Hon TAU HENARE (National) to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: What are the economic benefits of Treaty settlements?
Part 1 Purpose of Act, interpretation, settlement of historical claims, and miscellaneous matters
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I take a preliminary call to address the report of the Māori Affairs Committee on the Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill, and to thank its members again for their work. In particular, I will address the part of the report that is headed “Ngāti Tama opt-out clause”. I particularly want to refer to clause 8(1), where there has been an amendment. Clause 8(1) states: “This section is subject to clause 8.2.3 of the deed of settlement as at the date of the deed of settlement.”
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) : I move, That, pursuant to section 7(2) and clause 1(1) of schedule 2 of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel Act 2004, this House recommend His Excellency the Governor-General appoint David Rendel Kingston Gascoigne DCNZM CBE of Wellington as the Judicial Conduct Commissioner for a term of 5 years from the date of appointment having noted that the Attorney-General advises this House, in accordance with section 7(3) of the Act, that the Chief Justice has been consulted about the appointment.
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I move, That the Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. I am pleased to move the second reading motion. This bill is an important achievement for those Wellington iwi who are part of the Taranaki Whānui collective. It is important for the Crown and it is important for the people of Wellington.
The bill gives effect to certain provisions of the deed of settlement that settles the historic claims of the collective in what is known as the Port Nicholson Block.
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Acting Minister of Trade) : I move, That the Tariff (AANZFTA) Amendment Bill and the Customs and Excise (AANZFTA) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Bill was referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on 28 April. The committee recommended in its 15 May report to the House that the bill be passed with no amendments. Since then, the bill has had its second reading, on 24 June, and went through the Committee stage on 25 June. The legislation was then split into its two present parts, after the debate in the Committee of the whole House. The two parts should be read together today.
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Māori Party—Waiariki) to the Attorney-General: What response has he received from Māori to the report of the ministerial review panel on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004?
RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) to the Attorney-General: What progress has recently been made in the Government’s review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004?
Hon RICK BARKER (Labour) to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What is the status of the New Zealand Memorial Park project in Buckle Street, Wellington?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Acting Minister of Trade) : I move, That the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Bill be now read a second time. I begin by thanking the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for its consideration of the bill and for reporting it back to the House. The committee’s recommendation is that the bill be passed with no amendments.
