Ririnui Mita: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Ririnui Mita: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:621;Page:16961] 
MITA RIRINUI (Labour—Waiariki) 
: 
 I stand to support the second reading of the bill. In doing so I want first to acknowledge the contributions of the Government members supported by the New Zealand First members to the processes of the Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation Committee. I acknowledge Russell Fairbrother for his strong chairmanship and also the contributions of my colleagues Dover Samuels Mahara Okeroa and Dail Jones who played a significant part throughout the whole process—unlike some who were there only during the hearings process. I have to say that that was more a case of political point-scoring than a genuine attempt to resolve many of the issues expressed by the submitters. The United Future member Larry Baldock often attended.  
The bill as amended acknowledges the unique relationship Maori have with the coastline. Our tipuna signed the Treaty of Waitangi to seek Crown protection. I am satisfied that the provisions contained within the bill honour their legacy. However there was an unrealistic expectation that the Government Maori caucus would deliver the entire foreshore and seabed to Maori ownership in fee simple title. That was never going to be the case. It was an expectation that required much more than we were able to provide. Some parties in this House have given Maori the impression that they are able to deliver that ownership.  
Maori caucus members have advocated strongly throughout the entire process for the recognition of Maori customary interests and the right of Maori to have their day in court. As a result of the proposed changes to the bill the High Court may grant a territorial customary rights order to Maori groups which may result in the establishment of a foreshore and seabed reserve. For those who seek reserve status the High Court will be able to direct them to the Crown to discuss redress options.  
We believe that the proposed amendments will recognise some of the fundamental issues that were raised during the select committee process. No fee simple titles will be awarded and this reflects the views of the majority of Maori who appeared before the select committee. We have been instrumental in strengthening the redress provisions around territorial customary rights. We recognise that this bill will not please the extremists or the purists. However we are confident that it caters to the wishes of the majority of Maori who take a more pragmatic view of progressing our development as a people. The Resource Management Act is currently being reviewed and will be strengthened to recognise more effective consultation with local Maori over coastal areas. We believe that this will provide stronger recognition of the traditional association of whanau hapu and iwi with the coast than the ancestral connection orders initially provided for in the legislation.  
During the select committee process many submitters sought a longer conversation on the foreshore and seabed issue. However we believe that would have stymied the aquaculture developments that many coastal iwi around the country are exploring. We Maori are very good at long conversations. The last one we had took 13 years. As Maori members representing a wide diverse range of views we could not allow this to happen. I heard in the House last night a speech advocating that we have a longer conversation. I wonder whether the many who came on the hikoi who were involved in aquaculture development would have agreed with that speaker on that particular point. I doubt it very much. In fact I have received many calls expressing great concern about that suggestion.  
Maori caucus members have played an active role in the discussion on aquaculture and the setting aside of 20 percent of all marine farming space for Maori interests. Therefore we believe that it is important that this opportunity not languish for another decade in much the same way as the Treaty of Waitangi fishing allocation process did. The consequence of a long conversation would have been a halt to aquaculture farming for years or even decades.  
In the very little time I have left I want to acknowledge much of the progress this Government has made in relation to Maori employment or unemployment. The first thing many Maori families think about when they wake up each day is their children and their mokopuna. It is interesting that the latest figures on unemployment among Maori are below 8 percent. Never in the 18 years since the records have been kept has this been the case. There are 40000 more Maori in work now than there were when this Government took office. In the mid-1990s one in three Maori did not have a job. Now under this Government fewer than one in 10 are unemployed.