Tamihere John: Aquaculture Reform Bill — Second Reading Instructions to Committee In Committee 
Tamihere John: Aquaculture Reform Bill — Second Reading Instructions to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:622;Page:17698] 
JOHN TAMIHERE (Labour—TamakiMakaurau) 
: 
 I rise to commend the Aquaculture Reform Bill and its second reading to the House. In doing so I shall map out firstly the way in which this Government approaches many macroeconomic issues. As we have demonstrated whether it is in the telecommunications industry or with regard to roads Tranz Rail air transport or the reformulation of our Stock Exchange we are a very business-friendly Government that is very supportive of Kiwi endeavour. This legislation with regard to aquaculture management areas is merely another litmus test that this Government will pass. I am grateful that we have received the support of New Zealand First of the Greens and of United Future on this wonderful legislation. It is about unleashing Kiwi potential in a new and dynamic way. No one has written the best manual on that but this is one of the best possible attempts to do so in legislation in a long time and I am grateful to the Opposition parties that are supporting the Government. The bill entertains for the very first time spatial rights in the seabed and foreshore areas. 
Hon David Carter 
: Not the first time. 
JOHN TAMIHERE 
: Yes it does to the extent that all communities whether they are local communities acting through local authorities under the Resource Management Act or whether they are Maori Pakeha or from Timbuctoo all have quite clearly been given a range of security in their opportunity to get into and finance the business of aquaculture. They have been given certainty and as usual they have been given closure. 
I am interested in and somewhat intrigued by some of the comments from National Party speakers. What I am intrigued about is that they practice one of the worst forms of selective amnesia this Parliament has ever seen. What is that selective amnesia? They have forgotten that one Douglas Montrose Graham cut the “Treaty of Wellington” in 1992. He had no process going through any select committee phase and no robust consultation process—nothing. He dropped the bill into this House and just rammed it through. At the end of the day that process might well have been fraught but members of the Opposition continue to practise that selective amnesia. They cannot remember Jim Bolger or Douglas Montrose Graham setting in place the legal and statutory framework that we are obliged to follow. In the event that we did not follow due legal process in terms of our constitution and in the event that we practised amnesia to the extent that the National Opposition members do surely one would have to go gaga and take a one-way ticket to Kurdistan. 
I tell David Carter and his erstwhile colleague from Whangarei that no one can remember the name of that when they get up on their feet to talk about the 20 40 or 60 percent of the quota for Maori we should explore that for one little moment. Douglas Montrose Graham cut a deal. Right now proceedings in the Court of Appeal in New Zealand have been adjourned sine die because Douglas Montrose Graham and James Bolger were directed to negotiate a settlement with Maori. That is our court speaking. Not only did our court speak but Parliament spoke. The previous National Government drove legislation through that stated it did not know what would come into the quota management system but whatever did Maori were to get 20 percent of it. Giving Maori 20 percent then freed up the whole of the quota management system. It was a world first and that was great. Today we hear from National and ACT party members that they want to recant that. They want to recant all the things their leadership did in those days in terms of the 20 percent that was to go to Maori. They do not want that. They do not accept that this is unfinished business and that this legislation does exactly what Douglas Montrose Graham and the Hon Jim Bolger portended. The framework is in place this is unfinished business and this Government cannot change an agreement that was executed between Maori and the Crown and enacted in legislation. 
I might say that the Hon David Carter voted for 20 percent. He did not know what it meant but he said that 20 percent or whatever the amount was would go to Maori. That is exactly what is happening right now. The member for Whangarei whom no one can remember— 
Clayton Cosgrove 
: Plonker. 
JOHN TAMIHERE 
: Whatever. He will get up very shortly and prattle off that Maori will be getting 40 50 or 60 percent. Maori as usual will get 20 percent because that was the deal that was struck by the previous National Government and it is one that we will continue to accede to. We will not overturn an agreement between Maori and the Crown that was executed as a deed of settlement and brought into this Parliament. There is a comment on and a description for that. I am not allowed to use it for the National Party of course. 
I conclude by commending the Minister of Fisheries for the fine effort he has made in bringing this legislation to the House. But because I am a good Labour MP and we are coming toward the end of the year the Christmas season and the like I say it is always good to remember the workers. Whether they are from the Primary Production Committee or the Ministry of Fisheries or whether they are our officials our messengers or our security staff in this building we honour and acknowledge them and pay them tribute for bringing forward a wonderful piece of work. I regret the mean-spirited nature of the Tories over there on the Opposition benches unably supported by the ACT party. Kia ora.