11. Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Maori Affairs
What advice, if any, has Te PuniKōkiri provided to him on how Treaty settlements can help Maori realise their potential?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Māori Affairs) Link to this
Te PuniKōkiri recognises the importance of reaching durable Treaty settlements, which significantly contribute to returning economic and other resources for development and self-determination. This is the Māori Potential Approach for the betterment of iwi, hapū, and whānau.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
What advice did he give the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations on whether the Crown should negotiate with just NgātiWhātua and Tāmaki-makau-rau, to the exclusion of six other claimant groups?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I, along with my ministry, supported the mandating process, and it is interesting to know that NgātiWhātua, as a whole, accepted that.
Dave Hereora
Simon Power
Madam SPEAKERHon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That is the problem. They have got no culture. Te PuniKōkiri advises on settlement policy, claimant representation and mandate ratification, and the protection mechanism. It also advises on, and in some cases leads, the negotiation of contemporary claims.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
What advice did he give the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations on the validity of the Crown’s approach of only negotiating with about half of the Te Arawa confederation of tribes, when it was obvious—and should have been obvious to him, at least—that this would cause tension and conflict?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Twenty-four thousand Te Arawa people made a decision to proceed to settlement negotiations with the Government. There was advice and ongoing connectivity with my colleague. As a former member of the Waitangi Tribunal, Mrs te Heuheu should be well aware that unfortunately most settlements have, at some point, created raruraru—which, for those uncultured people, is differences—within iwi and hapū. It is something I do not think they want to admit happens in their culture: the issue of how to settle what is naturally a challenging process.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I did ask the Minister what advice he gave the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. He rambled on about what was happening in Te Arawa but he did not address that question: “What advice did he give?”.
I think he did. I do not know whether the Minister wishes to add anything, but I thought he had addressed the question—that which I could hear over the comments of other members in the House.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
If Treaty settlements can play such an important role in helping Maori realised their potential, why has the Minister not once complied with his non-discretionary legal obligation under section 8I of the Treaty of Waitangi Act, to lay before the House an annual report on the progress being made in implementing recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
The last report was tabled in 1995—in 1995! A further report for the period of 1996-97 was lodged in the Parliamentary Library, but was not tabled in the House. Next month, I expect to table an updated report that we have been working on for the last 6 months, for the period through to 2007.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I asked the Minister why he has not complied with his non-discretionary legal obligation to report. He has gone back to years when he was not even in Parliament, and commented on what happened then. He cannot have addressed the question.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that Te PuniKōkiri prepared a report for him on the Crown’s progress in implementing Waitangi Tribunal recommendations in the current financial year, but that he refused to accept the report from his own ministry, so that he would not have to inform the House and the people of New Zealand about the Government’s failure to implement those recommendations?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That is totally incorrect. I have told that member that I am waiting for a review, and if she did not hear the response before, that is rubbish—utter rubbish.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Would the Minister not agree with the Waitangi Tribunal’s finding, that Te Arawa is now in a state of turmoil; hapū are in contest with other hapū, the preservation of tribal relations has been adversely affected, and they are left fearing for the customary future of Te Arawa waka as a result; it is a very serious state of affairs, and how will Te PuniKōkiri help Te Arawa Māori realise their potential under such duress?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That member was there at the day of the signing with me, and there was tension, and he was part of that, and I respect him for that, as a Te Arawa person. But that is something for Te Arawa to sort out, not the Government.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
Does the Minister concede that the reason he has not once complied with his compulsory statutory obligations and tabled a report is that there is no progress to report?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
That member said yesterday that there were 19 settlements. There are 21—11 at the front end, and 10 at the other end. The talk that is coming out of her mouth should be coming out of the other end. What a load of rubbish!
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
I seek leave to table an extract from the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, provision 8I titled “Annual Report on Implementation of Recommendations”.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
I seek leave to table a report by the Parliamentary Library, showing that the Minister has never—never—tabled a report on—
Hon Georgina te Heuheu Link to this
I seek leave to table a Parliamentary Library extract that shows a list of dates that negotiations started and finished.