5. Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
Did he give an undertaking to the Iwi Leadership Group that he would revisit Government policy on nationalised minerals if Māori considered granting consent to mining on Māori-owned land?
Hon BILL ENGLISHHon Nanaia Mahuta Link to this
Why has the Minister engaged with the Iwi Leadership Group on mining interests on Māori land but not consulted in good faith with iwi leaders on petroleum exploration permits like those for Raukūmara and Reinga, or is consultation something he engages in only when iwi have something he wants?
Mr SPEAKERDid the Minister hear the whole question? I must confess I did not hear the start of the question. But if the Minister heard it—
I am sorry. I asked the member because I missed the start of the question because of interjections on my left.
Hon Nanaia Mahuta Link to this
Why has the Minister engaged with the Iwi Leadership Group on mining interests on Māori land but not consulted in good faith with iwi leaders on petroleum exploration permits like those for Raukūmara and Reinga, or is consultation something he engages in only when iwi have something he wants?
Iwi leaders, in our experience, have the same interests around mining as every other New Zealander. Some of them would like to proceed with mining, because they are landowners or they want new jobs. Others are opposed to it, because they believe it has a negative environmental impact. In respect of the second statement, the Minister, I understand, is heading to the East Coast to consult about the permits the member referred to. Of course he will consult with them.
Hon Nanaia Mahuta Link to this
Given that response, did the Minister give an undertaking to the Iwi Leadership Group to amend the existing Ministry of Economic Development consultation process with Māori on mining applications, in order to prevent a repeat of the Raukūmara and Reinga basins consultation debacle?
I cannot answer specifically about whether he has made an undertaking. But, certainly, it is the Government’s intent to follow the same kind of process with iwi as with any other New Zealanders—that is, to be transparent about where the Government is headed and to make sure their views are heard and taken into account.
Hon Nanaia Mahuta Link to this
Did the Minister give an undertaking to the Iwi Leadership Group that he would amend Government policy or the Crown Minerals Act to make certain the nature and the extent of Māori interests in new, non-nationalised mineral resources?
Again, I cannot answer specifically about what the Minister may have said, but the Government does have an interest in ensuring that for all participants in the resources stake there is certainty about rights, obligations, and processes. Iwi have as much interest in that certainty as every other New Zealander.
Rahui KateneHas he seen the comments on mining from Mark Solomon, chair of both Ngāi Tahu and the Iwi Leadership Group, that it is about getting all the best information one can and acting responsibly as kaitiaki for protecting the land, and what processes has he established to ensure iwi will be informed about Government policy on Crown minerals, moving into the future?
Yes, I have seen those comments from Mr Solomon. I think he is probably still a wee bit focused on having no mining whatsoever, whereas I think there are possibilities in the Ngāi Tahu rohe that would be quite positive, including providing jobs for members of Ngāi Tahu. The Government is talking with iwi leadership about the best process to ensure iwi are well informed about Government policy on minerals and resources and can take iwi views into account. I do not think this will be difficult, because it is a process that we put in place for a whole range of issues that we discuss with iwi from week to week, in the same way as we do with every other New Zealander.
Hon Nanaia Mahuta Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the Iwi Leadership Group was interested in mining opportunities only if it were not at the expense of the environment or contrary to the aspirations of its tribal members?
I certainly would not want to represent iwi leaders’ views; that is fundamentally their role. But in my experience they are, as owners and managers of significant land and natural resource in New Zealand, well informed and well aware of the trade-offs between environmental protection and the creation of wealth and jobs—which, after all, is of as much interest to iwi in general as it is to the Government.