Peter Tapsell has wideranging portfolio

Tu Tangata, Issue 20, 1 October 1984, Page 11

Peter Tapsell has wideranging portfolio

Well, to start things off, he’s definitely going to be busy this term. He is Minister of Internal Affairs, the Arts, Civil Defence, and Asociate Minister of Tourism and Local Government.

The Internal Affairs folio is a story in itself. It ranges from the protection of bird life and trout fishing, to arranging the visits of important people to New Zealand. He also looks after the welfare of all the Ministers in Parliament, and is responsible for a large number of public servants. The folio also covers the arts, which includes the National Art Galleries, and Museums, dealing with the problems of youth, and also the racing industry. He will be looking at youth related programmes in action at the moment, and how to improve them so that youth can get a meaningful job in life. And he sees enjoying their youth as a major priority. The arts are another area for concern. He’s not only looking to improving the performance of the arts, but also improving New Zealanders' appreciation of the arts. Obviously he sees things through maori eyes, and will take these things into consideration. And being Cabinet Minister gives him the added advantage of having a say in anything, both directly and indirectly relating to maori things. He says that maori art is one of the areas that has been left out rather worse than most. “It has greater claim to attention than most other areas, on the grounds that it is the indigenous art of New Zealand.”

And he’s adamant that the won’t be neglecting his Eastern Maori electorate. “I don’t have the same time to travel around my electorate and see the people on a face to face basis, although I’ll do my best. But remember at the same time, I’m now in Cabinet where all the decisions are being made so I’ve got an input where the decisions are, I’ve got a better opportunity of getting decisions made that will improve the lot of our people,” he said. “It’s much harder, but it’s sort of ‘what I lost on the roundabout. I’ll pick up on the swings’.” And yes, he remembers his press statement a few months ago advocating expanding maori broadcasting opportunities. “I’ll be supporting any means that will increase and include the use of maori in the public media any media.” During Maori Language Week this year, several maori language radio stations were set up around the country. However, Peter isn’t in favour of this. He believes it should be done properly. “There are a lot of groups wanting to set up their, own private stations. I believe we ought to think about that a little as Maori people. “We’ll do ourselves a lot of harm setting up a lot of stations that are illequipped and really don't have the material to keep broadcasting for

several hours a day. “I wonder whether we aren’t better looking at the possibility of beginning one station and having it channelled out to various areas, so that each area could have a little contribution and have better quality stuff. “It’s got to be done very well. You’ll got to realise that we need resources and well-trained people, and we don’t have the material at the moment.” He's also disappointed that Rotorua won’t be benefiting from the proposed Heritage Park in Auckland. The Park, amongst other things, will promote the maori culture and language of New Zealand. But he’s even further disappointed that 30 young maori people are being trained in taha maori in Rotorua, and then sent to Auckland to work. “I would have liked to have seen it largely maori owned, operated and organised. Now we’ve missed out.”

And speaking of Maori International, there is a government policy on it.

“We are in favour of the principle of Maori people becoming more heavily involved in the tourist industry, and of Maori entering into joint ventures with government or with other organisations. But so far as Maori International is concerned we would want to be assured that there is strong majority support for any particular project.”

The election results were something that surprised him. “I got the highest majority ever in a New Zealand seat.” “My majority was bigger than some of the others’ total vote.” However, he is very pleased with the overall majority in all of the seats. He thinks that the members in general seats were very envious of the maori seats because of the support they received. And this had made all of the Maori representatives in Parliament more conscious that they have the people's support. “In my seat, every one of the opposition lost their deposit. And although he did get the highest majority, he still wants to see more Maori people on the Maori roll. “I think that every Maori should be on that roll, and I’ll be pushing that in the next year or so. “When we get sufficient Maori people on the Maori roll then I think we ought to increase the number of Maori seats.” He is confident of the calibre of the present government, and thinks this is a chance for the government and maori people to work out any problems together. “I think that we have a wonderful opportunity, the Labour Government and the Maori members of Parliament, to bring about some real changes that are desperately needed by the Maori people.”