Delahunty Catherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Delahunty Catherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:653;Page:2201] 
12.  
CATHERINE DELAHUNTY (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
: Will he follow the example of Australia and change the Government’s position to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? 
Hon JOHN KEY (Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs) 
: 
 Australia has recently reviewed its stance on the declaration and an announcement on its new approach is expected on Friday. This Government will look at the way the Australian Government interprets the declaration and see whether its interpretation may be applicable to New Zealand but I cannot comment until we have seen what the Australians are saying about their support. 
Catherine Delahunty 
: How can the Government reconcile supporting the flying of a Maori flag on Waitangi Day while still prevaricating on recognising the collective human rights of Maori as affirmed in the UN declaration; or is the Government all symbolism and no action? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: I think that in general New Zealand has worked hard in the last 30 years to recognise the rights of indigenous people. This Government has been working very hard to recognise the rights of indigenous people. Flying the flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge working so collaboratively with the Maori Party and ensuring that the Waitangi Tribunal and the whole Waitangi settlement process is properly funded are all good examples of us working for the rights of indigenous people. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Can the Minister confirm that the Government’s position to date has essentially been that if the declaration can be taken to have significant meaning then that meaning cannot actually be enforced by the New Zealand Government and therefore it has determined not to sign it but if the declaration can be interpreted to not have any great significant meaning then the Government might be prepared to sign it? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes the declaration is not legally binding; it is an aspirational goal. I think that New Zealand has done a lot for the rights of indigenous people but let us see what the Australians do on Friday and what caveats they put around their support. 
Catherine Delahunty 
: Is it right to prevaricate on the recognition of both an aspirational goal and the recognition of the collective human rights of Maori when this Government is dependent on the support of the Maori Party? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: We are not prevaricating. Firstly it will be interesting to see if the Australians make an announcement on Friday what caveats they put around that support for the declaration. As I said earlier it is an aspirational non-binding declaration. From this Government’s point of view we take the rights of indigenous people seriously and we are working hard to advance those rights. 
Catherine Delahunty 
: I seek leave to table the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Is there any objection to that public document being tabled? 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.