Finlayson Christopher: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Finlayson Christopher: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:670;Page:16518] 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
: 
 Let me begin on behalf of the Wellington MPs by welcoming everyone back to Wellington where we have had a great summer. I say to the previous speaker David Parker—Labour’s rising star—that I was disappointed in that contribution because I do not think he listened to what the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister outlined policies today about building a stronger economy building savings and investment building exports building skills and knowledge and building infrastructure for growth reducing the cost of business and getting better results from the Public Service—an exciting vision. We are here to build a better New Zealand and to act on behalf of the people of New Zealand in a positive way; as usual Labour members are stuck in the past with higher taxes more regulation and less freedom. New Zealanders have heard it before and they do not like it. 
A few days ago Mr Goff announced a reshuffle of his caucus and it reminded me of what was once said of Harold Macmillan’s Cabinet reshuffle in 1962: “greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his friends for his life.” To be fair Phil Goff has shown us in renewing his front bench that he has at least some intestinal fortitude propelling Ruth Dyson from her lofty position at No. 4 down to the infernal depths of No. 5. As I understand it her poison tree is already working overtime. It is great to see Mr Jones back in the Chamber. Last year Annette King said he would have to work very hard to rebuild his reputation and I think all Labour colleagues who were demoted or passed over for the shadow Cabinet will agree with Phil Goff that no one has worked harder than Mr Jones over the last 6 months. It is great to see him back. 
We heard that Mr Jones was apparently one of the new generation of Maori leaders. The next day we learned that this new generation of Labour Maori leaders would also include Winston Peters whom Labour hoped to have on its team after the election. Let us face it that is not rejuvenation it is not even rebranding; it is an exercise in nostalgia. Mr Goff’s attempts to seize momentum this year have been not so much  
Back to the Future 
 as “Full Steam Ahead to the Past”. 
Interestingly Labour now has a grand total of three arts spokespeople— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Three! Taking New Zealand by storm! 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: —as a result of its reshuffle and I am so delighted Mrs Chadwick is still there leading this disparate team. If I knew that their party was struggling to keep up that much I would have offered to slow down but there is just so much damage that needs to be fixed up as a result of the previous Labour arts Minister. 
But I have a bit of time in which to offer some advice to Mrs Chadwick to Ms Ardern and to Mr Robertson and it is this: there is important policy work which this Government is addressing. For many years the Arts Council had a pretty ropey bureaucratic structure and that is now being refined through legislation that we will debate this year. [ 
Interruption 
] I am very disappointed to hear that Mrs Chadwick and the other Labour members are opposing that measure because the artistic community wants those changes. 
Last year the Government managed to get some extra funding for the Historic Places Trust which had been neglected for 9 years by Helen Clark. We are now reviewing that legislation to make sure the structure is appropriate for the Crown entity that the Historic Places Trust has now become. 
A very important area we worked on last year was saving  
The Hobbit 
 and I pay a particular tribute to the work of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Economic Development. Their work ensured that  
The Hobbit 
 would stay in New Zealand. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: At what cost? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: It will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars I say to Mrs Chadwick and it will create thousands of jobs. Where was Annette King—the self-proclaimed MP for Weta Workshop—when Labour’s union friends were trying to destroy  
The Hobbit 
? Where was she when Sir Peter Jackson was being abused by her own colleagues? That is another issue I am very much looking forward to debating on the hustings with Mrs King in the marginal seat of Rongotai this year. 
I now turn to Treaty negotiations and I am sorry Mr Parekura Horomia is not with us because I want to express to him my very best wishes. He was out on the road with me on 17 December last year first in Mohaka when the Crown signed a deed of settlement with Ngati Pahauwera and later that day at Muriwai Marae just south of Gisborne when the Crown initialled an agreement with Ngai Tamanuhiri. They were great occasions and I really valued his being with me. 
Then on 22 December the Crown signed a deed of settlement with Ngati Porou here at Parliament. Again Mr Horomia was present and he spoke and I thank him for his support on those and other occasions. I very much look forward to keeping him fully informed of Treaty settlement work because at least he in Labour understands how important it is. 
Let me say something about Treaty settlements because try as they may Labour members cannot escape the cold statistics. Labour managed only about 1½ settlements—1½ settlements—per year in its last term of office. When visiting iwi I have been told on more than one occasion that the last Minister who spoke to them before me was Sir Douglas Graham and I think that that is a shocking record. 
This Government takes the matter seriously. Since the previous election we have achieved over 90 milestones an average of one every 9 days. That includes 21 agreements in principle and 13 deeds of settlement. In just 2 years we have achieved more than Labour did over 9 years. 
This will be a very busy time for settlement legislation in this House. I know Mr Jones who always makes a tremendous contribution in those debates will be looking forward to those bills being debated. The Human Rights Commission noted the significant increase in Treaty settlements and the benefits they bring to New Zealand. Last year was the most productive year in settlements history exceeding the previous most productive year which was 2009. 
That is not the work of an individual it is the work of a team and in that context I particularly mention my colleagues in the Maori Party. Their contribution to Treaty settlements has been substantial. I thank them for the good work they have done and I very much look forward to working with them again this year. 
The battle lines are drawn. The themes appear to be emerging. Does New Zealand want a forward-looking Government addressing issues that matter to New Zealanders— 
Phil Twyford 
: Selling assets! 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: —issues such as growth I tell Mr Twyford the importance of front-line services and developing our infrastructure? Or are New Zealanders more interested in Mr Twyford’s prescription of bureaucracy of regulation of waste and of “Nanny knows all”? 
Do they want a Government that goes out and supports the creative industries such as film I ask Mrs Chadwick or do they want a Government that is beholden to the unions? Do they want a Government that enthusiastically gets on with the hugely important job of achieving just and durable settlements with iwi or do they want a Government that could achieve only 1½ settlements a year—1½ settlements a year? Do they want an aspirational Government led by principled pragmatic and youthful leaders or do they want a Government of retreads from 30 years ago who have embraced every position on the political spectrum from far right to far left? 
Most of all do they want a Government that is upfront with the people does not play funny games with election dates spells out a clear and articulate vision such as that outlined by our great Prime Minister this afternoon and refuses to deal with people such as Winston Peters? Or would they prefer a coalition of the absurd: Labour the Greens New Zealand First and Chris Carter? Enough said.