Benson-Pope David: Maori Fisheries Bill Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (No 2) / Maori Land Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
Benson-Pope David: Maori Fisheries Bill Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (No 2) / Maori Land Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
[Volume:620;Page:15755] 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister of Fisheries) 
: 
 I move  
That the Maori Fisheries Bill and the Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (No 2) / Maori Land Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a third time 
. E nga iwi e ngakarangatangamaha o nga hau e wha tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
[ 
To the tribes and the many callings of the four winds greetings greetings and greetings to you all. 
] 
This is indeed an historic day. The Maori Fisheries Act 2004 will repeal and replace the Maori Fisheries Act 1989 and give effect to the model that has been developed by the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission in consultation with Maori for allocating fisheries settlement assets to iwi for the ultimate benefit of all Maori and all New Zealanders. I acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of many of the original architects and negotiators of the settlement. I also acknowledge those who are no longer with us. 
When we look back we see that the origins of the fisheries settlement are surely entwined with those of the quota management system in the mid-1980s. The quota management system provoked Maori objection to the actions of the Government as unfair in creating and allocating property rights in fishing and provided the means to address the treaty grievances of Maori over fisheries resources. By allocating rights to existing fishers the Government was seen to be alienating property. However this new property right individual transferable quota provided a currency with which the Government could address the claims for redress and by buying the already allocated rights back from existing fishers rather than just taking them this redress was achieved without creating new inequity. Of course this was not an initiative without risk but it was the vision and indeed in a political sense the bravery of the architects and negotiators in seeking to find a resolution to outstanding issues and to negotiate the 1992 settlement that brought us to where we are today. 
Comments by the Hon Doug Kidd in the second reading debate of the 1992 settlement bill reflect well the tenacious spirit of those who were determined to make the settlement succeed. He challenged the knockers telling the House: “The only contribution of those doomsayers amounts to saying that because something is difficult there is really no alternative but to do nothing; that to attempt anything is to expose oneself to risk; that the only comfortable existence is an existence in which one does nothing. Those same people are prepared to stand by for generation after generation—and there have been plenty like them before—and to listen to the grieving of the Maori. They are prepared to explain it away and to carry on enjoying the fruits that they have managed to garner for themselves. I am not one of those people. … I am proud to be involved because I think that I have done the right thing.” Mr Kidd also told the House that day: “There are those of course who would exploit difference and grievance because they are a platform and base for a very crude type of popularism. I reject that approach utterly.” 
Those messages to politicians seem as valid today as they were on 3 December 1992. I would encourage members on the other side of the House to think on what can be achieved by participating constructively and working to include not alienate. It is sad indeed that the National Party of today does not show the principle or the generosity of spirit of its predecessors. 
Of course it has taken many years to reach this point and though it has not always been easy going this point has been reached because people have in the end been willing to compromise. In many instances iwi have looked beyond what might simply be best for them to the greater needs of Maori in general and that is to be commended. 
It is also appropriate that I today pay credit to the successive commissioners and commissions for their management of this resource endowment. They have brought the total value of the assets to approximately $750 million more than double their original value while distributing something in the order of $20 million per annum to iwi through the leasing and annual catch entitlement schemes. That is a remarkable record of stewardship. 
Let me also thank the many groups and individuals who have worked for so long to bring us to this point. Among them of course are the members of the select committee and ministry and departmental staff who have meticulously managed the detail of this very complex bill. 
The Maori Fisheries Bill delivers to Maori the means to long-term financial confidence. It paves the way for economic growth that will benefit all New Zealanders. The allocation of quota cash and income shares will empower iwi to develop their own assets and to contribute even more to the economic and employment growth so important to all of us. The Government welcomes the passage of this bill. It is the final step the Crown must take to complete the implementation of agreements made in the fisheries deed of settlement 1992 signed by the Crown and Maori. It is a singular privilege to have the opportunity as Minister of Fisheries to commend it to the House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There will be one debate but I will put each question separately at the end.