Prebble Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Prebble Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:616;Page:12516] 
2.  
Hon RICHARD PREBBLE (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development) 
: How does she intend to carry out her delegated ministerial responsibility relating to the Treaty of Waitangi public information programme over the next month? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development)) 
: 
 My responsibility in this matter was in the policy development that led to the establishment of the programme. I am asking that the delegation be revoked as that phase is complete. I understand that this will be reflected when the next delegation list is tabled in Parliament. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: While the Minister still has the delegated responsibility in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi public information programme will she now inform the public as to whether the foreshore and seabed legislation meets the Crown’s treaty obligations; if it does not meet those obligations in what way does it not do that? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as it relates to the ministerial— 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister may have a delegation for the information campaign but that does not make her responsible for the Crown’s treaty obligations. That rests presumably with both the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I could not have been more clearly within the Standing Orders. I asked whether in relation to her ministerial responsibilities—which she has told us she still has not surrendered and which are to do with public information—she would now inform the public. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as it is related to her ministerial responsibilities she may answer that part of the question only. 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: It is clear to me that the public are very well informed on the foreshore and seabed policy. 
Darren Hughes 
: Why did she decline the opportunity to take responsibility for the Treaty of Waitangi public information programme? 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. How can that question stand? The Minister has a delegation; she has not declined one. 
Darren Hughes 
: My question asked why the Minister has decided not to take responsibility for the implementation of a public information programme. It is nothing to do with the delegation at all. The member needs a holiday. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no. The last comment is out of order. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I actually have to defend the question. Supplementary questions are an elaboration of what comes from answers. We have just been told that one of the reasons why the Minister is not answering the question is that she does not like the job and the member is now asking her why she does not like the job. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I ask the Minister whether she has declined to take that particular delegation. 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: I will answer the question. My key role was in the design and development of the proposal. I did not consider it useful to retain any further involvement in the implementation of this project. My delegations are focused particularly on policy and strategic advice and do not include any responsibility for operational matters. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Did the Minister find that her total exclusion from membership of the ministerial committee overseeing the Treaty of Waitangi information programme was in any way an obstacle to carrying out her delegated duties as Associate Minister of Maori Affairs responsible for Treaty of Waitangi programmes; if so in what ways? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: No. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Would the Minister elaborate on her answer to my question: as the public are well informed on the foreshore and seabed legislation are we to take it from that that the public are well informed that the legislation does not meet the Crown’s treaty obligations or that the public are well informed that it does? Because until the Minister informs me this member of the public has no idea what her view on that matter is. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as it relates to the Minister’s responsibility she may answer. 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: I am sorry. The member will have to repeat the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Please repeat the question. I found it a little difficult. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I will repeat it. Would the Minister please clarify the answer to my first question where I asked her whether the foreshore and seabed legislation met the Crown’s treaty obligations and her answer was that the public was well informed on the foreshore and seabed legislation. So the next obvious question is: does that mean that the public does not believe that the legislation meets treaty obligations or that it does? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: I think that is for the public to respond to. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I thought of objecting to the first answer; I did not ask what the public’s view was on the treaty. I asked the Minister her view as part of her delegated responsibility. She ducked that question by saying that the public was well informed. I have now told her that this member of the public does not know what the public thinks about the foreshore and seabed legislation so I have asked her as Minister what she thinks—and I think she should tell us. Either this Minister does support the treaty as she tells us she does or she does not. Otherwise she is just sitting there and is just as guilty as every other Government that has failed to carry out the treaty. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot get involved in that sort of political comment and he knows that. The Minister was asked whether she wanted to give an opinion and she said she did not. She is perfectly entitled to do so. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Will the Minister confirm that the treaty information campaign that she has been part of developing will launch on 19 April-—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is the only interjection to be made by that member this question time. He is very lucky that he is not getting a very early Easter break. Please repeat the question. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Will the Minister confirm that the treaty information programme that she has been involved in developing will start on 19 April and that one of the lead advertisements for it will ask: “Did you know how close we came to speaking French?”. 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: Yes. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Is the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs willing to withdraw all of her criticisms of previous Ministers whom she has criticised for not carrying out treaty obligations when she is asked a clear question in this House as to whether legislation does or does not meet the Crown’s treaty obligations and she is not willing to answer? 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: The member is saying that I have criticised other members with regard to meeting treaty obligations. Perhaps he might enlighten me by naming them. 
Rodney Hide 
: In her role in providing policy and strategic advice for the Treaty of Waitangi public information programme does she believe it is important that a Government in all its dealings upholds the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and has she formed an opinion whether this Government has upheld the treaty with its foreshore and seabed legislation; if she has not formed that opinion what explanation has she for that? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There were three questions there. The Minister may comment on two of them if she wishes. 
Hon TARIANA TURIA 
: Yes to the member’s first question. Secondly that member and this House are well aware that I have opposed the policy on the foreshore and seabed.