Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is subject to correctionNorman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:7. Text is subject to correction.]4.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) to theMinister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he think the Government has a mandate to sell Genesis Energy when last night’s3 News Reid research poll showed 68 percent of New Zealanders say the Government should not sell Genesis Energy and given that a majority of New Zealanders voted for parties that opposed his asset sales policy at the last election?Hon TONY RYALL (Minister for State Owned Enterprises): Yes.Dr Russel Norman: Why is he so determined to ignore the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders who do not want the Government to sell these assets?Hon TONY RYALL: Because the Government’s share offer programme was extensively debated and discussed during the last election campaign. The Leader of the Opposition at the time described the election as a referendum on the mixed-ownership model programme. In fact the member himself said that “the ownership and use of state assets has become a defining issue of this election” so this Government is sticking to itsprogramme. It is in the best interests of New Zealand because it helps us control debt and invest in important social infrastructure.Dr Russel Norman: If indeed the last election was a kind of referendum on asset sales and the majority of voters voted for parties opposed to asset sales then will he accept the results of that referendum which is that New Zealanders do not want him to sell these assets?Hon TONY RYALL: Clearly this Government campaigned on its mixed-ownership model programme—51 percent Government ownership 49 percent on the sharemarket. Our party received the biggest vote of any party under an MMP election. But I have to say his party opposite has to answer the question about why it ignored the referendum on hard labour for serious violent offenders—it ignored that one—why it ignored the referendum to cut the number of MPs and why he himself sniffed at New Zealanders who voted against his smacking proposals.Dr Russel Norman: Does he accept that in fact a referendum is the perfect tool to decide an issue where Parliament itself is virtually evenly divided in asset sales—61 to 60—and where the people of New Zealand have clearly expressed by overwhelming majority their opposition to asset sales?Hon TONY RYALL: No.Te Ururoa Flavell: Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. Why is the Minister continuing with the sale of shares in Genesis Energy before addressing the serious Crown breaches of the Tiriti o Waitangi as found in the Waitangi Tribunal’s report on the Tongariro National Park claim which stated that ngā iwi o Te Kāhui Maunga retain residual property rights and a right to development in the waterways impacted by the Tongariro power development scheme?Hon TONY RYALL: The mixed-ownership model is part of the Government’s wider economic plan to control debt and to continue investing in our New Zealand economy. I can advise the member that the Minister of Finance is in a direct discussion with the various parties to that action that he has taken and he is currently undertaking a series of discussions with iwi affected by the Genesis Energy sale. As the member will know the Supreme Court has made it quite clear that the mixed-ownership model sales process is no impediment to future Treaty settlements.Te Ururoa Flavell: Aside from his response would he concede that the sale of Genesis Energy is actually a further breach of the Treaty which could be prevented if the Government were to deal with the claims appropriately before selling shares; if not why not?Hon TONY RYALL: No I do not agree with that. Principally the reason for that is that the Supreme Court has considered those arguments and has made it quite clear that the mixed-ownership model programme and the partial sale of these assets is not an impediment to dealing with legitimate Treaty claims. Certainly this Government’s record is one that is unparalleled in the scope of work and achievements in that area led by the Hon Chris Finlayson.