Prebble Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
Prebble Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11497] 
1. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does he agree with the Minister for Social Development and Employment the Hon Steve Maharey that: “It is perhaps time to set a date when all grievances must be settled so we can all move on”; if not why not? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 Yes. The settlement process needs to be sped up but I have not considered a deadline. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Would the Minister advise Parliament whether this answer means that he has done a U-turn on treaty policies and the policy is now different in which case in what way; and if he has made no U-turn on the settlement of treaty grievances can we conclude that it is business as usual? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I have been consistent. As I said in a media statement on 3 April 2003: “It is in everyone’s interests that a process for resolving claims happens as quickly as possible”. There is no U-turn from this Minister. 
Dave Hereora 
: Does the Minister consider that the treaty will still be relevant in 20 years’ time? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Yes. Even when all historical claims are settled the Crown continues to have an ongoing obligation to Maori under the treaty. This is an obligation that this Government takes seriously. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Did the Minister see the  
One News 
 item last night in which the Prime Minister said on this matter: “I neither support nor don’t support it.” and then did he see—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is the one warning about interjecting while questions are being asked and that is the only warning today. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Did the Minister see last night’s  
One News 
 in which the Prime Minister was quoted on this matter as saying: “I neither support nor don’t support it.”; then did he read this morning her changed position when she said: “I didn’t get where I am today without being concerned about public opinion.” and does he think that that may in fact indicate that this Minister soon will be doing a U-turn? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No I did not see the news because I was very busy as a Maori Minister doing other things nor did I read the newspaper this morning because I was again busy doing other things. I tell that member that there is no U-turn from this Minister of Maori Affairs but I am interested in what the spokesperson for Maori Affairs in that party is on about. Tell me about your policy. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The last sentence is out of order. It is not in order to ask a member to tell another member about his policy. That can come in the course of debate. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand the Minister’s intention. Notwithstanding the comment you just made I therefore seek leave to indicate to the House the National Party’s exact policy direction in that matter. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to do that. Is there any objection? There is. [ 
Interruption 
] That is for me to say but I agree with the member. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With respect the Minister erred not because he asked Mr Brownlee a question but because he asked you about your Maori Affairs policy. I know you have one but that party does not. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am flattered to think that after 36 years I have had the odd comment to make about the odd thing but I think the member was technically correct. We will now move on. 
Metiria Turei 
: Does the Minister agree that the treaty settlement process is about providing just resolution to our nation’s historical conflicts so should not be subject to a unilaterally imposed time limit whether it be the totally unreasonable 2008 deadline of the ACT party or the more generous but still unachievable 10 years opined by the Hon Steve Maharey? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: This Government will not compromise the integrity of the process as we want settlements to be fair and durable and to be understood by the two partners in this country brought together by the Treaty of Waitangi. 
Pita Paraone 
: Would it not be preferable for all New Zealanders that the time frame spoken about be applied to the lodging of claims rather than that mentioned by the Minister’s colleague the Minister for Social Development and Employment the Hon Steve Maharey as that would allow for fair and enduring settlements to be negotiated unconstrained by time; if not why not? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I say to my learned friend from Ngapuhi that most certainly it is something we need to consider. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: In light of the Minister’s comments yesterday will he be taking specific proposals to Cabinet at some point in the future to give effect to his support for a specific limit being introduced? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: That is for the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations to forward. We continually have good discussions in Cabinet about the treaty. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: In light of the Minister’s comment that neither he nor his Cabinet have engaged in a U-turn and that they are conducting business as usual how does he reconcile the statement made by his colleague the Attorney-General who a week and a half ago said that a time limit was impossible with the statements made by Minister Steve Maharey who said that we must have a time limit? How can he reconcile those two positions and call them “business as usual”? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: As with leadership U-turns Ministers can have separate opinions. That is what makes this Government strong. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Minister received any reports on the viability of such suggestions made previously as best evidenced by these comments: “National completely rejects the separatist policies pursued by Labour. Our goal must be over time to eliminate all legislation based on race.”—a quotation from a speech made at Orewa by Jim Bolger on 23 January 1990? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Yes. 
Metiria Turei 
: Does the Minister agree with comments made yesterday by Shane Jones and other Maori leaders that it is not just Maori but also the Crown that drags the chain on the settlement of historical wrongs? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: That is correct. From time to time that is right. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I ask the Minister again what reports has he had on the viability of such commitments and promises as best evidenced in historic terms by these comments: “From this point on my Government will maintain a non-racist stance by pursuing policies that deal with disadvantage solely on the basis of need not race.” in an “I have a dream” speech by Jim Bolger on 23 January 1990—for the  
New Zealand Herald 
’s sake? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: What were the member’s first words? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: “Has he had any reports on the viability”— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Members can ask that. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The notion nuances and development of the fiscal envelope by that party are well known. 
Rodney Hide 
: Is the House to take from the Minister’s answers today that the Government’s policy is to speed up the treaty settlement process but to do so without an end date in mind and so therefore to speed up the process and keep it going for ever and a day? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The member may wish that but no. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table the “I have a dream” speech made on 23 January 1990 at of all places Orewa where all these things seemed to be so new. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Is the House to conclude from the Minister’s remarks that he has been working as hard as he can to make settlements as fast as he can that he will continue to be busy busy and that settlements will be made no faster in the future than they were in the past? 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We have now gone a fair way from the original question. We now have the Minister being asked a question for which he is not responsible. The Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations is responsible for treaty settlements not the Minister of Maori Affairs. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Of course the House knows that is not so. The Minister of Maori Affairs has a significant role in the settlement process. His officials give advice and he gives advice—in fact he has just told us that he might be one of the Ministers who has been dragging the chain. If he can say that about himself why can I not ask questions about his performance? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will settle it this way. The Minister can answer in so far as his responsibilities allow him to do so on this particular issue. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: As usual the Government is making its best endeavours and we act in the collective here. There is no U-turn about that.