5. PITA PARAONE (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
Has he received any advice on the removal of references to the “principles of the Treaty of Waitangi” from legislation and the impact this may have on the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi to New Zealand?
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Justice) Link to this
Yes, I have received advice on the implications of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill for current legislation.
Can the Minister confirm that removing references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi from legislation will not remove all references to the Treaty of Waitangi from legislation, as the principles and the Treaty itself are clearly different?
Yes, it is my understanding that the assertion in the first part of the member’s question is correct. However, I cannot confirm that it would be without significant potential risk and negative impact on the relationship between many Māori and the Crown.
Can he confirm, then, that the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and the Treaty itself are different, and that removing the undefined principles from legislation will not affect the Treaty of Waitangi and its relevance to New Zealand?
Simon PowerMr Power aspires to my job, but he has not got it yet. [ Interruption] He will have a long wait. A lot of the Opposition members are aspiring, but they are growing old in their aspiration.
Madam SPEAKERI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I asked the question, but unfortunately I could not hear the answer.
I remind members—those asking the questions and those answering them—that if they just stuck to the questions and the answers and did not embroider them with any other comments, we would get through them more quickly.
I apologise to the member for allowing myself to be distracted by members opposite. In answer to the member’s question, of course one draws from the other. He asks whether it is the case that the removal of references to the principles would have no effect. No, I cannot agree with that. Such a removal would amend several Treaty claim Acts, in effect affecting the apologies given, and I am afraid that that in turn would undermine the good-faith relationship between the Crown and those it settled with.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Madam Speaker; tēnā tātou katoa i Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Kua rongo ia mō ētahi kōrero pēnei i ērā i puta mai i te Minita Māori i te nūpepa i te rānei e kī nei, “Kāore te Wāhanga Māori i te whakaae ki te pire”, ā, he rerekē, he ōrite, he kōrero taupatupatu rānei ēnei kōrero ki aua mātāpono e pūtake mai ana i te Tiriti o Waitangi pēnei i te noho tahi, kia noho korekiko ai ngā nawe o te tangata whenua; ki te kore, he aha ai?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Has he received any advice, as reported by the Minister of Māori Affairs in today’s newspaper, that “the Māori Caucus is not in favour of it”, and would he not think it inconsistent with the very principles embedded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, such as partnership, if the concerns of the people of the land are ignored; if not, why not?]
I am aware of the comments in the newspaper that the member refers to. I can say to the member that the comments of the Minister are not at any odds with the views of his colleagues. The Labour caucus will honour its undertaking under the confidence and supply agreement. That does not mean we will not engage in very full debate of the issues raised in the bill.