2. GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) Link to this
to the Associate Minister for Economic Development
What part has he played in general policy development as an Associate Minister for Economic Development since taking up the role?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS (Associate Minister for Economic Development) Link to this
I mua i taku whakaututanga i te pātai, kei te mihi atu ki te hoa o te kaipātai ki a Nick Smith: “Haere mai, piki mai, hoki mai.”
[ Before I reply to the question, I extend greetings of welcome to Nick Smith, colleague of the member who asked the question: “Welcome, welcome, welcome back”.]
I have been involved in the development of industry and regional development—
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Madam SPEAKERNo, I am sorry. As I understand what is happening, that was a preliminary comment before the question is being answered. Is that right?
Well, would you please just get to the answer; we do not have preliminaries before. Would you please just answer the question.
Hon Tau HenareI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. As I understand it, that was not just a preliminary comment to the question. It was a sarcastic comment about the return of Nick Smith to the House. So I think you need to be a bit stronger with your condemnation of the Minister. I think that that is actually a poor use of the Māori language in this House. The Minister is just trying to use Māori language to get away with it.
Rodney HideI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think you should reflect on this matter somewhat further and maybe give a considered ruling to the House, because what the Minister has done is quite serious. He has breached the Standing Orders deliberately, made a sarcastic comment—and we have had that confirmed; it was completely out of order—and put the interpreter in an impossible situation, because he could not interpret it properly. We have a Minister who is not prepared to stand up in the House and say, in an honest way, what he wanted to say. Instead, he tried to hide under the Māori language and say something in a language that only a few people could understand. I think that that is an abuse that you should consider most carefully and give a report to this House on.
Hone HarawiraAye, it is. In terms of the sarcastic responses, be they in Māori or in English, it would seem to me that Dr Cullen’s response to Rodney Hide was far more sarcastic than the response from our Minister over here. The fact that the Minister was speaking in Māori and that it was interpreted should not in any way detract from it being part of his formal response to the question. Me mihi au ki a ia mō tōna kōrero.
I thank the member for his comment. The Minister, in his answer, can incorporate what he wishes, but would he please now address the question.
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
I have been involved in the development of industry and regional economic development policy at several levels.
Why did the Minister give an interview with the Independent newspaper about the decision of the Minister of Conservation in the case of the Whangamata marina?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
The Independent journalist rang me when I was at a sitting of a select committee in Hokitika.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The question asked why did he give the interview, not when or how.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
He gave the interview because somebody rang him and asked to speak to him.
Shane JonesHe aha ngā kaupapa kua pau i a ia i roto i te wā e tū ana ia hei Minita Tuarua mō ngā take whanaketanga? What policy initiatives has the Minister been involved with regarding his delegated responsibilities as Associate Minister with responsibility for Māori economic development?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
In particular, I have been involved in the development of key Māori economic policies, which have enhanced Māori participation in New Zealand’s economy.
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
If the member will wait for a little while I will tell him. Namely, these are the formation and the strengthening of Māori tourism structures, which has brought about a renaissance in the Māori tourism sector. This sector is enjoying rapid growth. Tourism contributes more than $15 billion to the New Zealand economy, and I am proud to say that the Māori nation, in terms of Māori tourism, is making a valid and major contribution to the economy.
Does he stand by his comments in the Independent article, in which he said: “Ministers should not be allowed to overturn the decision of a jury or a court”, or does he stand by his comments in the House yesterday, when he said: “I believe that the Minister of Conservation should have overall jurisdiction in terms of the final decision under the Act.”; if he does not, why has he changed his mind?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
The reality is that the Minister has the final decision. Those are the provisions of the Act. I remind the House that the legislation was put into place by Nick Smith and his National Government. The process that was followed by my colleague the Hon Chris Carter was an honourable one. The issues I have raised have been raised as a matter of process, and that process was in regard to the experience I had as a councillor some years ago.
Hon Jim AndertonCan the Minister confirm that during the period 2002-05, as Associate Minister for Economic Development he was delegated a wide range of economic development initiatives to follow through, including the economic development of Northland and in particular the Māori people of Northland, and could he comment on whether his sojourn in that position resulted in an improvement or a decrease in economic activity and well-being in Northland?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
One of the major factors that our people realise, in terms of economic success, is how many people are employed. I say to this House that the majority of Māori people in Te Tai Tokerau enjoy full employment at this particular time. That has been as a result of the economic policies that have been driven by this Government.
Why was the Minister so condemning of Chris Carter when he did the interview with the Independent last week, but today he is so very complimentary about the very decision he was railing against some days ago?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
I tell that member that I was not condemning, and I have never ever been condemning of, my honourable colleague Chris Carter. I restated that situation yesterday in the House and I have not changed my mind since. Perhaps that member could learn a little bit about aroha to give to his own side, and if he wants to understand what aroha is all about, what integrity and friendship in a relationship is all about, I could brief him on all that after question time.
Has the Minister shared his “huge frustration” about the unworkability of the Government’s aquaculture legislation with his colleague the Minister of Fisheries, or will we have to wait for another Independent phone call to find out his real views?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
No, I have not shared my frustrations with anybody, because I do not have any frustrations—unlike the member across the other side of the House.
Then why did the Minister tell the Independent that he had huge frustrations and that it undermines the integrity of the process when Ministers make those decisions, and why has he described the Government’s ocean policies as pie in the sky?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
My observations and my comments to the Independent were ones of process involving the procedures under the Resource Management Act. That is absolutely what it was all about. I suggest that that member read my comments in context. At the end of the day, if that member wants to know what the impediments are in the Resource Management Act, and if he wants a briefing on it, and if he wants a way to be able to resolve those issues, then I will be free to brief him at the end of question time.
Will the Minister give his sign-off for the full tape of his interview with the Independent to be made available to this House?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
I was not aware that the Independent had a tape. That is a matter for the . Perhaps I should start taping the member’s questions.