Twyford Phil: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTwyford Phil: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 18 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4563. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister for Building and Housing: Why did he issue a press release titled “First Crown land parcels for development identified” and take the media on a tour of the sites identified if they were only conceptual and not actually for sale?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Building and Housing): I announced 10 parcels of land totalling 9.5 hectares in Massey East that will be used for this programme. I also identified three other areas involving about 14 parcels of land at potential sites that I said required more work. I also noted then that some of the sites in the programme would involve both council and Crown parcels of land and that is why the programme was announced to developers jointly with the Deputy Mayor of Auckland.Phil Twyford: Has he confirmed to Waikato-Tainui that they do in fact have right of first refusal triggered by the use of Crown land for private housing development?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: No. The law is very clear that when there is land that is surplus from an agency—for instance in the example we are proceeding with in Moire Road—the first step is to establish whether other Government agencies require the land. The second step is to establish whether the land is wanted to be purchased by the previous owner and the right of first refusal is triggered only as a third step. I would also point out that that is exactly the process that was followed by the previous Government with housing developments at both Weymouth and Hobsonville.Phil Twyford: What was the outcome of his panicked meetings with Waikato-Tainui and Ngāti Whātua yesterday and can he confirm that iwi are planning to file court proceedings on Monday?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: No. On Monday we will see what occurs. All I can confirm at this point is that the discussions were very constructive and in my view we will come to a common-sense solution that will see houses built for New Zealanders as much as that might frustrate the member.Joanne Hayes: Has the Minister seen any other proposals for using surplus Crown land for housing?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes I have. I have seen a proposal for the Government to build 10000 homes per year for 10 years. The proponent claimed that there was ample surplus Crown land available that the development would be done by the finest construction companies in the country and that the homes would be onsold to first-home buyers. This proposal would require about 5000 hectares of surplus land but the proponent says that we cannot find 500 hectares and that iwi rights should come before those of homeowners.Phil Twyford: Has he reflected on the fact that by picking a fight with iwi over right of first refusal he has put his entire Budget housing policy at risk; if so who or what does he blame for this particular comedy of errors?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: My ministry met with the 13 iwi of Auckland a month prior to the Budget. I would draw the member’s attention to the number of iwi that have actually come out as very supportive of the programme. I remain confident that we will be able to work through the issues with both Waikato-Tainui and Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei.Pita Paraone: Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Tēnā anō tātou. What submissions or representations has he received from the Minister for Māori Development advising that he should not proceed with the current proposal for the release of Crown land in Auckland for housing?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I have had three meetings with my colleagues from the Māori Party who have made very sensible representations. They are very determined to ensure that Treaty settlements are respected as is the Government but they are also very well aware of the high needs that Māori have for housing and that is why I am confident that with them and our Treaty partners we will get a programme that will work for Māori and we will get new houses built for New Zealanders.Phil Twyford: When the Prime Minister said yesterday that he had been sent to the regions was this to search out any new land—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister made no such statement yesterday at all.Mr SPEAKER: Then the way forward is for the question to be asked and that may well be the way it is handled by the Minister.Phil Twyford: When the Prime Minister said yesterday that he had been sent to the regions was this to search out new land for housing developments to consult local iwi on first right of refusal or simply to avoid giving the Government any further embarrassment?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I am actually very proud to do an arrangement that was made over a week ago for a launch of the Government’s Resource Management Act policies for forestry because members on this side of the House understand how important forestry is to the regions. I spent the rest of the day meeting with Waikato-Tainui and Ngāti Whātua and any member of this House who was seriously interested in housing would be pleased that we are working hard to resolve those issues and get the houses built.Marama Fox: Given the fact that in a special housing area if houses have been built under mixed tenure those houses would be subject to being sold off in private home sales would the Minister not concede that that land then should be offered to iwi under right of first refusal?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The Housing Act is very clear that where it is designated for housing purposes that includes it being able to be sold on to homeowners. What I would say to the Māori Party is that we have shown how successfully we can partner at Weymouth for many houses and I am confident that with this programme we are going to be able to achieve similar results in our important partnership with the Māori Party.Pita Paraone: What contributions did the Minister for Māori Development make if any in the meeting yesterday with Ngāti Whātua and Tainui the purpose of which was to try to dissuade them from taking High Court action?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The purpose of my meeting with Waikato-Tainui and also with Ngāti Whātua was actually that they wrote to me and wanted to meet with me to work these issues through and that is just what we are doing. I met again this morning with the Minister for Māori Development as we work through a solution on this issue which I think every member of this House who genuinely is concerned about honouring Treaty settlements and getting houses built would support.Marama Fox: Given those discussions and in the light of those responses does the Minister not think that it would be prudent to be discussing with Ngāti Whātua the development of a successful housing development in coalition and collaboration with them?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Absolutely and that is why in the announcement I made last Saturday at Hobsonville where we are going to be building a thousand additional houses part of that programme in the village area is a partnership with Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara. These are the sorts of other partnerships that we want to pursue as part of this programme.Grant Robertson: In light of his answer about his visit to the Rotorua forest can he confirm that when he was there he finally managed to see the wood for the trees?Mr SPEAKER: It is a very marginal question. [Interruption] Order! Members want to stay for the balance of question time.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just respond—in fact I take a point of order and note that that was the most cohesive and clear statement—Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is not going to be a point of order.