Pacific MP Teanau Tuiono on unfinished business and the political year ahead

Parliament is back in session for 2024, and the Green Party’s Pacific Peoples spokesperson Teanau Tuiono is looking forward to the challenges of the next political year, particularly as he takes on a new role in the House.

Tuiono has been appointed the Assistant Speaker for the 54th Parliament, the first time someone from the Green Party has been appointed to the role, and is now learning the ropes.

“I’m looking forward to being useful. As they say on the marae, don’t just stand around, pick up a tea towel or grab a shovel.”

And January was particularly busy for the Greens, with MP Golriz Ghahraman resigning after being charged with two counts of shoplifting and party co-leader James Shaw also announcing that he'll be stepping down in March.

A party leader is not allowed to be an assistant speaker, and when speaking to Levi Matautia-Morgan on Pacific Mornings, Tuiono says this wasn’t an issue.

“No, it wasn’t a difficult decision. I’m pretty happy where I am. I’m pretty busy as well.”

Now in opposition, Tuiono says he’s concerned about the new government’s lean towards the United States and discussions around joining the AUKUS security pact.

“There is geopolitical tension playing out within the Pacific between the big guys, China, and the US.

“Our role, I think, is diplomatic, relational diplomacy, which requires us to think more about the relationships we have in the Pacific and think about how we can nurture those relationships and have a nuclear-free and independent Pacific.”

Tuiono says the $350 billion in funding for a nuclear submarine deal between the US and Australia could be better spent.

“Looking after the environment, making sure that we're climate resilient instead of preparing the Pacific as a theatre for war in terms of the tension between America and China.”

Deep sea mining discussions continue in the Cook Islands

Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters has just returned from the Pacific Mission where he expressed support for the Cook Islands to explore the options of deep sea mining, without outside interference.

"Can we give [the Cook Islands] the freedom before criticism, to investigate the potential and possibility, not just for the Cook Islands but for the Pacific," Peters said during the Pacific Mission.

"I think they're entitled to look at that possibility rather than have a whole lot of outsiders who have no effect and no care, who have never put a cent behind the Cook Islands, tell them what to do with tomorrow."

But Tuiono says there are also environmental organisations and community groups within the Cook Islands that are opposed to the idea, and says it’s important to recognise there’s more than just one voice around the table.

"These [mining] industries have a lot of money behind them, people that are advocating for the environment don’t have a lot of money behind them.

“Having extractive industries and destroying the environment more is not good for the ocean and it's not good for us, it's not good for our cultural identity.

“Our identity as Pasifika, as islanders, is intrinsically linked to the Pacific, and we should be protecting that.”

Looking forward

The party hopes to continue advocating for Pacific issues, speaking against the government’s scrapping of fair pay agreements, and adding Fa’anana Efeso Collins to their party lineup.

“There's 15 of us and two of us are Pasifika, and it's about recognizing that connection that Pasifika have with Aotearoa, the connection between tangata whenua and tangata moana, acknowledging that Pacific peoples are on the front lines of climate change.

“Also from the workers' perspective as well, many of these low-paid workers that we want to advocate for are Pasifika, so for us, it's incredibly serious and it's important that we have that representation within our caucus.”

On Wednesday, Tuiono’s private members bill is up for its first reading, which aims to repeal an act that stripped Western Samoan's of their New Zealand citizenship in the 1980s.

“What my bill will do is repeal that act because it's racist, but also provides a pathway for citizenship for those elders that are still with us.

"And particularly when you look at it in the context of the dawn raids, this is unfinished business and this needs to be removed from the statutory books.”

Watch the full interview with Teanau Tuiono on Pacific Mornings here: