Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:636;Page:7055] 
7.  
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: What is the basis for the Crown being able to confirm that any overlapping claims in relation to any item of cultural redress for Te Arawa have been addressed to its satisfaction? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 I am satisfied that the Crown followed a fair and transparent process in the Te Arawa Lakes and Te Arawa Kaihautu negotiations ensuring that it was fully informed of all overlapping interests and that these interests were taken properly into account. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Can the Minister confirm that there is an intention to transfer the asset of Ngati Whakaue namely Whakarewarewa thermal valley Moerangi and Roto-a-Tamaheke cultural redress sites into the hands of NgaKaihautu o Te Arawa when the asset in question is part of the Wai 533 claim—the Ngati Whakaue claim to the Waitangi Tribunal? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I can confirm that part of the said asset has been transferred to the 24000 people or is proposed to be and that adequate provision has been made to meet any future claims of the other groups that the member referred to. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What would the Minister consider to be the positive implications of the decisions to resolve a settlement by transferring the land owned by one group who are not involved in a settlement into the ownership of another who are involved in a negotiated settlement with the Crown? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I do not accept the member’s assertion that that is what is taking place. I would certainly tell the member that I think the positive outcome of this process is that the 24000 claimants can proceed and get on with the positive development that is their clear aspiration. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What possible redress could a collective such as Ngati Whakaue have if their resources are commandeered out of their hands hapu relations are interfered with and a fresh grievance is caused all in the name of simply settling a grievance by another group? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I have said already I do not accept the member’s assertion but of course what is open to Ngati Whakaue as to others who have not yet settled is in due course to properly appoint mandated representatives to negotiate with the Crown. I am confident that that is what will happen. 
Christopher Finlayson 
: How can it be that the Minister and his officials failed to address the obvious issue of overlapping claims for cultural redress when negotiating the settlement with Te Arawa and what does he propose doing about it now? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Again the member’s assertion is fundamentally incorrect. The Crown did not fail to address overlapping claims. One cannot settle an overlapping claim until the claimant group concerned lodges a claim and has mandated negotiators. What is critically important is that those groups and those hapu and iwi have the capacity to enter in due course into negotiations with their own mandated negotiators and there are assets aplenty to settle such claims.