8. Question No. 8—ChildrenHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 8—Children8. Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour) to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by all her statements and actions?KAREN CHHOUR (Minister for Children): Yes.Hon Willow-Jean Prime: The Minister said that section 7AA creates a fundamental conflict between protecting the best interests of children on the one hand and honouring the Treaty on the other; what is the conflict?KAREN CHHOUR: From what I've been hearing from community organisations and groups and also hearing from news articles around the issues with section 7AA the intent behind honouring what the Treaty means is not clear. It depends on how someone interprets what honouring the Treaty means. And so that creates a conflict because when decisions are being made the decisions may vary on the interpretation of what honouring the Treaty means.Hon Willow-Jean Prime: Does she still maintain there is a conflict when section 4A says In all matters relating to the administration or application of this Act (other than Parts 4 and 5 and sections 351 to 360) the well-being and best interests of the child or young person are the first and paramount consideration having regard to the principles set out in sections 5 and 13"? KAREN CHHOUR: This change is about helping provide clarity of focus to social workers to any decisions they make around removals and placements and there are already provisions in the Act that provide rights to whānau hapū and iwi. I refer this member to sections 4 5 and 13 of the Oranga Tamariki Act.Hon Willow-Jean Prime: Can the Minister confirm that before the introduction of the bill she will meet with the strategic Māori partners: Eastern Bay of Plenty Iwi Provider Alliance Māori Women's Welfare League partnership Ngāti Kahungunu partnership Ngāi Tahu partnership Waikato-Tainui partnership Tūhoe partnership Ngāpuhi partnership Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa partnership and Te Kahu Oranga partnership?KAREN CHHOUR: I have asked for advice on how I can organise to meet with these groups that have committed partnership agreements and if my calendar has the space to do this I will do so. SPEAKER: Can I just say no noise over here either [Gestures to Government side] when there is a question being asked. Hon Willow-Jean Prime: In light of her response to question No. 4 that she is proud how can she possibly feel proud to condemn future generations of Māori tamariki to be alienated from their whakapapa language and culture?SPEAKER: I think the Minister might like to make an attempt to answer that question—you're making a big supposition there which is a little outside of it. Let's see what we can get.KAREN CHHOUR: I am very proud to stand here and be the Minister for Children and to make sure that I am putting things in place to make the lives of children in New Zealand better. Nothing I have ever said or done implies that I want to destroy Māori heritage whakapapa or anything to do with Māori ethnicity.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Minister to be careful of when she sees these Māori groups because the last Minister in her place who did that ended up voting for another political party not Labour. SPEAKER: Very good. Thank you for the advice—I'm sure the whole House will take that on board."