pacificEyeWitness.org

Transcript of Yesterday’s Parliamentary Motion at 2pm.

Speakers:

1. Prime Minister John Key
2. Labour Deputy Leader Annette King
3. Green Party Co-Leader Russell Norman
4. Act Party David Garrett
5. Maori Party Co-Leader Dr Pita Sharples
6. Progressive Leader Jim Anderton
7. United Future Peter Dunne
8. Labour Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
9. National Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
10. Labour Su’a William Sio
    

Pacific Islands—Tsunami

Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) : Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Tēnā tātou katoa e te Whare nei.

Matou te manatua pea aiga Pasefika o loo mafatia i nei taimi faigata. Ua tiga faatasi o matou loto mo outou. O loo maligi pea o matou loimata, ona o le faaleagaina o outou eleele ma e umi se taimi o matou lagona faatasi le tiga ma outou. We think of our Pacific families at this traumatic time. Our hearts have bled with theirs. Our tears flow at the loss of lives, at the damage to their lands, and at the sadness that will last for months and years ahead.

When the news broke just under a fortnight ago that an 8.3 magnitude earthquake had struck, and the subsequent tsunami was observed, it took some time to sink in. As cabled photographs were relayed over wire and we saw the ferocious 6-metre waves crashing down, the full extent of the disaster became known. Today we join with others in the House to bow our heads in the profound grief we all feel as we pay our respects to the 184 people who lost their lives that day in Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga.

In split seconds, 20 villages were completely destroyed, families were torn apart, and loved ones were ripped from each other. Even now several hundred people are still nursing injuries. Over 15,000 people have been directly affected by this tragic twist of fate, but it is the long-term trauma that is now starting to take hold. These are people who for centuries have lived on the coastline, but now they are suddenly homeless and dealing with the devastating wreckage left behind. Some have fled to the bush and have still not come out. I remember with love Tui Annandale, a dear friend, the wife of Joe, who was lost from the village of Poutasi.

Others have focused on the funerals that are still occurring, but they have no idea about what to do next. One family in Lalomanu buried nine members from four different generations, from ages 2 to 97. The human cost of that will never be able to be measured. For many it will be a long, painful journey to rebuild lives and to restore Samoa to the island paradise they know it to be. The Māori Party extends our deepest sympathies to all of those families, who will keep replaying in their minds the fate they suffered that day.

Last Sunday was White Sunday, the time when children are celebrated, when the possibilities of the next generation give reason for great joy. But this year’s ceremonies were marred by the grief of the 9,000 children affected by the tsunami, at least 2,000 of whom are thought to be displaced.

But perhaps the most incredible thing of all is that in the midst of such devastation, hope is still able to be found. We in the Māori Party place on record our utter admiration for all those courageous souls who have the strength of character to remake their world around them. This last fortnight has shown some amazing examples of the human spirit at its best. Who could forget the young boy searching for his relatives, motivated by his commitment to ensure that each one was buried in dignity; the families uprooting themselves to help those who need it most; or the communities fighting through the chaos of rubble to reconstruct sanitation facilities and to provide access to clean water, shelter, and protection from the elements?

We want also to acknowledge the fierce sense of pride that all New Zealanders must have in the way in which this nation has responded. We acknowledge the effort of a gutsy Wellington 10-year-old, Abby Wutzler, who ran the length of the beach at Lalomanu, warning holidaymakers to head for the hills away from the tsunami. Disaster victim identification specialists, New Zealand police, Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel, grief counsellors, infectious disease specialists, doctors, nurses—a literal army of support—have dropped everything to help. Theatre nurse Debbie Ratima summed it up: “These people need our help and so that’s something you prepare yourself for and get stuck in and help.” A group of Samoan community leaders in Auckland has also got stuck in to help, including former All Black La’auli Michael Jones, Judge Ida Malosi, David Tua, Va’aiga Tuigamala, and others. Indeed, the reaction of the Samoan and Tongan communities in Aotearoa has been legendary in their immediate expression of whakawhanaungatanga, of caring for their loved ones back on the islands.

It is times like this when we truly feel part of the Pacific village, and we must do all we can to care for our neighbours. We must rebuild homes and infrastructure, and the $6 million given to help recovery efforts is a vital part of that. But equally important are the 10 containers of donated goods from the Samoan and Tongan communities in Auckland, the 15 pallets of supplies for Tonga, and the supplies and equipment that all our donations can help to provide.

Finally, as tangata whenua we express our deepest sadness for our Pasifika cousins, to whom we are bound by the Pacific Ocean, by common whakapapa, and by a powerful sense of connection. Our prayers and our love go to the people of Samoa and of Tonga. O le a matou tatalo ma alolofa atu mo outou uma i Samoa ma Toga. Faamalolosi pea ma loto toa, ma ia outou mautinoa o loo matou manatua pea outou. Thank you.