Tamihere John: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee 
Tamihere John: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee 
[Volume:621;Page:17070] 
JOHN TAMIHERE (Labour—Tamaki Makaurau) 
: 
 I want to make a few observations by way of edification to teach the Opposition a few lessons about why wahi tapu exist and how they exist in this country. It is a shame that in 2004 members opposite have not taken the time to be respectful tolerant and knowledgable enough to identify with the Maori population.  
I turn to wahi tapu. Much ado was made as usual by the Hon Dr Nick Smith in regard to wahi tapu using an instrument called the Historic Places Trust. In this piece of legislation we are as usual bringing certainty stability and closure. A very certain process has been put in place to investigate a whole range of these issues. Why wahi tapu? In terms of the peoples whom I whakapapa to on the coast around this country always before Christianity applied we buried our people in and around the coastline particularly in the sands. Every one of us who whakapapa back to one of those beaches has a sacrosanct wahi tapu. I would not go into a white community’s cemetery and walk over the headstones of its people. I would not do that and I do not expect you to walk over the top of our people when I can actually identify where we buried them. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I think you were being brought into that debate in rather a negative manner. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the member for drawing it to my attention. I am sorry; I was otherwise engaged. If Mr Tamihere brought me into the debate then he will desist. 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I say this because the debate has been interrupted. We had an incident earlier this evening when a long and protracted discussion occurred around interruptions and interjections whilst people were taking points of order. We have just seen a recurrence of that from Government members whilst Muriel Newman was on her feet taking a point of order. I ask you to make sure that the groans and yells from the Government when someone takes a legitimate point of order under Standing Orders are kept in check. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: If that is the case then it is unacceptable. I caution members and ask them to desist. 
JOHN TAMIHERE 
: Is it not a great statement in this Chamber and is it not interesting that Muriel Newman got to her feet and took a point of order while we are dealing with a very important issue on which her party continues not just to confuse but also to absolutely consciously and in a premeditated way override Maori rights?  
I turn now to conclude on wahi tapu which is a very important issue. Inland tribes have either caves special trees or special areas where they have interred their people. In our people’s way we have a hahunga which is when we go and lift up the bones of our people and take them to another wahi tapu area. That is the reality with the wahi tapu of the coastland peoples as with Tuwharetoa—it resonates around that lake as it does around the coastline. The fact that Muriel Newman does not want to acknowledge them tolerate them or accept them is bad news for the ACT party. This legislation brings in a process of identification for the first time if Maori desire to come before it. They are not being forced to if they do not want to.  
I turn now to new clause 41 which puts it beyond all doubt. Subclause (2) states: “A customary rights order must not be made in respect of an activity use or practice on the basis of a spiritual or cultural association unless that association is manifested by the relevant whanau hapu or iwi in a physical activity or use related to a natural or physical resource.” How much more constrained and defined do we Maori people have to be before we have to prove our rights? People rock up here every day and hear the Speaker give a wonderful karakia a wonderful piece of Christianity. The fact that we might not be able to see hear or understand these things does not make us all animists as we are blamed for being by the ACT party and it does not make us lesser peoples.  
It is about time we started to tolerate and respect one another. I just ask members opposite to start to do that. This is a great nationhood story and it should not be destroyed tonight by lack of tolerance of lack of respect for and lack of acknowledgment of members’ Maori brothers and sisters. I say to Muriel Newman that by the year 2080 there will be few full-blooded Pakeha left. All of the Pakeha will be beneficiaries of this legislation—and God bless them.