Mahuta Nanaia: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Mahuta Nanaia: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:655;Page:4348] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
 I rise to make a contribution to the first reading of the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill. I indicate clearly that Labour supports the bill and its intent. In fact if members had listened to the previous contribution they could be forgiven for overlooking the fact that Labour heading towards the election last year had signed an agreement in principle clearly expressing that this was the way to go. The point made by the previous speaker was that yes indeed between 1992 and 2004 it had taken a long time for both the former National Government and the previous Labour Government to advance aquaculture. 
It is significant that this agreement provides a real opportunity for those iwi who are affected namely the iwi at the top of the South Island Ngai Tahu and Hauraki to be involved in aquaculture. I am absolutely excited as the electorate MP for Hauraki-Waikato that this agreement has been reached because I know that the people of Hauraki want to make a real contribution to the economic and social development of their people in that region. 
Tikapa Moana is referred to as a kapata kai: a place where we gather food. It has long been a place where there has been immense opportunity for aquaculture activities and fishing activities to exist. In fact the last time that significant investment in Hauraki occurred to advance aquaculture was in the 1980s when Labour was in Government. Koro Wetere was the then Minister of Maori Affairs. Under the Maori Authorities New Alliance and Maccess schemes the opportunity was afforded to people in Hauraki to be able to start mussel farming. That enabled people iwi and mana whenua in the Hauraki area to get involved in mussel farming to create employment opportunities and to lift the aspirations of that community in terms of creating employment for their own people and looking towards the future. This measure certainly builds on that vision which has been around in Hauraki for a long time. 
I acknowledge the member for Te Tai Tonga who rightly points to the opportunities in aquaculture. The people in the top of the South Island also see a huge potential to create more employment for Maori in this industry—in fin-fish farming and mussel farming as well as in all manner of other things. 
I will make the point relating to Hauraki in particular—because it differs somewhat from the point made by the previous speaker—that the issue around designating space was really an issue that was stuck at the regional council level. Some space in Tikapa Moana can still be set aside for aquaculture purposes. I congratulate the Minister of Fisheries the Hon Phil Heatley who has recently over the last 3 months designated some new space in Tikapa Moana. That is a good thing and it will enable future opportunities for aquaculture in that area. There will continue to be small pockets of aquaculture space in the Hauraki Gulf that could be designated and where Maori will see the potential benefit of securing their interests in further developing this industry. 
We know that aquaculture is a growing and thriving industry. Sector interests in this area have all said that with a little support a lot of investment and a great deal of commitment and collaboration much more could happen in the aquaculture space. So I am pleased that this bill is being put forward. It was commenced by the previous Labour Government and continued by a very supportive Minister of Fisheries certainly in respect of advancing this issue and it will create a real opportunity. The figure of $97 million in some respects sounds like a lot of money but at the end of the day the real opportunity is for the reinvestment of that money into the industry in order to create more opportunities and certainly more jobs. I will make a brief comment on the other associated issues to do with fisheries that although they are not directly affected by this bill I think we have to have some concern about—that is the progression of mataitai and tai-a-pure certainly in harbour areas and where Maori have an interest. We have to get a balance between commercial fishing customary fishing and recreational fishing. Now that Maori are continuing to be an ever-growing presence in the commercial sector we have to counterbalance that with the sustainability issues with ensuring that customary rights are being protected and with recreational fishing rights. I suspect that the Minister of Fisheries will need to apply his mind to that issue on the horizon so that we continue to get the balance right between those interests in this industry. 
It is my pleasure to be able to congratulate those iwi who have acted collaboratively to be able to advance this particular agreement with the Crown. Those iwi are Hauraki Ngati Apa ki Te Ra To Ngati Koata Ngati Kuia Ngati Rarua Ngai Tahu Ngati Tama Ngati Toa Rangitane and Te Atiawa ki Te Tau Ihu. They have worked long and hard to ensure that the sum of $97 million that has been reached is reflective of what they view as a fair settlement. Albeit perhaps in some respects it is not enough they got to the point where they said yes it represents a fair value for the pre-commencement space. And I think that is a good sign; people are willing to move forward. I also pay respects to Michael Cullen. As I said this particular agreement builds on the agreement in principle that Michael Cullen had reached with these iwi to ensure that there was some movement in this space. This was carried on by Phil Heatley as Minister of Fisheries certainly with the support of his Prime Minister in terms of this space. 
On the horizon we can say the future looks bright indeed both for Maori commercial fishers and fishers at large. I just hope that the balance of interests needed to ensure that we have activity that guarantees sustainable fishing within New Zealand waters is one that is held in front of everybody’s vested interest because I think that is very important whether one is Maori Pakeha or otherwise. We have to try to meet the challenge of retaining the balance between both the environment and the sustainability of our fisheries resource and the economic opportunity and the social benefits of people being engaged in the industry as we go forward. 
This is a good opportunity to do a bit of back-patting on both sides of the House but more important it is a great opportunity to congratulate those iwi who have seen fit to continue their interests in the aquaculture space. I commend the bill to the House. I look forward to the select committee submission process and perhaps what might come out of that and I certainly endorse the opportunity of Hauraki in particular to play an active role in the development of aquaculture in their area. Kia ora koutou.