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Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into the Status and Wellbeing of Maori and Pacific children

The Maori Affairs Select Committee this week decided that it will undertake an inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Maori and Pacific children. It will look at social, health and education and social factors affecting the groups.

This inquiry has been promoted by the Aotearoa Equality Group and Every Child Counts. The Aotearoa Equality Group is convened by Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei and Maori Party MP Rahui Katene, and also involves Labour MP Louisa Wall. It is a cross party parliamentary group which works on policies to create a more equal society.

National MPs voted against holding the inquiry. National MP Simon Bridges told reporters there was no need for the inquiry as the prime minister's science advisor Sir Peter Gluckman was doing a 'comprehensive review that runs to hundreds of pages' and because Social Development Minister Paula Bennett was doing a paper on the issue. 'The Maori members on the Maori Affairs select committee for National had a view that actually we've put a lot of time into this already, there are things being done and an inquiry by the Maori Affairs select committee wouldn't necessarily add anything. Having said that the vote's been had, we are having one, and I am sure we will enter into it constructively.'

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/SC/Details/MaoriAffairs/d/9/c/00DBHOH_BBSC_SCMA_1-Business-before-the-M-ori-Affairs-Committee.htm

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5177981/Inquiry-to-target-Maori-Pacific-children