Hartley Ann: Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Hartley Ann: Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:616;Page:11645] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley) 
: That is a matter for the Minister. The officials are here. 
PHIL HEATLEY 
: In my amendment I propose that this bill comes into force on the day it receives its royal assent rather than at the next general election simply because the National Party has said quite clearly that it would not extend this moratorium. In fact members will recall that over 2 years ago the National Party said it would not support the first moratorium. We would have had some sympathy if the Ministry of Fisheries—and the Minister at that time—had given regional councils enough information about the reforms so that they could plan aquaculture management areas so that Maori could plan their submissions on the reforms and so that other aquaculturalists throughout this nation could plan their markets— 
Hon David Carter 
: Now there is no Minister in the chair! 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. We know that the Minister is a new Minister but there must always be a Minister in the chair during the Committee stage. I draw that to your attention— 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Yes he was. 
Lindsay Tisch 
: The Minister was not in the chair. While the Minister is a new Minister— 
Hon David Carter 
: He was introducing himself to the officials. 
Lindsay Tisch 
: Yes he was having a chat to his advisers. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley) 
: There are two points. One there will be silence during points of order. Three members spoke during that point of order. That is the final warning. Yes Mr Tisch the Minister should be in the chair and he will be. 
PHIL HEATLEY 
: I will also be moving an amendment that replaces the date on which the bill receives the royal assent with the date a bill ensuring Crown ownership of the seabed and foreshore has received its royal assent. The reason being of course that a particular issue that has arisen—the seabed and foreshore issue—has contributed to the fact that this moratorium has to be extended. How are aquaculturalists to believe that this moratorium—a further 9 months—will be lifted if the foreshore and seabed issue is not resolved? Are we to understand that the seabed and foreshore issue will be resolved in 9 months? Does anyone believe that? Does anyone believe that the 80 percent of New Zealanders who oppose the Labour Party policy will be won around by the Prime Minister attending church and giving speeches? No they do not. Therefore I will be moving an amendment that this bill comes into effect on the date on which a bill assuring Crown ownership of the seabed and foreshore has itself received royal assent. That is my recommendation. We can get surety in the aquaculture industry only when the seabed and foreshore issues are resolved. 
We know that a special select committee has been set up to deal with the seabed and foreshore issue. I am a good keen member of that select committee and I will continue to give advice to the chair of that committee on these issues. On that select committee we know that the Government in dealing with the seabed and foreshore issues is also considering giving Maori a share of the aquaculture industry. This Government will give Maori 10 20 25 or 30 percent of the aquaculture industry—whatever number it plucks out of the air and whatever number it sees as appropriate. That has to be taken into account with the moratorium extension.