Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:655;Page:4881] 
5.  
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Attorney-General 
: What response has he received from Maori to the report of the ministerial review panel on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
: 
 I have received a lot of feedback from Maori and non-Maori alike—too much to list here. I note the response of the Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia who described it as a turning point from “the conflicts and divisions of the past five years”. I also note the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition who stated his party would act constructively over the review and I very much look forward to engaging with the Labour Party on this issue. I endorse the comments made by the Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples yesterday that public access to the beach had never been an issue “as far as Maori were concerned”. But the fact that it has caused so much angst is why public access must be enshrined. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: How will the Government ensure that a conversation can be held between Maori and non-Maori on this issue so that the country can move forward together? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: I think it is important to emphasise that the report is just the latest stage in the ongoing conversation between Maori and non-Maori since 2003 but I think the panel’s report provides a real opportunity for Maori and non-Maori to continue that conversation. I very much appreciate the constructive way in which the Maori Party has raised the issue and I am confident that the Government with the Maori Party working alongside it will do all it can to ensure there is a just and durable resolution of this issue. 
Hon David Parker 
: Was the Labour Party’s submission to the ministerial review panel which advocated amending the legislation to restore the right of hapu and iwi to apply for customary title while preserving by statute public rights of access helpful in efforts to achieve a fair and durable solution? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: Yes I believe it was. The contribution of the Labour Party was valuable and I certainly think its ongoing contribution particularly through the member who asked the question will be very useful. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Does the Minister have confidence in the robustness of the report and the panel members? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: I think the review panel did a very good job especially given the very tight time frame given by the Government. It has produced a robust report which gives the Government a very useful starting-point to enable all parties in this House and the wider public an opportunity to resolve this issue. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Can the Minister confirm that the current legislation already guarantees public access to the foreshore and seabed; and will iwi who have substantial Treaty claim interests—including their harbours foreshore and seabed—such as Hauraki be able to negotiate a remedy under the Treaty settlement process or will they need to wait for the Government to respond to the report of the foreshore and seabed review panel? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: I certainly agree that the current legislation did address the issue of access and I would like to think that as a result of this report beyond peradventure the question of public access to the foreshore and seabed is no longer an issue that shall we say certain parties in this country will be able to raise in a mischievous way. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Does the Minister intend to lift the cap on Treaty settlements in light of the foreshore and seabed review panel recommendation? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: The whole question of Treaty settlements which this Government is very committed to is one that I am addressing every day. In general terms I am not in a position to answer that question at this time.