Preamble
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) : Members should consider the history of this matter. The Waitangi Tribunal reported on this issue in 1992. Between 1992 and 2005 the tribe and the Crown were engaged in periodic negotiations. Then on 20 December 2004 the party signed an agreement in principle. In 2005, shortly before Christmas, Te Rōroa ratified the Crown’s initial settlement offer and entered into a deed of settlement. Then on 14 February 2007 the bill was introduced, and on 1 March 2007 we had the first reading and the referral to the Māori Affairs Committee.
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) : Members should consider the history of this matter. The Waitangi Tribunal reported on this issue in 1992. Between 1992 and 2005 the tribe and the Crown were engaged in periodic negotiations. Then on 20 December 2004 the party signed an agreement in principle. In 2005, shortly before Christmas, Te Rōroa ratified the Crown’s initial settlement offer and entered into a deed of settlement. Then on 14 February 2007 the bill was introduced, and on 1 March 2007 we had the first reading and the referral to the Māori Affairs Committee.
In the 3 years I have been in this place I have never been more moved by submissions to a select committee than I was by the submissions made by the good people of Te Rōroa in Dargaville shortly before Easter last year. Several people were genuinely upset at the history of the matter and at the way the matter had played out, and the majority of the select committee were very concerned—I know my friend from New Zealand First certainly was, and we three in the National Party were.
When the bill was being dealt with in the Māori Affairs Committee, we were very concerned about durability. The Government did not talk to Opposition members—we heard nothing. As the Hon Tau Henare said this morning, we have continued to hear nothing. Any information about improvements to the settlement proposal has been obtained from the claimants. I think it is a tragic state of affairs when a senior Opposition MP is spoken to in such a dismissive way by the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Dr Michael Cullen, as he wandered through the Beehive last night. It is simply unacceptable.
We in the Opposition regard these Treaty settlement bills as being of paramount importance. To quote the words of Isaiah, I say that we are “undoing the heavy burdens of the past.” To be treated in such a cavalier, smart alec fashion by the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations is simply unacceptable. His performance over this legislation makes Mark Burton look competent.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu: Maybe that’s going to far.
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Well, they are tough words, but tough words need to be said about the legislative history of this bill.
We still await a formal briefing. It is unacceptable that we have been treated in this way, and, more important, it is unacceptable that Te Rōroa has been treated in this way. This matter has not been treated as an important historical Treaty settlement. It has been reduced to the level of commercial bartering so that the Government can push this legislation through. Will it be durable? Well, we will have to wait and see. But New Zealand deserves better than this kind of legislative shambles, and Te Rōroa deserves better.
We will have a good look at the bill as we go through the various clauses. As Mr Henare said, we know, having spoken to the tribal claimants, that by a majority the trust board has indicated that it wants the settlement to proceed. Therefore, we will support the legislation, but we are very unhappy at the way the iwi has been treated, and we are not impressed with the way we have been treated. We still do not know the detail other than what we have managed to glean from the various claimants. This is not the way Treaty settlements should be conducted. A higher standard is required, and the Minister should be disgusted with himself.
When the bill was being dealt with in the Māori Affairs Committee, we were very concerned about durability. The Government did not talk to Opposition members—we heard nothing. As the Hon Tau Henare said this morning, we have continued to hear nothing. Any information about improvements to the settlement proposal has been obtained from the claimants. I think it is a tragic state of affairs when a senior Opposition MP is spoken to in such a dismissive way by the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Dr Michael Cullen, as he wandered through the Beehive last night. It is simply unacceptable.
We in the Opposition regard these Treaty settlement bills as being of paramount importance. To quote the words of Isaiah, I say that we are “undoing the heavy burdens of the past.” To be treated in such a cavalier, smart alec fashion by the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations is simply unacceptable. His performance over this legislation makes Mark Burton look competent.
Hon Georgina te Heuheu: Maybe that’s going to far.
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Well, they are tough words, but tough words need to be said about the legislative history of this bill.
We still await a formal briefing. It is unacceptable that we have been treated in this way, and, more important, it is unacceptable that Te Rōroa has been treated in this way. This matter has not been treated as an important historical Treaty settlement. It has been reduced to the level of commercial bartering so that the Government can push this legislation through. Will it be durable? Well, we will have to wait and see. But New Zealand deserves better than this kind of legislative shambles, and Te Rōroa deserves better.
We will have a good look at the bill as we go through the various clauses. As Mr Henare said, we know, having spoken to the tribal claimants, that by a majority the trust board has indicated that it wants the settlement to proceed. Therefore, we will support the legislation, but we are very unhappy at the way the iwi has been treated, and we are not impressed with the way we have been treated. We still do not know the detail other than what we have managed to glean from the various claimants. This is not the way Treaty settlements should be conducted. A higher standard is required, and the Minister should be disgusted with himself.
