for Rohe.

Vote National.