Smith Nick: Maori Fisheries Bill — In Committee 
Smith Nick: Maori Fisheries Bill — In Committee 
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Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 When I reflect back on the debate in 1992 on this issue there was a lot of talk about getting Maori out fishing. I want to cut to the chase and bring to the attention of the Committee just what is happening because it very much exposes the concerns expressed by Opposition members about this bill. Only last week I was contacted by a young Maori man in my electorate who had trained as a fisherman had been out on two substantive trips and has just been laid off by Sealord’s which is the company that owns the bulk of these assets that we are discussing. His job is being replaced by cheap Filipino labour. That is what is happening. 
 Members opposite have approved work permits so that young Maori in my electorate have been kicked off fishing-boats they are losing their jobs and they are being replaced by Filipinos. I shall tell members why. What is happening is that the commercial imperative is that it is cheaper to employ a Filipino than it is to employ a young keen Maori fisherman. It is an absolute indictment of this Labour Government that that is going on right now. If it occurred under a National Government Labour members would be on their feet screaming blue murder. However when the Government’s own Ministers are doing that it is absolutely silent and happy to simply see that taking place. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: The Minister says that it’s not true. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I challenge the Minister. Three constituents have contacted my office in the last fortnight about being displaced and being told that they will no longer have jobs with Sealord’s on those fishing-boats. The Minister knows full well that permits for 20 Filipinos working for Sealord’s have been approved by the Minister of Immigration. 
The reason I make the point is that I do not think that ordinary Maori in my constituency are happy with that. Indirectly they own Sealord’s. However this legislation creates so many barriers between the owners of the fishing resource and those who are managing assets like Sealord’s that they will not have a bolter’s hope under what is in this legislation to ever hold accountability. They will not have a bolter’s hope at all because basically Labour members do not trust Maori. I said earlier that that approach will cost Labour every Maori seat at the next election. Labour needs to reflect and to change. 
I also challenge the Minister in the chair on a further point. National is proud of its heritage in terms of the 1992 fisheries settlement. We want to have an approach as part of nation building in New Zealand of the major parties being able to progress substantive settlements so that we can make progress as a country. But that requires a commitment from the Government to work with others. That is why Gerry Brownlee said in the Chamber this evening that if Labour would just bend a little even just take on the very able amendments put forward by Wayne Mapp that will see at least some of the bureaucracy reduced then we will be happy to compromise and maintain our support for this bill despite the fact that there are other provisions we are unhappy about. 
That is a very reasonable offer from the deputy leader of the National Party—that is give a little ground and we could keep this ship going forward. But while there is that absolute arrogance from the Government not taking a single call on this significant bill dumping on the House a 20-page Supplementary Order Paper without the Minister so much as even getting to his feet to explain it that is a disgrace. This country deserves better Maori deserve better and certainly the fishing industry in New Zealand deserves better. 
National has made a very reasonable offer. Yes we can keep this on a bipartisan basis; yes we want Maori fishing to be successful and we think that it is more likely to be successful when there is a wider consensus of this Parliament. However the current arrogance from that Minister and this Government will not do.