Even though Maori have a $37 billion economy, Amy Adams and John Key are planning to give them another $30 million.
The $30 million is compensation for the government quite rightly refusing to indulge the tribal fantasy that the recently discovered 4G radio spectrum is a sacred taonga.
But of course, every refusal to indulge a Maori whim must be matched by a suitable — read sizeable — appeasement offering.
In this case, a $30 million ICT fund exclusively for Maori.
Adams said the fund would be ”recognition that the Government has a role to protect Maori language and culture as treaty partners”.
The fund would also help the Government achieve its existing policy objectives of helping ”lift Maori participation and achievement”.
”I can see opportunities for initiatives improving digital literacy, potential scholarships to improve Maori ICT training, perhaps connectivity for marae, the development of ‘apps’ that supported Maori language content, innovation incubators…”.
In fact, nothing in the Treaty calls for the government to protect Maori language and culture.
It simply guaranteed them the property — the things — that they owned.
Taonga in the dictionary of 1820 meant ‘property procured by the spear’. In the 1844 dictionary: ‘property’.
Nothing about language or culture. Nothing about ICT. And nothing about 4G.
And you won’t find anything in the Treaty about the Crown and Maori being ‘partners’.
The Treaty was a sovereignty for protection deal, that was all.
If Maori want to improve their computer skills, let them do it.
With their own money.
treatygate.wordpress.com 
Vote Treaty Negotiations
Part 1 – Summary of the Vote
Part 1.1 – Overview of the Vote
The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations is responsible for appropriations in Vote Treaty Negotiations for the 2012/13 financial year including a multi-year appropriation and a range of annual appropriations.
Vote Treaty Negotiations contains a multi-year appropriation of $1,400 million for the five year period 2012 to 2016.
This appropriation is for the settlement of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims and provides for the payment of redress through the transfer of assets (cash and property) from the Crown to claimant groups, and for the payment of interest on settlement redress.
In addition, annual appropriations sought for Vote Treaty Negotiations in 2012/13 total $169.969 million.
This is intended to be spent as follows:
• $23.911 million (14% of the Vote) for the purchase of negotiation and implementation of historical Treaty claims and administration and implementation of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana)
Act 2011 from the Ministry of Justice
• $9.963 million (6% of the Vote) for the purchase of property management services from the Ministry of Justice
• $2.220 million (1% of the Vote) for the purchase of Crown representation at Waitangi Tribunal and Court hearings of historical claims
• $695,000 (less than 1% of the Vote) for the purchase of policy advice on historical Treaty claims and administration and implementation of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 from the
Ministry of Justice
• $12.602 million (7% of the Vote) for claimant funding to support the settlement of historical Treaty claims
• $120,000 (less than 1% of the Vote) for writing off debt associated with rentals owed from Landbank
properties
• $2.400 million (1% of the Vote) for agreed payments for Foreshore and Seabed agreements
• $13.693 million (8% of the Vote) financial contributions to applicant groups under the Marine and
Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011
• $3.600 million (2% of the Vote) for depreciation on assets held in the Landbank
• $6.405 million (4% of the Vote) for the write down of commercial properties transferred as part of a Treaty settlement
• $27.980 million (16% of the Vote) for the purchase of property for the Landbank administered by the Ministry of Justice for historical Treaty of Waitangi settlement purposes, and
• $66.380 million (39% of the Vote) to support lending to implement the Ngāti Whatua o Orakei Deed of
Settlement.
The Ministry of Justice expects to collect $14.183 million of revenue on behalf of the Crown from Landbank property operations.
“Vote Treaty Negotiations contains a multi-year appropriation of $1,400 million for the five year period 2012 to 2016.”
That is 1.4 BILLION divided over a five year period.
VOTE MAORI AFFAIRS
Overview of the Vote
The Minister of Māori Affairs is responsible for appropriations in the Vote for the 2012/13 financial year
covering the following:
• a total of over $23 million for provision of advice, including second opinion advice and contributions to policy advice led by other agencies, to support decision-making by Ministers on government policy
matters; and provision of other services to Ministers to enable them to discharge their portfolio
• a total of nearly $14 million for the design, delivery and management of community investment programmes, the Māori Business Facilitation Service, and administrative costs of the Land Management Unit
• a total of nearly $7 million for an integrated programme of community level social assistance to Māori whānau through the provision of services by Whānau Advocates (Kāitoko Whānau and Oranga
Whānau); Māori Wardens and related entities
• a total of nearly $8 million for strengthening relationships with Māori with emphasis on facilitation,
brokerage, provision of local level information and co-ordination
• a total of nearly $75 million for the promotion of Māori language and culture through direct funding of broadcasting entities (Te Māngai Pāho, Māori Television Services and Te Pūtahi Paoho) and Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo (Māori Language Commission)
• a total of just over $10 million to purchase the services of the Māori Trustee
• a total of nearly $3 million to progress Māori economic development initiatives across tourism and the
productive sectors
• a total of just over $14 million for funding Māori Potential through community investment programmes and the Rangatiratanga grants
• a total of over $4 million for specific Māori Potential programmes including; Iwi Housing Support, Māori Registration Service, Māori Wardens, NZ Māori Council and Māori Women’s Development Fund
• a total of $500,000 for addressing Treaty and contemporary claims related matters
• a total of $43,000 for various legislative payments administered by Te Puni Kōkiri, and
• a total of over $2 million for departmental capital expenditure.
The Minister for Whānau Ora is responsible for the following appropriations:
• a total of nearly $49 million for activities associated with implementing, developing and evaluating whānau ora service delivery approach ($9 million) and the purchase of the whānau ora service delivery capability and whānau support ($40 million).
Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-6 for Vote Māori Affairs in the Information Supporting the Estimates of Appropriations.
VOTE INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Part 1 – Summary of the Vote
Part 1.1 – Overview of the Vote
The Minister of Internal Affairs is the Minister responsible for the Department of Internal Affairs and coordinating Minister for the Vote Internal Affairs.
Departmental Appropriations
• A total of $3.689 million for the administration of the processes supporting government grant funding schemes, from receiving applications to monitoring grant recipients.
• A total of $219.046 million for the collection, management and provision of access to information relating to New Zealand’s national and personal identity, including identity records and information,
documentary heritage and other knowledge information, archival records, collections and other civic information.
• A total of $13.634 million for the provision of information, training and advisory services to communities and community organisations, and to assist government agencies to understand, engage
and interact with community groups.
• A total of $904,000 for the provision of translation and other language services to government agencies and the public, and support services to government agencies.
• A total of $7.879 million for ensuring the effective delivery and responsiveness of New Zealand’s civil defence and emergency management services.
• A total of $7.712 million for planning, establishing, operating and supporting service delivery and ICT services across the State sector, and provision of advice relating to government ICT.
• A total of $2.785 million for administering local government legislation and supporting the effective operation of the local government system.
• A total of $1.854 million for the effective delivery of services to enable Ministers to discharge their
portfolio (other than policy decision-making) responsibilities.
• A total of $13.598 million for the effective provision of advice (including second opinion advice and contributions to policy advice led by other agencies) to support decision-making by Ministers on government policy matters.
• A total of $30.354 million for the effective delivery of services to ensure compliance with regulated activities.
• A total of $37.310 million for the provision of support services for government and the Executive.
• A total of $19.043 million for the effective delivery of services and advice to statutory, advisory and other bodies to enable them to discharge their responsibilities.
NON – DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
• A total of $5.066 million funding for the Charities Commission to fulfil its functions outlined in the Charities Act 2005.
• A total of $1.960 million for purchasing services from the Office of Film and Literature Classification for the examination and classification of films, videos and publications (including digital material).
• A total of $116,000 for services provided by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in the development of on-line authentication services.
• A total of $2 million for payment to New Zealand authors in recognition that their books are available for use in New Zealand libraries.
• A total of $60 million for assistance with rates for low-income residential ratepayers.
• A total of $2.233 million contribution to the cost of the Chatham Island Council meeting its statutory responsibilities.
• A total of $4.695 million for the Community Development Scheme to provide grants to community organisations for projects to achieve improved economic, social and cultural wellbeing in areas such
as health, education and crime prevention.
• A total of $331,000 for grants to community internship programmes to place experienced people from the public, private and community sectors in short-term internships to develop capacity in community
and voluntary sector organisations.
• A total of $12.500 million for locally distributed grants to community organisations for programmes that direct social services provision to disadvantaged community sectors.
• A total of $1.393 million for maintaining Crown-owned assets at Lake Taupo.
• A total of $193,000 for depreciation on official residences owned by the Crown.
• A total of $3.881 million for the provision of funding to selected communities to improve their access to digital tools and improve the capability of those communities in the use of digital tools.
• A total of $150,000 in Disarmament Education Grants to fund activities to support New Zealand nongovernment organisations in the disarmament education field.
• A total of $1 million for emergency expense payments in line with the criteria as detailed in the National CDEM Plan.
• A total of $8.700 million for the cost of salaries and allowances for the Executive Council and Members of the Executive, as authorised by section 2 of the Civil List Act 1979.
• A total of $435,000 for annuities and payments in respect of other benefits and privileges to former Governors-General and their surviving spouses or partners.
• A total of $160,000 for annuity payments to former Prime Ministers and their surviving spouses or partners.
• A total of $270,000 for domestic travel by former Prime Ministers and their spouses or partners.
• A total of $11.790 million for travel by Members of the Executive and approved accompanying parties.
• A total of $49,000 for Crown grants to a range of community organisations.
• A total of $600,000 for the costs of providing independent legal counsel to the families of the deceased Pike River miners, and financial assistance to the employees of, and contractors to, the Pike River
Mine to obtain legal assistance in respect of the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
• A total of $599,000 for fees for inquiries and investigations.
• A total of $1 million contestable fund to match racing industry contributions towards enhancing workplace safety.
• A total of $889,000 in subsidies to Local Government for emergency management preparation.
• A total of $402,000 to promote the effective use, training and support of volunteers.
• A total of $300,000 towards the Te Oneroa a Tohe beach management plan.
• A total of $1.500 million to Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board to provide for continued public access to
Lake Taupo.
• A total of $200,000 in grants for informal training for both paid and voluntary youth workers.
DEPARTMENTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
• A total of $64.460 million for the purchase or development of assets by and for the use of the Department of Internal Affairs, as authorised by section 24(1) of the Public finance Act 1989.
NON – DEPARTMENT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
• A total of $342,000 for the upgrading of boating facilities at Lake Taupo, provision of safety lighting and adequate warning of navigational hazards.
• A total of $1.546 million for the purchase of material for the Alexander Turnbull Library collections held and managed by the National Library.
I was having a totally DAFT moment when I posted this Vote Internal Affairs.
All you need to note is that Tuwharetoa is recieving 1.500 million already for ‘continued public access at Lake Taupo’.
Ah well, its up now – sorry to make you all scroll through all that though!
There is a little more to come, but not tonight. Ill troll through the other Vote papers and post what is important.
You can also access the Vote papers yourselves from this link:
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/2012/estimates
P.S . . . Marvin, how is your spleen?