11 May 2018

Crown-Māori relations: Taking time to 'get the job right'

10:03 am on 11 May 2018

Six months into the Labour government, Crown-Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis is still travelling the country working out what exactly his job is.

Kelvin Davis

Crown-Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

The portfolio is the first of its kind and the minister has been busy asking Māori for guidance.

Over the past month, more than 1000 people from Whakatāne to the capital had shown up at a hui to give the minister their views on the Crown-Māori relationship.

Mr Davis said the most pressing problem he had been hearing about was the failure to meet the needs of Māori. He said many felt they weren't listened to or valued.

"Somebody who walks into [Work and Income], for example, they don't walk in there because they want to walk in there ... they're made to feel unwelcome, they feel like they're a burden on people.

"A lot of people are walking away from these agencies and organisations because they just don't feel welcomed, and [do feel] embarrassed, so that's a real issue."

There have been 15 hui so far and there are plans for six more across the South Island.

By that time, it would be the end of May and another month into a new role from which no change had been made.

Mr Davis said it was a long process, but a necessary one to get the job right.

"What's happened to Māori in the past is that governments have gone out and told Māori what's going to happen to them and it just hasn't worked out.

"So this is been something different for Māoridom, to have a minister to come out and say 'tell us how you want this portfolio to meet your needs'."

Mr Davis said a top priority was changing the culture of government agencies to be more responsive to the needs of Māori, and with the aspirations of thousands of people now on his shoulders he said he was well aware of the task ahead.

"There is the weight of expectation and I'm not promising to change the world but I'm promising to do my best to change the world for our Māori people."

A plan to strengthen the relationship between the Crown and Māori is expected to be taken to cabinet by August.

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