Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) : I wish to make a ministerial statement under Standing Order 347 relating to New Zealand’s endorsement of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I seek leave for members to be allowed a slight and reasonable extension on their contributions beyond the 5 minutes envisaged in the Standing Orders if so required.
Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is no objection.
Hon SIMON POWER: This morning, at 4.45 New Zealand time, 12.45 p.m. New York time, the Minister of Māori Affairs, the Hon Dr Pita Sharples, appeared before the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and announced New Zealand’s support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as follows.
“Hei te tini, hei te mano, e rau rangatira mā, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.”
[To the very many, the indefinitely large number, and to the leaders of a hundredfold, greetings, greetings, and greetings to you all.]
“In September 2007, at the United Nations, 143 countries voted in favour of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. New Zealand was one of four countries that voted against the Declaration.