Horomia Parekura: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Horomia Parekura: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:654;Page:4128] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Labour—Ikaroa-Rawhiti) 
: 
 This is a historic moment in this country’s history: we have got to a general agreement with iwi. We will support the Minister of Fisheries going forward in relation to the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill. The matter has had a whole lot of ups and downs and there was a period of time from 1992 to 2004 when issues relevant to coming to agreement put us to the test. 
We hope that this bill will unlock the potential of the aquaculture industry. The industry has set a target of having a turnover of $1 billion per annum by 2025. We all recognise that changes will be necessary in order for that target to be realised. Through this settlement iwi in key regions will be in a position to play their part along with the new Minister. Iwi have been clear about their support for the bill and their desire for politics to be put aside in the name of progress. 
I reiterate the points that the Minister earlier referred to. I point out that the aquaculture industry is currently worth about $300 million to the New Zealand economy. It is the fastest-growing sector of New Zealand’s seafood industry. There are basic things to understand like the fact that New Zealand’s contribution to global aquaculture is about 0.02 percent. With the opening up of India and China even in recessionary times this is a huge opportunity for Maori to be involved not only as growers but also as exporters in getting their hand in to further the great experience they have in managing external and international markets. 
The deed of settlement signed at Te Papa by the Minister and Co. covered the vast majority of New Zealand’s aquaculture development areas including the Marlborough Sounds Tasman Bay and the Hauraki Gulf along with the rest of the South Island. It gives effect to the pre-election agreement in principle signed in October last year. At the heart of the agreement is a one-off cash payment of $97 million and final settlement of the current Crown obligations for pre-commencement space—that is aquaculture space that was approved between 21 September 1992 and 31 December 2004 under previous marine farming regimes. The beauty of this agreement is that it also marks a historic level of cooperation between the iwi of 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 Tou Ihu. The iwi have worked together to develop a fair estimate of their entitlements in respect of pre-commencement space and in the case of Te Wai Pounamu to agree how the resulting payment will be shared between them. It is a model of how a whole lot of different iwi can get together and come to a general agreement for the benefit of their people. 
As was earlier mentioned the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act obliged the Crown to before 2014 provide iwi with the equivalent of 20 percent of existing aquaculture space created between 21 September 1992 and 31 December 2004 called pre-commencement space. The equivalent could take the form of a percentage of new aquaculture space marine farming permits purchased by the Crown for that purpose or the equivalent financial value. In 2008 the Crown acknowledged that it would have to pay some kind of financial equivalent in a number of regions. The Act also provided iwi with 20 percent of all new aquaculture space created from 1 January 2005. New space will supposedly continue to be dealt with under the Act as it arises. 
Harry Mikaere from the Hauraki Maori Trust Board said the agreement was fair and reasonable and that a lot of work had been done on the market value of the iwi entitlements in reaching the settlement figure. The settlement amount “represents the value of the space that iwi would have been entitled to if space was available. Many of the iwi parties to the settlement are involved in the aquaculture industry and could not have settled for anything less than fair value. In doing the valuation work we had a great deal of support from Te Ohu Kaimoana (Trustee of the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Trust) and industry leaders.” In relation to the leaders of those iwi that I have mentioned I say that there has been a huge effort by them to bring themselves together. I do not say that lightly. 
We support this legislation which secures a sustainable future for New Zealand’s aquaculture. It is certainly a privilege to understand that Maori will be a key driver in the matter.