te Heuheu Georgina: Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
te Heuheu Georgina: Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:640;Page:10299] 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (National) 
: 
 I rise to speak to the first reading of the Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill. My colleague Chris Finlayson who led our side of the debate has already indicated that National will support this bill’s referral to a select committee. We do so not necessarily because we think it has merit but simply because New Zealand First has raised the issue of conflict of interest. New Zealand First calls it an inherent conflict but we are yet to be convinced that there is an inherent conflict just because there may be a cross-over of people sitting on the tribunal and also chairing it. But we think there may be potential for it and because we value so highly the unique role the Waitangi Tribunal plays in the settlement of historical injustice we want to make sure that the integrity of the process is maintained as we go forward and that the integrity of the work the tribunal does is also maintained. 
New Zealand First has raised a doubt and we think it is worth the matter going to a select committee so that it can be debated and so we can see whether this issue is real or whether it is more political and suits the purposes of some to raise it at this time in the parliamentary term. So yes we support the bill’s referral to the select committee and that is as far as we go for the moment. We are yet to be convinced of the merit of the bill and we are also yet to be convinced that as the United Future speaker seemed to say people are talking about this. I have not heard people talking about this quite frankly in the 20 years I have been involved in this process. But anyway as I say it is worth debating for the moment. 
If New Zealand First was truly concerned about the process we think there is a greater issue to be addressed and that is basically the ability of the tribunal to do its work in a timely manner. That is where we think a focus should be because as it is the tribunal is totally crowded out with work. It does not have enough people to produce reports and it does not have enough people to hear claims. It is not able to sit regularly and it sometimes has to cancel hearings. We think those are of greater moment to think about than whether there is a perceived potential or inherent conflict of interest. It is disappointing in a way that although we support this bill going to a select committee time has to be given to exploring an issue that in the end may not turn out to be the issue that New Zealand First says it is. 
The other thing is that this is not the only tribunal or judicial body in New Zealand where this kind of crossover occurs and I hope Pita Paraone who proposes this bill is aware of that. My colleague Chris Finlayson said earlier that High Court judges sit on civil appeal divisions and they also sit on the Environment Court—they are sitting judges—so there is already a crossover not just in this court and not just in this tribunal. It makes it look like we are picking a little bit on the Maori courts or the Maori-related tribunals. In that regard I think Metiria Turei does make a point. I would hate for that to go to select committee. I am for open informed debate on this before the select committee but I would hate it if this was turned into a witch-hunt about the work of the tribunal and something that marred its undoubted worth to the Treaty settlement process.