'Let's show them': Reti says MPP can prove critics wrong and deliver for Pacific communities

Some language programmes run by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples will have to prove their value, if they’re to survive a programme review being instructed by the new minister.

Dr Shane Reti, the Minister for Pacific Peoples, told John Pulu on 531pi's PMN Tonga show that while he holds to the principle of preserving, supporting and enhancing languages, all ministry programmes are being reviewed to determine which would have the biggest reach and impact.

“I am mindful of the need to preserve language, and I have seen the language weeks of course,” he said.

But Dr Reti said: “all of the programmes that we have within the ministry are (up) for scrutiny as to how can we do better? Is this the best use of the funding that we have?”

“I am encouraged by what I'm being told around the impact of the language weeks, for example. But all programmes need to be looked at and, as I say, what we want to look at is the biggest reach and the biggest impact.

“So as we weigh up this programme against that programme … we'll probably have some list that says that this is where we can reach the most and do the best good. Where does a language week sit in that?”

Watch the full interview with PMN Tonga host John Pulu here:

But Dr Reti said he does hold to the principle and general theme of “preserving, supporting and enhancing the language”.

Dr Reti said some of the priorities that he’s asking the ministry to look at will be around cost of living, health, education, law and order, infrastructure and housing.

“Most of the things we want to attend to are going to sit in those buckets,” he said.

“What I'm doing with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples is working through what five or six outcomes in that list should we be focusing on that have maximum reach, maximum impact.”

Dr Reti said he will be target-focussed on what can be achieved annually, over the next three years so “we can look back and say, yep, we got them, now set up another set of targets and keep moving”.

“So very target-focused is what you see with me and with this government, which means I hold myself accountable, I hold officials accountable, I hold providers accountable.

“We're working through what those targets might be at the moment and a range of things that we could look at, which we're still working on.”

Dr Reti, who is also the Minister for Health, said the interface between his two portfolios provided an opportunity.

“If I was to point to an area just by way of example that is likely to be a high priority for me, it'll be immunisation, particularly measles,” he said.

“A real focus will be around immunising our young people and particularly for measles. So (that’s) just one example of something that we are going to focus really intently on and look for improvement in this first year.”

When asked about coalition partner ACT Party wanting to disestablish the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Dr Reti said he was aware of the narrative and saw that as a “wonderful challenge”.

“Let's show them what we can do. Let's show them that in a year's time, here's the value we add … that's the approach we're taking to this.”