Burton Mark: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Burton Mark: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:640;Page:10493] 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 There we have heard from the member who came to this House pompously telling members that they should play the issue not the man. But ever since he has been incapable of getting to his feet without giving personal abuse. In every single speech the member has had the gall to stand up and read that vitriolic drivel then accuse others of giving pre-prepared speeches. I say to Mr Finlayson that in the last speech he delivered in this House on a matter of a particular bill he commented on the further delay for the delivery—[ 
Interruption 
] Well if that member would be quiet for once he would hear that I am talking quite specifically about the Treaty settlement process. 
One of the reasons the settlement process requires time is that increasingly in this House there are those who will sacrifice principle for cheap political point-scoring. Let me give members an example. Two reasons were given by the National Opposition recently for its opposition to the progress of Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill— 
Chris Auchinvole 
: Is this not a Treaty settlement? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Yes it is a Treaty settlement sir! The member should listen. The first reason was the failure to return koiwi. I have to say that the member has been informed repeatedly that they have been returned. They were returned years ago yet the member cited that as one reason. He did that on public radio—I have the transcripts. It was one of two reasons he gave for National’s opposing both the settlement and the will of the people who were the mandated representatives. 
The second reason for National’s opposition to the bill was the failure to return the taonga of the burial chests which were moved from the caves in 1902. Again that matter has been resolved with the people from Te Roroa. In their view because the matters of the taonga are disputed in terms of the various tribal interests they should be left where they are for the time being until tangata whenua can sort it out among themselves in a manner appropriate to them. I accept that others in the House perhaps do not support the settlement for their particular reasons—fair enough. We may agree or disagree. But for the National Opposition to give two reasons that are factually incorrect and for one of its members to get up and make fatuous speeches in this Chamber simply beggars belief. 
This process I tell Mr Finlayson requires honesty and integrity of engagement. That member sits stands up and makes silly speeches that are absolutely factually incorrect. I ask the member to consider carefully the fact that he has brought his party an entire party into opposition against the will of a group of mandated negotiators for two reasons that have no basis in fact. Therein lies the problem with the Treaty negotiation process: it is the easiest of areas in which to score cheap political points. 
I will acknowledge that Doug Graham did some good work in this area. But I also say to the member—as Doug Graham would himself—that it was not all done well. It was not all done correctly. Mistakes were made and we learn from those experiences. Certain settlements were in disarray at the time of the change of Government; they fell apart within weeks actually. Two settlements that people attempted to rush through fell apart within weeks. The point is I tell Mr Finlayson that to make progress with the settlement process requires honest engagement and integrity—something that clearly is lacking in the sort of presentation we have seen from that member. And that will not do.