Quinn Paul: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Quinn Paul: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 March 2010. Volume:661;Page:9793. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
:  
Tena koutou nga manuhiri nau mai haere mai. Tena koutou katoa. Firstly I join with previous speakers in welcoming the guests in the gallery. I am sure this is a great day for them. They are seeing the passage of the legislation and seeing some finality of a task that they have been pursuing for quite a long time. Other speakers have canvassed pretty well the basis and background to this legislation and the way in which we arrived at this monetary settlement where $97 million will be paid out. 
I join other speakers in acknowledging and paying respects to those who teamed together to bring this solution before the House. I refer to former Ministers who have had responsibility for this arrangement. Some of them have already been mentioned: the Hon Jim Anderson the Hon Parekura Horomia the Hon Phil Heatley and now the Hon Nick Smith who is shepherding this bill through its final stage on behalf of the Hon David Carter the Acting Minister of Fisheries. I record as others have done the outstanding efforts of Te Ohu Kaimoana in working with iwi and the Government to find a practical solution to a challenging problem. 
Also I record my appreciation of the cooperation and camaraderie that exists within the Maori Affairs Committee. I have said on previous occasions that one of the reasons I came to this House and stand in this House was my desire to ensure and accelerate Treaty settlements and I point out to the chief Labour Party whip that I can say that with honesty. 
Like many Maori I became frustrated with the lack of process and the stalling of Treaty settlements. Now each time I stand in this House to speak on a Treaty settlement I do so with pride because it is important that these issues are dealt with and that people can get on with their lives and look to the future. 
I have no doubt that the Maori Affairs Committee understands that point and that is why its members work as one to expedite these bills. Other speakers have alluded to the fact that very little has changed because the select committee quite rightly in my view does not see its job as being to interfere in a pact a contract a deed that has already been worked through over a period of time between the particular iwi and the Crown. 
It is really only in exceptional circumstances that the select committee may inquire a bit further if it believes that it is necessary. In my experience the committee has done that very rarely and that is the way I believe it should be. I am proud to stand and join with others in acknowledging the outstanding work of those involved. 
This settlement is a cash settlement of $97 million and there has been some discussion about the aquaculture industry. The truth of the matter is that the way the money is spent is a decision for the iwi once they receive it. Whether they choose to spend it on aquaculture will of course be for them to decide and them alone. 
The aquaculture industry as we have heard has enormous potential but it is an industry that has stagnated over too long a period. It is my hope and I am sure the hope of my colleagues on this side of the House that we can once again kickstart the industry because it has enormous potential and members have already alluded to that. Hopefully kickstarting the industry and giving it support—already something in the order of $1 million has recently been made available to assist the industry and an economic group I think has been formed to provide guidance to the industry—will encourage the recipients of this package to direct it to the industry but ultimately that will be a decision for them. 
With those concluding remarks I congratulate and acknowledge the iwi present and the recipients of this package and I wish them well. No reira e kui e koro ma tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
[ 
So greetings to you the elderly womenfolk and menfolk greetings to you and greetings to you all 
.