12. Question No. 12—Environment (Biodiversity)MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Associate Minister for the Environment (Biodiversity)Question No. 12—Environment (Biodiversity)12. MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Associate Minister for the Environment (Biodiversity): Does he stand by the exposure draft of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity that objectives policies and methods developed under it must to the extent practicable: enable new occupation use and development of Māori Lands"; if so will he extend the same criteria to all New Zealanders with significant natural areas on their land?Hon JAMES SHAW (Associate Minister for the Environment (Biodiversity)): In response to the first part of the question yes. In response to the second part of the question there are a number of variances in the Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for geothermal land pastoral farming forestry and Māori land. The Government has not yet released the final National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB). Mark Cameron: Does the Minister agree that local authorities will be required to "apply options for offsetting and compensation" for Māori lands identified as significant natural areas? Hon JAMES SHAW: As I just said in the answer to the primary question the Government has not yet released the final National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity. Mark Cameron: Will the Minister require local authorities to apply for options for offsetting and compensation to all New Zealanders with significant natural areas on their lands and if not why not? Hon JAMES SHAW: Well the Crown has acknowledged responsibility for land dispossession through the Treaty settlements process and I understand actually that the ACT Party has endorsed this process as it relates to the violation of property rights and the attendant economic impact of Māori who have been dispossessed of their lands. I am fascinated to find that the member is less frightened of variances in the NPSIB for geothermal purposes than he is for Māori purposes and I wonder why could that be. Mark Cameron: Does the Minister stand by the statement made on his behalf in this House on 30 June that "existing land use will continue under these proposals." and can he give a guarantee to landowners that this will be the case?Hon JAMES SHAW: Yes and yes. Mark Cameron: Does the Minister accept that parts of the Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity give different rights to different groups of people and when will his Government start putting the people and environment of New Zealand before its ideology? SPEAKER: Oh! Hon JAMES SHAW: As I said there are—SPEAKER: Well no. Just—I am going to let the member answer the question but I think fairly soon a few members and not only newer members are going to need a bit of a seminar on supplementary question drafting. There might be a semi-employed backbencher soon who can give them a hand. Hon JAMES SHAW: As I said earlier there are a number variances in the Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity relating to geothermal land pastoral farming—which I would imagine that that member is quite interested in the variances for as well—forestry and for Māori land and there are a number of very good reasons for that which were outlined when we first consulted on this in the summer of 2019-20 and then again on second draft more recently."