11. TE URUROA FLAVELL (Māori Party—Waiariki) Link to this
to the Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
What is the reason that an airspace protection provision for Ngāti Uenukukōpako is not being considered within the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) Link to this
The Crown received a request for airspace protection above Ruamatā Marae on 3 June 2008, clearly too late to be included in the deed of settlement. In any case, such matters do not normally fall within the ambit of historical Treaty settlements. However, I have asked the Minister of Transport to contact the representatives of Ruamatā Marae regarding this issue, which is better dealt with as a relationship issue, not as a Treaty claim issue.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
What assurance can the Minister give to Ngāti Uenukukōpako that their Treaty rights will not be breached in the future, requiring the people of Ruamatā Marae to move their ancestral meeting house again as they did in the 1960s, as a result of the threat created by the use of aircraft in the airspace immediately above their marae and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamatā, which adjoins the marae?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
These are matters for civil aviation authorities, and obviously also involve Rotorua District Council as the potential promoter of changes at Rotorua airport. I would not regard this as being a historical claim issue at this point, but certainly as one that is best dealt with by discussions between the relevant parties.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
What response did he make to Blanche Hohepa-Kiriona of Ngāti Uenukukōpako, who has described the forced relocation of their marae in the 1960s, the impact of their land being taken for the airport, and the adverse impact of aircraft operations on the marae and the people at one of the “telling our stories” hui, which gave affiliate iwi of Te Pūmautanga an opportunity to express various Treaty grievances; and what criteria are used to describe what is an accepted Treaty grievance and what is not?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It obviously varies very much from case to case. In terms of matters that happened in the 1960s, then in so far as they were part of any Treaty claim, any legislation that settles those Treaty claims settles that particular matter. What the member is referring to at the moment is proposed plans, as I understand, in relation to changes at Rotorua airport, in terms, particularly, of international flights and how those might affect the marae itself. That is best dealt with, as I say, by negotiations between the parties currently involved, rather than trying to insert that matter into a historical Treaty claim bill, because this is yet to happen in the case of what is now being proposed.
Louisa WallKia ora, Madam Speaker, tēnā koutou katoa. How does the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapū settlement relate to the Central North Island Iwi Collective Crown forest land settlement?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Central North Island Iwi Collective Crown forest deed of settlement will supersede the licensed Crown forest land redress negotiated in the 2006 affiliate Te Arawa deed. In the 2008 deed the Crown has recognised the financial contribution that Te Pūmautanga has made to enable the transfer of the central North Island licensed Crown forest lands to the Central North Island Iwi Collective. I would like to pay tribute to the patience and flexibility and determination of the leadership of Te Pūmautanga in agreeing to these changes.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Further to the discussion the Minister has offered, are any courses of action available to Ngāti Uenukukōpako to achieve a settlement on their airspace protection claims that they have not as yet already followed?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I am not sufficiently well briefed on that matter. As I have said, I have asked the Minister of Transport to talk to the relevant transport authorities and people who actually have control over airspace issues. Obviously we will want to follow up that further, and as a Minister with an interest in these matters I will want to be kept informed around that and will appreciate further briefings from the member in that regard.