Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage) : The Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill is a very simple bill. It clarifies existing film industry practice and provides greater certainty for producers, investors, and workers, and I am very pleased to support it.
Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Attorney-General: Why has the Government not done more to deal with the occupation of the Taipā Point public reserve by foreshore and seabed protesters? Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) to the Attorney-General: Is it Government policy to exempt the holders of customary marine title from the application of the Resource Management Act 1991 and provide the holders with the sole right to give, or deny, a Resource Management Act permission right with no right of appeal or objection against the decision, as described in Bell Gully’s newsletter update October 2010 on the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill? Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) : I move, That the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Bill be now read a third time. The presence in the gallery of people representing those iwi to witness the third reading of this bill is testimony to the bill’s significance, to the significance of the Waikato River to these iwi, and not least of all to the contribution iwi will make to the co-governance and co-management of the Waikato River. HILARY CALVERT (ACT) to the Attorney-General: Will his amendment to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill to ensure that public access to the foreshore and seabed is free, allow for mum, dad and the children to go to the beach for a picnic, a paddle, and to build a sandcastle below the line of mean high water springs so that they won’t be charged for the privilege; if not, why not? Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) : I welcome the representatives of both Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare who have joined us tonight for this great occasion. Engagement in these settlements requires commitment and courage. It often involves some difficult trade-offs, personally and professionally, by those who are so involved in it. I pay tribute to the leadership, the pragmatism, and the hard work of the negotiating teams of the two iwi who are with us tonight. Hon SHANE JONES (Labour) to the Attorney-General: Does he agree with ACT leader Rodney Hide’s statement on Radio New Zealand this morning in relation to ACT’s amendment to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill to explicitly prohibit Māori with customary title from charging fees for access to coastal areas: “I have an e-mail here from the Attorney-General’s office saying that they would support such a provision in the bill—that is to say I’ve got that in writing”? Governor-General Bill — Second Reading13/10/2010 Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Prime Minister: I move, That the Governor-General Bill be now read a second time. As the Prime Minister indicated when the bill received its first reading, it is very important and timely legislation. It was referred to the Government Administration Committee on 20 July; the committee has now completed its examination of the bill and has recommended that it be passed. HILARY CALVERT (ACT) to the Attorney-General: Will he support my proposed amendment to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill to include a specific prohibition on customary title holders charging for public access to New Zealand beaches such as is provided for in the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004; if not, why not? Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) : I always enjoy the intelligent contributions of the previous speaker, Maryan Street. I greatly appreciated that contribution. It makes a refreshing change from the mindless negativism one often gets from that side of the House. |
