English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:637;Page:7824] 
2.  
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) 
 to the  
Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: Why did the Office of Treaty Settlements reject Landcorp’s offer of the land at Whenuakite Station? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 Because it applies the criteria that it has consistently applied since the mid-1990s when the relevant processes were put in place by that member’s Government. 
Hon Bill English 
: Is this Landcorp farm now available for a Treaty settlement with Hauraki iwi after the announcement the Government made yesterday? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The Government is not yet in negotiation with Hauraki iwi. When it is then the same process will be applied to the availability of land and other forms of redress as is always applied. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does that mean that the Government is going to stick to its Crown policy which is according to the Minister that Landcorp properties are generally not available for use in settlement; and if it plans to stick to that policy why did it make an announcement yesterday to give the impression that somehow it will make the property available to the claimants? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The member is confusing two quite different things. One is that the Government’s announcement yesterday by another Minister the Minister for State Owned Enterprises quite properly dealt with the general issue of disposal or retention of lands. As to the question of land disposal or land availability for Treaty settlements the situation remains the same. Such land is always potentially available. It has generally not been the first preference of successive Ministers and Governments because other easily available means of redress exist. However as I have said to the member the land still remains potentially available. 
Hon Bill English 
: Was the Crown not showing bad faith in the settlement process when it made an announcement yesterday about a review of Landcorp’s sales process that focused on subdivision public access and heritage and had nothing to do with Treaty settlements and made that announcement to give the impression to Hauraki iwi that this farm might be available for settlement when in fact the Crown does not intend changing its policy at all? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The member clearly is utterly confused. It is entirely appropriate that the Minister for State Owned Enterprises made an announcement about the Government’s wider policies as they relate to his portfolio. Equally it is appropriate that I engaged with Hauraki iwi even though we are not in formal negotiations yet. And I repeat for the member who clearly did not hear it the first time that the policy has always had such land available to it. That has not changed because the land is available and always has been. 
Hon Bill English 
: What confidence can anyone—any New Zealander including any Treaty claimant—have in the Government’s Treaty settlement process when a small group has occupied this land precipitated a Government U-turn on its policy— 
Hon Member 
: Led by a Tory candidate. 
Hon Bill English 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I should not have to shout over interjections to have my question heard. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member is quite right. I have noticed an increasing pattern from those members on either side of the House sitting near the Chair. There are loud individual interjections constantly when members are trying to ask a question. So would members please desist otherwise they will be removed from the Chamber. Would the member please start his question again. 
Hon Bill English 
: What confidence can any New Zealander or any Treaty claimant have in the Government’s process when it does a U-turn in response to a bit of pressure from one of the claimants announces a major review and sets out to change the whole system? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: That simply is not the case. But if that member is suggesting that no Minister should ever listen to the submissions of New Zealanders then I guess that marks out the difference between that member and this Government. 
Hon Bill English 
: What responsibility does that Minister take for the growing Maori dissatisfaction with the slow pace and inflexibility of the Treaty settlement process; and does not his administration of it contradict the Government’s stated policy that it wants to speed up the process? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The member’s assertions simply are not correct. The fact that one Tory candidate acts as a spokesperson whilst I am actually in discussions with a group of actual negotiators and actual representatives does not make it the case. The fact is more current live negotiations are taking place than at any time since this process began. More negotiations are in process covering more claims than ever before. The number of milestones reached is greater than ever before. 
Hon Bill English 
: Given the Minister’s previous answers that something has changed and that nothing has changed can he tell the House right now what has changed in respect of the Whenuakite farm as a result of the announcement yesterday? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As a result of the announcement yesterday it is my understanding that the board of Landcorp has advised the Minister for State Owned Enterprises that it will take no action for a month whilst the Government conducts a first tier of work. That is what is happening. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Can the Minister confirm that the person who is leading the occupation at Whenuakite is the person nominated by the leader of the National Party to be a member of the boundaries commission? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Yes indeed I can confirm that fact.