Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:638;Page:8394] 
3.  
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: Ki a ia nei he taonga hoko te wai; menaehara he aha ai hoki? 
[ 
Does he believe that water is a tradable commodity; if not why not? 
] 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 Let me reiterate the words of my colleague the Associate Minister in the House last week that “water is a public resource that the Government and local authorities will continue to manage on behalf of all New Zealanders.” I can further advise the member that the management of water in New Zealand is based on consents not on property rights. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Has the Minister read the article in the  
Dominion Post 
 
“Call for market in water” in which Simon Carlaw Chief Executive of the New Zealand Water and Wastes Association proposes law changes to facilitate water trading and is this what is intended in the proposed “cap and trade” strategies outlined in the Sustainable Water Programme of Action Cabinet paper; if not what is? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: No but it will not surprise the member to know that this Government and I do not generally agree with the policies of the Business Roundtable or its acolytes. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Can the Minister confirm as he said in his original answer that it is the Government’s policy and intention that the water resource will be administered fairly and without discrimination by the Crown and by local government on behalf of all New Zealanders? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I cannot be clearer than to repeat the answer I gave in reply to the primary question. The Government regards the water resource as a resource that local authorities and Government will continue to manage on behalf of all New Zealanders. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Is the Minister aware of the statement from Te Runanga o NgaiTahu chairman Mark Solomon that NgaiTahu were frustrated that they were not consulted in the drafting of the Government’s Sustainable Water Programme of Action; and what is the reason for denying NgaiTahu when they applied to participate in the consultation process? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Yes I am aware of that statement and I must say that it puzzled me somewhat given the extensive involvement and engagement with Maori that has taken place on these issues as far back as July 2003 and also the fact that as the member will doubtless be aware the ministerial advisory group that advises Mr Anderton and myself on this matter includes Edward Ellison from NgaiTahu and George Asher from NgatiTuwharetoa. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What progress has the Minister achieved in addressing the two goals that emerged from the iwi chief executives’ forum held on 21 November 2006—namely the importance to iwi of kaitiakitanga in water management and the need for the Crown to address Maori rights and interests in water? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Cabinet will be considering and responding to those issues in due course. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: I seek leave to table the article in the  
Dominion Post 
 
“Call for market in water”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: I seek leave to table an article from the  
Southland Times  
of 24 March 2007 in which NgaiTahu accused the Government of injecting fear into the community by suggesting that Maori want ownership of fresh water. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that article. Is there any objection? There is objection.