Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:642;Page:11862] 
8.  
MOANA MACKEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Courts 
: What is he doing to enhance services at the Maori Land Court? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister for Courts 
: Last week the refurbished Tai RawhitiMaori Land Court was opened by the Minister for Courts. The Tai RawhitiMaori Land Court is the fifth Maori Land Court premise to have been substantially refurbished in the past 3 years. The others are at Christchurch Wellington Rotorua and Hastings. 
Moana Mackey 
: What work is already being done in the Maori Land Court to improve services? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The Maori Land Court has benefited from the largest-ever ongoing investment in court facilities under this Labour-led Government. We have invested in information technology infrastructure and in access to court records through the Maori Freehold Land Registration Project and Maori Land Online and work is ongoing on the new geographical information systems project. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. Kia ora tatou. Does the Minister agree with the comments made by the Labour MP Shane Jones in the  
Mana 
 article “Maori land: a blessing or a curse” that the Maori Land Court is a relic of colonialism and is set upon maintaining its own perpetuality; and what does he think his colleague meant by such comments? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I would invite that member to ask him sometime. Certainly it is both of those things. Like the high performance of my colleague over in France for the rugby I am certain he has a really clear view on the Maori land issue. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What progress has been achieved in actioning the recommendations from the Law Commission Te Ohu Kai Moana and the Maori Land Court itself that the Maori Land Court should be empowered to resolve mediate and determine disputes arising from the receipt and administration of Treaty settlement assets? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I certainly can assure that member that along with Te Ohu Kai Moana and the devolution of the assets they are doing very well within the framework of the legislation and are certainly well-minded by that court. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I thought the question was rather specific and asked about the progress. With respect I do not believe I really got an answer to the question. Would it be appropriate to ask the Minister to have another shot at it please? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Could the Minister just make a reference to the Law Commission report which I think was the substance of the question. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Several aspects have come out of the Law Commission report and certainly they are being practised in a whole lot of forums as that member understands. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. With respect the answer really just told me there is a number of reports. We are asking for a little bit more depth to the answer if that is possible. Could we have another shot please? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Unfortunately the member cannot actually get the answer he wants. The Minister must however address the question and I think he did.