O'Connor DamienHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Land Information): No it doesn't. In order to clarify the member's second question of course we have to pay respect to tangata whenua—for the most part it's Ngāi Tahu in the South Island but Te Tau Ihu in the top of the South Island also has interests in some of these Crown pastoral leases. We have moved on—if that member hasn't recognised—to acknowledge the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori across all areas of our country. If he doesn't respect that he shouldn't be here. What I say is that—Simon Court: Point of order Madam Chair. I'd just like to remind the Minister that we are all elected members and we all have a right to be here. Thank you.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jenny Salesa): And I'd like to just remind the member that in terms of monitoring what happens in this Chamber it is up to me to make that call.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Thank you. And I have the right to an opinion on the values of people who should be here. Can I just say that we must recognise and provide for the relationship; it does not mean that Māori have oversight of every single decision and it's important to clarify that.If we come back to the question of who knows the land best I acknowledge absolutely that those who have lived on the land know it really well. They'll also in discussions with many of them—and I'd put to you that I've been on more high-country leases than just about everyone in this House over the last 12 months and I'll give you a list of them if you like. Can I say that as we understand across other areas of the farming sectors there's a lot that we don't know as well.Barbara Kuriger: Yeah right! On your bike.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: And science is understanding—well water quality. I can guarantee that the member over there doesn't know as much as she should about the water quality in and around her many farms. Perhaps if we all did we'd have better management practices.Barbara Kuriger: I raise a point of order Madam Chair. About less than two weeks ago that Minister was in one of my catchment groups and we were both there together where one of our farms is—so just button off.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jenny Salesa): Can we please just keep the temperature down and let's not throw insults at each other across the Chamber.Hon Scott Simpson: I raise a point of order Madam Chair. Madam Chair you've made a ruling. But under intense provocation from the Minister—uncalled for provocation from the Minister—my colleague Barbara Kuriger responded as she is entitled to do and I don't think she should be called out for it. But the Minister should be encouraged not to be unnecessarily provocative in a debate that shouldn't be taking place in the manner in which it is led by him at the moment.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jenny Salesa): That what was what I was trying to encourage by saying let's not throw insults at each other across the Chamber. And that actually goes to both sides. Can we just calm down thank you.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Absolutely. What goes around comes around and I'd rather keep it on the straight. But I think it's important not to throw out accusations around this place—that people on this side don't understand farming and people on that side do. There's a lot that we have to learn. When it comes to the question from the member over there about who knows best it's a partnership arrangement between Land Information New Zealand who have a lot of very knowledgeable and passionate people about managing—as guardians and custodians and owner of the lands—the rights of New Zealanders to ensure that those rights are enduring and that we don't cause unnecessary damage. The people on the land do know a lot—absolutely. So as we move forward as we have done in this legislation this has very much been part of a consultation discussion—robust some of it—to get to a place where I think we've got the balance about right. That is some would wish us to continue with tenure review—yes I understand that—but some actually just want certainty and to get on and to farm the land as their ancestors and others have done. That's what we're offering here through this legislation. Yes there will be people who disagree with parts of it. But on all the contentious issues I have had active robust discussion with the High Country Accord with many of the members in the lessees and I've tried to make the adjustments to get the balance right between the landowner the people of New Zealand and the lessees who have a perpetual right of renewal and the right to pasturage—but not to soils and not to some things that have been claimed in the committee. But actually as technology and as new opportunities as innovations roll forward we want to leave the door open for engagement and partnership arrangements that allow that innovation to be carried out on high-country leases. Indeed that's what we will do.