Heatley Phil: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Heatley Phil: Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:659;Page:8359] 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Fisheries) 
: 
 It is a delight to see the second reading of the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement (Regional Agreements) Amendment Bill moved in this House and positively supported by the speakers. As the Minister of Fisheries I add my voice to that of the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and acknowledge the Hon Parekura Horomia for the work that he did over a 12-month period prior to our coming into office. We have seen talks around this settlement begin and clearly it was a delight for us to take hold of the torch that he carried and to see the process of the settlement finished. We met several months ago at Te Papa with iwi hapu and whanau involved in those negotiations as well as officials and we signed the settlement agreement. It was a wonderful privilege for me as a Minister to sign my first Treaty settlement. Again I thank the Hon Parekura Horomia for beginning that process. 
The reality is that we decided on a settlement for Maori way back in 2004 when the aquaculture reforms were passed. As part of that reform the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act went through the House giving Maori the opportunity to take hold of 20 percent of pre-commencement space and 20 percent of any new aquaculture areas that were put together following enactment of that legislation in 2004. It was understood that the pre-commencement space settlement would probably be settled by providing water space created through the zoning of aquaculture management areas. In other words new aquaculture zones would be set aside by local regional councils—that is water space—and much of that would be passed to Maori as part of the settlement. 
Unfortunately because aquaculture has not progressed the way that we all would like it to no new aquaculture management areas have been created in the last 4 or 5 years and therefore there has been no settlement space to pass to Maori. So it was a smart idea instead of passing over space to look at a cash settlement. That was a good idea conceived some time ago. Progress was made valuing the potential space putting a dollar figure on it and coming to some sort of agreement. That is what happened. It came to a figure of about $97 million and I think there is a little bit more outstanding for those hapu whanau and iwi who have not settled yet. So we are still looking at that settlement and as my colleague the Hon Chris Finlayson said it is progressing well. 
I know this is just the second reading but I am enthusiastic to see the Committee stage and the third reading go through reasonably quickly because Maori have been waiting a long time. We will see by the passing of this legislation a cash settlement to Maori. Hopefully they will use some of those finances to invest in aquaculture. They are not compelled to do so at all but perhaps they might invest in aquaculture. We trust that the reforms we are doing in marine farming next year will open up the doors for more marine space in New Zealand’s coastal area. I commend the second reading of this bill I commend the bill to the House and I am delighted that so many colleagues from parties on this side in Government and across the floor from the Opposition are so supportive of this legislation.