Whaitiri MekaMEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Tēnā koe Mr Chair. Thank you very much for allowing me to make a short contribution to Part 1 of the Land Transfer Bill. Can I just acknowledge the Hon Minister Finlayson and his explanation of the Torrens system in Part 1 clause 3. I want to acknowledge that he gave us the historic beginning of where the Torrens system came from and I do believe—and I could be wrong—that he explained that it is a world-class land system. Of course it is a registration system.My question in terms of Part 1 is actually when you look to clause 4 and talk about the Land subject to this Act". Clause 4(d) states: "land that is after the commencement of this section vested in a person for a freehold estate under any other Act including any Act relating to Māori land." Now it is probably fortuitous or very opportunist that we have not only the Attorney-General in the chair but the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations because as I understand from his sharing to the Committee about the Torrens system it is a registration system of landownership it is world class but in so far as Māori land is concerned in this country—and the Minister is very familiar with this—there is the communal nature of that land.So the question to the Minister in the chair is whether we believe that the Torrens system given that we have got perhaps two types of land tenure in this country is fit for purpose in terms of that land that is held in Māori communal ownership. I say that again referring only to clause 4(d) where this bill this particular bill we are debating tonight—the Land Transfer Bill—actually includes and encompasses Māori land. There for me is a bit of a dichotomy in terms of Māori land: multiple ownership the registration of it will have not just one person but multiple persons. It also allows the registration of future owners who have not succeeded to land so for me Māori land tenure or ownership is regarded in that—it is not once you have filed you are the owner and that is it but this evolution of owners who either pass on and then leave the interest or through genealogy whakapapa then their next of kin assume their rights of interest in the land.So this is really going to be the angle on which I am going to make my contribution in the debate on this bill I say to the Minister in the chair. So really the question for me is assuring that he is comfortable that the Torrens system of land title in New Zealand is fit for New Zealand in 2017 and going forward given the nature of Māori land and general title land. I just want some assurances because like I said the Minister is also a very hard-working Minister in terms of Treaty negotiations and ensuring that how Māori classify land and the special relationship with that land is not put at risk by passing this law.But really what I am curious to know is just the Torrens system of land tenure and its appropriateness to Māori land ownership in this country. This is a short contribution but something that is very important to this side of the House to ensure that this bill encompasses—and is allowed and is flexible enough to ensure that Māori rights in terms of the communal part are not undermined by clause 4(d) in this particular Part 1 of this bill. I am looking forward to perhaps the Minister's response. Kia ora."