Williams Andrew: Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Williams Andrew: Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 13 June 2012. Volume:680;Page:2957. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) 
: 
 I think that is the second time you have made that mistake. Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak on the Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill. I would firstly like to acknowledge also the work that our colleague Te Ururoa Flavell from the Maori Party has put into this bill before the House today. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the people of Nga Potiki whom this legislation most concerns. I know that for some and for them it is a matter that is very close to their hearts. Also I would like to acknowledge the Tauranga City Council in this whole business. It was the architect of this bill.  
My background as many of you will know is from local government. As the former Mayor of North Shore which has the longest urban coastline in New Zealand—some 150 kilometres of coastline—I am only too aware of how important our foreshore and seabed and coastline are to every citizen in this country. As the House has been told this bill is intended to repeal the Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act 1975. The Act’s purpose back then in the 1970s was to authorise that reclamation of 73.5 hectares of the Bay of Plenty harbour. That authority of course has since been revoked rendering the Act null and void. That has been the case for more than 20 years. So now in 2012 the 50th New Zealand Parliament finally confronts this matter.  
But this is not simply about uncluttering the statute book by removing unnecessary legislation; it is also about acknowledging past wrongs. This is a symbolic gesture to Nga Potiki. It is a fundamental step towards forging a new future as one people and one nation. We cannot go forward into the 21st century without first recognising the historical injustices committed against our fellow New Zealanders. Only then can we move on. In that respect I want to commend the Tauranga City Council and Nga Potiki for this enlightened approach that they have taken. New Zealand First is proud to stand with them.  
However—and there is a however—New Zealand First urges all parties in this House to stop and take note. That includes the National members on the other side of the House. No one community or group—including Mr Tau Henare there who should be aware of this—can ever claim to be the sole owner of any precious coastal or marine areas. The division seen in this country during the passing of the Foreshore and Seabed Act in 2004 could very well emerge again should this Government continue to pursue the wishes of the Maori Party and further perpetuate the Treaty gravy train in what we call the “bro-rocracy” of which it and its supporters are so fond.  
 I would like to give you a personal example. When I was the Belgian trade commissioner and vice-consul the Belgian Ambassador to Australia who was accredited to New Zealand visited from Canberra and he visited Northland for a few days. He was most upset when he was confronted by a group of young Maori on a beach where he was walking with his wife to be told: “Get the hell off our beach.” He reported this back to me when he came back to Auckland. He said that he did not realise that this was occurring in New Zealand and he did not feel that that was the way New Zealand should go forward. He did not see a future for New Zealand if that was the way New Zealand was going to be separated and divided.  
We certainly do not want to see that sort of happening occurring in our country. Any legislation concerning the foreshore and seabed particularly ownership should be treated delicately. This legislation applies in respect of all areas of our coastline and as this refers to the Mount Maunganui former borough council we also take note that the maunga the Mount itself is under some questioning as to what its status will be in the future. Again I would say that that treasure that national icon must have open access to all New Zealanders; there must be free and open access for all New Zealanders to enjoy that national icon.  
New Zealand First supports this bill and commends this bill to the House but we do make note of some of those reservations that we have about the continued open access to our foreshore and seabed.