Okeroa Mahara: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Okeroa Mahara: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:621;Page:16996] 
MAHARA OKEROA (Labour—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 This morning I was appalled at notions of racism. I am now absolutely amazed. So I have moved from being appalled to being amazed. 
Mark Peck 
: Not a bad start. 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: No not bad. I am amazed at a comment made by the shadow Minister of Maori Affairs who asked why Maori would want to include their customary rights in legislation. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I didn’t say that. 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: Yes the member did—why would Maori want to go through that process to enshrine it in legislation? That demonstrates to me quite clearly that as a shadow Minister of Maori Affairs the member has very little knowledge of the historical reality. If nothing else one of the driving motivations for Maori members to be here is to make a difference in terms of legislation that affects the constituency—in spite of what Shane Ardern says about divisiveness. He should know about divisiveness. He comes out of Taranaki. That demonstrates to me as well that he does not know anything about the history of Taranaki. Who drove the divisiveness in Taranaki? 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Tainui. 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: No not at all. What I am saying in the context of this discussion [ 
Interruption 
]—and we do not want any interruptions from that member from Ngati Raukawa because we know what happened to those people as well. That member demonstrates very clearly that he does not understand the notion of divisiveness and the forces of early legislation that caused that divisiveness in the community of Taranaki.  
I will give here a bouquet which is overdue to New Zealand First. Mr Ardern said that we had made a lot of progress with legislation for Maori. The biggest piece of legislation I will mention in that regard is the legislation on the reserve lands issue. Who was in coalition? It was not the National Party but in fact New Zealand First where the initiative came from. So I would not be about claiming kudos for one party; I am about to give a bouquet to the most effective leader of the Opposition.  
When we get asked why we are here I tire of listening to speeches that continue to serve the marginalisation of our people. If these things are not enshrined in legislation and apparent there then iwi hapu and Maori in general will continue to be marginalised. That is a lesson of history. It is a lesson that we have learnt at our own cost.  
In conclusion it is my view that this bill supported by New Zealand First will put an end to any further marginalisation because it also protects—and it takes vision and courage. I have not heard yet what the shadow Minister of Maori Affairs may promote as his party’s policy for a solution rather than it creating a problem. So it is my absolute honour to stand here today and give my— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Yesterday the Prime Minister became very upset because a member suggested she had pleaded the Nuremburg defence when it came to the incident of her speeding from Waimate to Christchurch and to the subsequent charging of five policemen and one civilian while she it would seem is escaping any question. I have just heard Mr Tamihere suggest in response to Mr Mahara Okeroa’s suggestion that he had not heard what the shadow Minister of Maori Affairs might offer as his solution that that would be “the final solution”. That is even more offensive than suggesting that someone is pleading a Nuremburg defence. It think it is a waste of time asking that man to withdraw and apologise. It is evident that he does not have much sense of what is right and wrong. But I do ask Mr Chairperson that you keep your ears open and make sure that that sort of thing does not occur again. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member has made his point. One unparliamentary remark does not justify another. I call the member to order. 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: I was attempting to bring a conclusion to what I had to say. We need to avoid any suggestion of the interpretation by the shadow Minister of Maori Affairs because in fact I doubt whether the member on my right was being negative about what he was saying. We need to bring this issue to a positive end. We need to be a reflection of the community as it is today not as it was in the 19th century. So I applaud this bill.