Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 29 June 2010. Volume:664;Page:12228. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister of Energy and Resources 
: Kei te whakaae a ia ki te korero a ApiMahuika te Manakura o NgatiPorou na te kore korero tahi ki te iwi kuawaiho e te Karauna te Tiriti ki rahaki a hingatonu atu te tino rangatiratanga o te Maorii roto i te whakaaetanga o te Karauna kia keri-whenua a Petrobras; ki te kore he aha ai? 
[ 
Does he agree with NgatiPorou leader ApiMahuika that the Crown acted outside the Treaty because it has not consulted and has failed to honour a guarantee to protect the rights of Maori in its granting of an exploration permit to Petrobras; if not why not? 
] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) 
: 
 No. The minerals programme for petroleum 2005 lays down requirements for consultation with relevant iwi when issuing petroleum blocks offers. In this case the Raukumara block offer that consultation did take place. I seek leave to table a chronology of engagement with iwi relating to the Raukumara block offer. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: He aha tana ki Aotearoa whanui ki te whakaheita Manu Caddie ikoreronei he “shameful environmental record” taPetrobas a ka raru te taiao inga mahi keri-whenua? 
[ 
What assurance can he give New Zealanders to counter the claims by Manu Caddie that Petrobras had a “shameful environmental record” and that there are environmental risks inherent in the oil drilling operation? 
] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I do not know who Manu Caddie is and I do not have any responsibility for any comments that he makes. However I would say that it is widely acknowledged that Petrobras has spent many billions of dollars on safety over the past decade. The company has developed its own robust 15-point health safety and environmental guidelines. Most important New Zealand—since the National Government introduced it—now has the Environmental Protection Agency soon to be a stand-alone agency which will have responsibility for issuing permits in the exclusive economic zone. I would expect that the agency will develop the very highest of standards required for anyone undertaking any exploratory activity in the exclusive economic zone. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Ka aha ia ki te whakatauingaawangawangakuakoropupuakei roto i a Te Whanau-a-Apanui a Te Tai Rawhiti a NgatiPorou a Turanga-nui-a-Kiwa nanga mahi o te Kawanatanga ki te tuku i te Raukumara basin ki a Petrobras International? 
[ 
What actions will he take to address the evident loss of goodwill being felt by Te Whanau-a-Apanui Te Tai Rawhiti NgatiPorou and Turanga-nui-a-Kiwa because of the Government’s action in signing over the Raukumara basin to Petrobras International? 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Did the Minister hear the entire question? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I think I heard enough of it to understand what the gist of it was. The first point I would make is that goodwill and good faith is something that goes two ways and I would suggest to the member that I also feel as if there has been a breach of good faith by the parties mentioned in their dealings with me. But I will make clear that I was prepared to publicly apologise—and I did so—to both NgatiPorou and Te Whanau-a-Apanui immediately after the block offer was signed up with Petrobras. But I also tabled today for all members to see a very lengthy consultation exercise undertaken with those iwi. I think we have discharged our responsibilities appropriately. I am sorry that it is not to the standard that those two groups particularly would demand for themselves. But in the end these are nationalised minerals and the Crown has a right on behalf of New Zealand to consider what potential they may have to add to our economic well-being. 
Hon David Parker 
: Has the Minister advised the Maori Party that if it does not like the fact that oil and other petroleum products are nationalised and will not form part of Treaty rights—or indeed foreshore and seabed rights—that it could actually vote against the foreshore and seabed legislation that his Government is bringing forward? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I think the efforts of my opponent over there to try to sow seeds of discord are a total waste of time. This matter has been discussed widely between all parties and what we are seeing is a disagreement between one Minister of the Crown and two parties to the arrangements. I am sure that it will be sorted out because in the end—[ 
Interruption 
]; once we get past all the trumpeting—what those parties want what National wants and what the Maori Party wants is the same thing. It is for people’s rights to be protected as their interests stand in the foreshore and seabed and I am confident that that is where we are heading.