Hutchison Paul: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Hutchison Paul: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:621;Page:17138] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 Part 6 “Provisions relating to public foreshore and seabed register recognition agreements and other matters” absolutely depicts the point that Heather Roy was making about the uncertainty this bill creates for all New Zealanders. I was very interested to hear Nanaia Mahuta talk about the sort of decision making that is being given back to local communities and that is no more poignant than in the case of the fate of the west coast harbours Whaingaroa harbour—or Raglan Harbour as many people know it—Aotea Harbour and Kawhia Harbour. What is the fate of those harbours? We just do not know what backroom deals the Labour Government is doing with Tainui. One moment Nanaia Mahuta is leaving for the Maori Party. and the next moment she is back in the fold. There is no doubt that one way or another this Labour Government is conniving to do a deal behind the backs of ordinary New Zealanders.  
Only 2 or 3 years ago I wrote to the then Minister of Fisheries Pete Hodgson asking how we could sensibly organise an arrangement whereby those with interests in Whaingaroa harbour—the local commercial and amateur fisheries local Maori and the local people in that area—could come to an agreement and a sensible plan. He said that all we had to do was write to him and he would organise it. We did that but there has been stalling year after year month after month because as we know the Labour Government is conniving behind closed doors with Tainui to do a special deal. There is absolutely no doubt about that.  
I see Dr Cullen shaking his head. I ask him this: is this bill making things simpler less confusing less complex or less costly than would have been the case had the Court of Appeal ruling been upheld?  
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Now you’re getting on to that. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: Too right I am getting on to that because National would have produced a certain simple and elegant bill. Instead Labour has come out with one of the most confusing complex uncertain and costly bills this nation has ever seen. That is really the ultimate test of this legislation before us. It engenders uncertainty cost and complexity in every aspect and every part of it including Part 6 which is before us.  
What happened this morning for instance when the Prime Minister’s electorate office was stoned? I have just had reports back from the Port Waikato electorate office that staff there are concerned because there have been threats against that office and I understand against offices up and down the country. This is the sort of reaction that this legislation—legislation that Dr Cullen and his merry crew from Labour are forcing upon the people of New Zealand—is engendering. There is utter confusion utter uncertainty and utter complexity and we have no idea how high the costs may be.  
After all local government the Resource Management Act and regional councils are all brought into this through this most uncertain and complex planning which we still do not know about in terms of the legislation. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Read the bill. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: I have read the bill many times and again I ask what the costs will be—as my colleague Georgina te Heuheu has asked. How will some of the costs in the High Court be paid for? What is the limit? We hear that New Zealand First has said that there will be no legal aid. Thank goodness for that because we know that whatever happens this will be another gravy train.