te Heuheu Georgina: Protected Objects Amendment Bill — In Committee 
te Heuheu Georgina: Protected Objects Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:632;Page:4381] 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (National) 
: 
 I want to talk about nga taonga tuturu and the role of the Maori Land Court in establishing ownership and custody of artefacts. One of the first questions I want to ask—and I had a discussion with one of my Maori colleagues from the other side of the House—is about the use of the term “taonga tuturu”. Although I can absolutely appreciate that term I wondered whether any thought had been given to the use of the phrase “nga taonga tuku iho”. On the one hand some might say that “taonga tuturu” imports the same meaning but because it is “taonga tururu” and the other one is “taonga tuku iho” there is a difference. 
Taonga tuku iho has the sense of the obligation to pass things down to succeeding generations. I know that that is certainly one of the underlying sentiments that can be gleaned from the bill but I wondered whether the Minister in the chair Judith Tizard might like to take a call and indicate whether the use of “nga taonga tuku iho” was considered and how it was that “nga taonga tuturu” is the sentiment that is expressed. I am sure other Maori members who are far more fluent than I am might have a contribution on this particular issue and I think their contribution if they feel so minded to make one would be interesting. 
Nga tuturu of course is about the essence of something. That in itself is very very important. So I certainly support the change from “artefact” to “nga taonga tuturu”. But I would have thought that maybe “nga taonga tuku iho” gave that important component of the obligation of current generations to make sure that taonga pass on to succeeding generations. If that indeed is the sentiment that is in the bill—and I am sure the Minister will say it is there anyway—then we understand very very clearly why this bill is so important because if we do not take steps to make sure that these taonga these treasures are properly looked after and cared for and that they remain here in Aotearoa then current generations are failing in their obligation to make sure that they are passed on to our successors. So that is an issue around the definition. 
Then there is the issue of the role of the Maori Land Court in determining ownership. Before I come to that I want to say to the Minister that it is very proper that Maori phraseology has been inserted into the bill especially in these times when we as New Zealanders are all so much more aware of the need to protect our treasures and of the importance of protecting taonga Maori Maori treasures. These things belong to all of us as New Zealanders and they help to underpin our identity and our feeling of nationhood one with the other. 
Coming to the role of the Maori Land Court—and I was not on the select committee—I note that one submitter noted that section 11 of the principal Act provides for the Maori Land Court to take an active role in the authentication of artefacts found since 1976. Apparently a suggestion was made that museums already perform the role that the Act reserves to the Maori Land Court but the response to that was that the role played by museums is different. Determination of ownership of course is the preserve of the Maori Land Court—that is ownership in a customary sense. So it does make sense for the role of the Maori Land Court to be confirmed and it does make sense for museums to do the work they do which is to record details relating to newly found artefacts and authenticate them. That is a proper role for museums—that is their role. It is good as well as different to the role of ownership of artefacts and it is proper that the Maori Land Court does that. 
I have to say—and I am not sure whether any thought was given to this; maybe the Minister might also think it is worth making a comment on—that these days so much more work is being given to the Maori Land Court. Although provision has apparently been made for the appointment of more judges will proper provision be made for appropriate resourcing for the Maori Land Court to do all of the work it has traditionally done and also should there be an increase in activity in this area—and there may well be—for it to take upon itself such activity? Has thinking been given to the fact that resourcing is all-important to all our courts not least of which is the Maori Land Court to make sure that they can perform their role properly? Otherwise of course giving more responsibility to a court without proper resourcing is just a waste of time. If we are serious about authentication and making sure that ownership is established properly then I would like to think that the officials and those who were responsible for putting this bill together have thought about that. 
Coming back to the general thrust of the part I say that it is very important and proper and we in National are very pleased to see it. I am very pleased as a Maori that we as a nation now see the importance of incorporating some of these descriptions in a way that gives proper recognition to the fact that they are part of tikanga Maori and that it is proper to use the terms that more appropriately capture the essence of these treasures—these things—that are important. 
I just want to refer briefly to the pare the carved piece that comes from the meeting house Hinemihi in Te Arawa—I am Te Arawa as well as Tuwharetoa. Although that meeting house found its way legitimately—I guess—overseas and probably does not fall into the category being dealt with here the fact that that pare the carved piece above the doorway of that revered meeting house is now on sale internationally at figures of $1.9 million to $2 million again underpins I think just how important this bill is and how important taonga tuturu are. In fact tuturu I suppose very well encompasses the symbolic component of Hinemihi. That is a taonga—that meeting house not to mention the pare above the doorway. If we are talking about tuturu that should be here in New Zealand. That is tuturu. That object—that meeting house—is home on the land where it belongs. That is the meaning of tuturu as well. 
So as I say if we had known to do these things earlier we might have but it is not a minute too soon that this Committee gets a chance to debate these matters. As I say I am looking forward to hearing from one or two of the other Maori members—in addition to my colleague Tau Henare who is raring to go again and that is great—who might have a chance to say something as well.