Whaitiri MekaMAORI COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Associate Minister of Agriculture) on behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: I present a legislative statement on the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill.Legislative statement published under the authority of the House.Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: I move That the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Māori Affairs Committee to consider the bill.In this House and its renown across the country the significance of the Māori-owned asset economy and particularly as we address it as one of our second priorities in this Government in terms of accelerated recovery—this bill should be seen in that context. This is an important bill that has broad support from iwi to improve the allocation and transfer process of aquaculture settlement assets.New Zealand's aquacultural industry contributes significantly to regional development and the national economy generating $600 million in revenue in 2018 and employing 3000 people largely based in the regions. New Zealand's aquaculture industry has built a strong reputation for sustainable healthy and high-value products. Kaimoana more broadly has long played a key role in the social economic and cultural wellbeing of Māori and all New Zealanders—and particularly may I add as we head into the summer break. Māori have a significant presence in the aquaculture industry which will increase over time as iwi acquire and develop their interests in the industry and realise their aquaculture settlement assets. The potential scale of iwi involvement in the future of the aquaculture industry is such that the sector as a whole will not reach its full potential until iwi realise their aquaculture settlement assets.The Government's aquaculture strategy released in September 2019 recognises the strong interest of Māori and contains an ambitious goal for aquaculture to become a $3 billion industry by 2035 but has a vision for New Zealand's aquaculture industry to be globally recognised as a world leader in sustainable and innovative aquaculture management across the value chain. The increase in Māori interest in aquaculture over time supported by the change proposed in this bill has the potential to maximise opportunities from settlement and support the broader COVID-19 economic recovery efforts with Māori at the forefront.The purpose of the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill is to better enable the allocation and transfer of aquaculture settlement assets to iwi by providing Te Ohu Kaimoana with a limited discretionary power to make determinations for aquaculture settlement allocation entitlements. While the fundamental provisions of the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act are sound and performing well there is an opportunity to improve the allocation and transfer process. This will address the issue of some iwi being unable to access their aquaculture settlement assets in circumstances when agreement on allocation between all iwi in a region cannot be reached. The proposed changes will not change the core elements of how the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act currently operates or change the dispute resolution process including reference to the Māori Land Court.Intensive consultation has occurred over the past two years and there is broad support from iwi and Te Ohu Kaimoana for the bill. The amendments provide a practical means for resolving the current allocation issues and those which could arise in future and will ensure regional aquaculture assets make it into the hands of iwi in a timely manner. There are regions that are currently unable to access their aquaculture settlement assets due to an inability to reach unanimous agreement between all iwi in those regions about how aquaculture settlement assets should be allocated amongst them. These regions will benefit immediately from the proposed changes. I felt that it was important to bring the bill to the House now so that impacted iwi can access their aquaculture settlement assets within an appropriate time frame and to ensure there is plenty of opportunity to make changes if necessary.The select committee process is very important and I urge and encourage all New Zealanders with an interest in aquaculture to come forward and to have their say on the bill and ensure we get it right. So on that note I commend this bill to the House.