Quinn Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Quinn Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 22 June 2010. Volume:664;Page:12006. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: What recent progress has the Government made towards its goal of settling historical Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 Last Sunday the Crown signed terms of negotiation with Ngati Koroki Kahukura and Ngati Haua at Pohara Marae. Between the start of last year and June this year the Crown has reached over 30 significant settlement milestones including 14 agreements in principle and six deeds of settlement. This represents great progress especially compared with the previous administration’s average of 1.6 deeds of settlement each year. 
Paul Quinn 
: What support did Budget 2010 provide to help achieve the Government’s goal of settling historical Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: This year’s Budget provided an extra $6.5 million over the next 3 years to help achieve the Government’s goal of settling historical Treaty claims by 2014. This extra funding comes on top of the additional $22.2 million in last year’s Budget and illustrates the Government’s commitment to accelerating Treaty settlements. 
David Garrett 
: Will the settling of claims to customary title over parts of the foreshore and seabed under the Government’s proposed legislation impact in any way shape or form on Treaty claims; if so in what precise way? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: That question raises a number of points. First I have made it clear on a number of occasions that if an iwi has concluded a Treaty settlement it will be able to come and talk to the Crown—for example about extant customary rights it may claim—but the finality of its Treaty settlement will not be able to be challenged. 
David Garrett 
: Will he be advising the Attorney-General that the foreshore and seabed legislation should specifically prohibit any holder of customary title from charging those who wish to enjoy customary recreations such as fishing and swimming for access to areas of the foreshore and seabed held under customary title; if not why not? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: The Attorney-General and the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations exchange pleasantries all the time and I imagine that the issue of the— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: When he’s not too busy directing companies. 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: Another day another psychotic outburst from Mr Mallard. 
David Garrett 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Before I call the honourable member I say that it will lead to disorder if members use an open microphone to make unhelpful comments across House. I recognise that it was done in response to a fairly unhelpful interjection but these things tend to lead to disorder. 
David Garrett 
: My question was carefully worded and it asked whether the Minister would be advising the Attorney-General with regard to the content of legislation. The answer I got was related to social intercourse between himself and that Minister and it has absolutely nothing to do with the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I accept the point the member is making in that I believe the Minister in answering the question was probably a bit sidetracked by the interjection. I think it was a serious question that the member asked and I ask the Minister whether he could answer beyond just whether he talks to himself. 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: Yes there will be discussion between the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Ministry of Justice. I can assure the member that what I said yesterday was right in that there is no question regarding access to the foreshore and seabed. He need not have any worry about that issue.