Transcript
TE URUROA FLAVELL: Things from introducing a one-off amnesty for Pacific overstayers, definitely the idea of introducing a visa for climate change refugee category against the issues that affect some of our Pacific homelands. To look at the issues of increasing the whole whanau ora positions, using their Pasifika church communities. There are a number of others, but to name a few. To invest in the outcomes of Tatoupou for Pasifika families - Tatoupou is an approach to cultural, social and economic change kaupapa lead by Pasifika communities. Not just in the social area, but in the educational area as well. So we're looking to introduce 150 paid Pacific adult internships, for a year as a part of retaining the Pacific workforce that has been affected by changes in the marketplace.
TIM GLASGOW: In regards to Pacific people why do you think it's important that they have policies that are catered for them?
TF: Simply, the One Pacific people told us that their dreams and aspirations, and many had been affiliated with both Labour and National in the past. Both parties from their perspective did not have the freedom, nor did they have the enthusiasm that some of the Pacific kaupapa saw strongly to. So you'd understand that for many Pacific communities the issues of an amnesty, albeit a one-off amnesty would be a pretty important issue for them. Bear in mind, a while ago, they came down pretty heavily on Pacific overstayers. and has that changed? Well they don't do it as vigorously as they did back in the day, but never the less it is an issue that affects Pasifika communities.
TG: So in terms of the overstayer amnesty policy. that would mean that those people who are living here without work visas, or correct visas, would have the chance to become citizens?
TF: Yes, that's right. So they don't have to hide with the stigma of not having a visa to be here. Our understanding there's a fair number of them. And we're trying to take that , take that stigma away, take that barrier away and allow them to move into the workforce and have good lives here. Because at they told us they moved here for the land of milk and honey believing that was what they were going to get, so they will be able to look after their families, to send resources back to the homeland, to be able to look after the ones back at home. But also to be able to forge a new life of opportunities that are here. Unfortunately, if they are always being under the cloud of being raided or picked up by immigration, as I say, my understanding there are a numbers of people who will be impacted on. And this doesn't just impact on one or two people it's about families too. So another point about this is to reinstate the parent and family reunification visas, which is about trying to keep families together.
TG: So what sort of numbers have you heard about numbers of people living under the condition here illegally?
TF: It's just anecdotal evidence really that the One Pacific people have said they think it's a good way of dealing with it. To remove the stigma , to make the change, become legitimate, then they don't have to worry anymore and they can get on with life without being hamstrung.
TG: If you are in another coalition with the National Party, or with the Labour Party, they both have quite strong immigration policies. How would you lobby for these Pasifika policies of yours to come into effect?
TF: So our position is, or has been in the last nine years, the government rings us and says we would like you to be in a relationship with us. The arrangement says that we must vote for the budget, but beyond that we can vote against the government at any point in time. But we get policy gains. Do you get everything over the line? No you don't. But once we're invited, because as I say the government never needed us, National never needed us, but they believed that we bring something extra to the governing arrangement. Then we start talking and negotiating. All these things that I've just talked about are on the table as part of a work programme that we want to instigate. So that is very much my, or whoever happens to be in for the Maori Party's responsibility to implement some of these policies as best we can. We won't get all of them over the line, but we definitely go hard to see if we can put them on our work programme.
TG: What about how you see New Zealand's relationship with our Pacific neighbours and working with those governments?
TF: Yip, generally New Zealand has a good relationship with the other countries. With our line and with Pasifika peoples and trying to open up more opportunities for them. Because in a sense I believe that Pasifika communities have sort of been left on the wayside. Why? Because everyone generally lives in certain areas and by share vote you are counted as part of the bigger community. You don't, like Maori, get a the opportunity to have a specific say. I think that, this is the feedback that I've had, is that Pacific people feel like they don't have the opportunity to give feedback on the political climate in New Zealand, yes in their own countries, but not in New Zealand.
