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Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service: I move, That the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Amendment Bill be now read a first time. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be considered by the Intelligence and Security Committee, and that the committee have the authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting except during oral questions, and during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 187 and 190(1)(b) and (c).
 
 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) : I welcome those who have travelled from the Ngāti Apa rohe and are here in the gallery today to listen to the third reading of the Ngāti Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill. Some people in the gallery may have found it a little strange that I exited the House when Mrs Turia was speaking. The reason for doing that was that I am the Minister in charge of the passage of the bill, and I am not allowed to be in the House if another Minister is addressing it. So it was not out of any disrespect to her—far from it. She is an outstanding ministerial colleague and valued parliamentary colleague. I think she is an utterly principled and brave member of this Parliament, and out of deference to her it was entirely appropriate that she led off the debate today, and that is why I left. Mind you, there are other people in the House for whom—from a point of principle—I leave, as soon as they stand up to speak. Mrs Turia is not one of them. Maybe a ginga on the other side of the House could come into that category.

Hon Parekura Horomia: Oh, Minister!

 
 
NICKY WAGNER (National) to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What has the Government done to encourage private philanthropy in the cultural sector?
 
 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) to the Attorney-General: Is it the Government’s intention to notify local residents that the Minister responsible is considering an application to grant iwi customary marine title over the foreshore and seabed of their local beach; if so, will the procedure for that notification be set out in the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill?
 
 
Hon SHANE JONES (Labour) to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: Have recent events at Taipā had an impact on the progress of the Muriwhenua Treaty of Waitangi land claims settlements?
 
 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) to the Attorney-General: Does he stand by his statements that Ngāti Kahu protesters at Taipā Bay can “go to hell” and “I think they’re stupid”, and can he assure New Zealanders that such protests are not a foretaste of things to come under his Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill?
 
 
PAUL QUINN (National) to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: What recent progress has the Government made towards its goal of settling historical Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014?
 
 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) to the Attorney-General: Does he stand by his answer of “yes” to my question yesterday that under the proposed Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill “…when we have Treaty settlements that shift property and titles to iwi groups, those settlements are brought before the House and select committees for public scrutiny and ratification by Parliament, yet when it comes to the foreshore and seabed a Minister, by private treaty in his or her office, can sign the deal, with no public scrutiny and no oversight by Parliament”; if so, what protection will there be against allegations of political patronage and corruption?
 
 
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.