7. HEKIA PARATA (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
What is the Government doing to advance its target of settling historical Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) Link to this
Budget 2009 provided an extra $22.4 million over the next 4 years to help achieve that target. The new funding will be used, among other things, to provide resources for extra facilitation and mediation assistance to claimant groups, and for increased use of Crown negotiators, like the Hon Paul Swain and Dr John Wood. That will help result in more settlements being reached more quickly.
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
Last week’s announcement of an additional $22.4 million to resource the Treaty settlements process was on top of an additional $4.1 million, which the Government allocated earlier in the year to maintain the increased pace. In April the Prime Minister, and a number of other Ministers, attended a hui in Auckland with iwi to discuss ways to improve the Treaty settlement process. Since then the Office of Treaty Settlements and Te Puni Kōkiri have jointly hosted a series of regional hui for claimant groups, and the feedback from iwi has been very positive indeed.
What else is the Government doing to help achieve its goal of settling historical Treaty grievances by 2014?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
Next week the Government will host a second hui, providing an opportunity for over 60 iwi to present ideas on how to improve the process. For the first time since the 1990s, a Government has asked iwi for their input into Treaty settlements. This Government has brought high-level political leadership to Treaty settlements. The Prime Minister has re-established, and chairs, the Treaty of Waitangi Cabinet committee, and I enjoy a very close and constructive working relationship with the Minister of Māori Affairs, the Hon Dr Pita Sharples, who makes an enormous contribution to Treaty settlements.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. What recognition is there that the accelerated process is likely to increase the demands already placed on claimants to advance settlements, and what progress has been made in responding to the Māori Party’s call to review claimant funding?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
The Government is very aware of the pressures on claimant groups.
Hon Darren HughesHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
In response to the advocacy of the Māori Party and claimant groups, I tell Mr Hughes, the Government is currently reviewing claimant funding, and I hope to be able to say something about that very soon.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Does the Minister accept that in the vast majority of settlements, people find themselves in difficulty with the mandate of appointees to iwi entities; and would the Minister consider a proposal being presented to the iwi meeting at Te Kōkiri Ngātahi that mandated representatives and settlement entities be required to be established prior to the legislation coming before the House?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
Yes, I would be very happy to consider that proposal and have a discussion with iwi next week at our hui. It is but one of a number of very, very good ideas to come from iwi and the Māori Party.