Samuels Dover: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Samuels Dover: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:621;Page:16991] 
Hon DOVER SAMUELS (Minister of State) 
: 
 Once again I say this is certainly an interesting debate. It is interesting to hear the deputy leader of the National Party say very clearly to the people of this nation why the National Party does not support this bill. Now we are getting to the nitty-gritty. All the rain-dancing around the bill is peripheral to the real crux of the matter. Now we have a bit of horsepower in terms of the bill when National asks why it should support the bill and why it should have to recognise Maori customary right. Therein lies the issue. Why do we have to recognise Maori customary right? I want to repeat again— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Mr Chairperson. I seek leave of the Committee to repeat my speech because quite clearly Dover Samuels was not listening to it. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich) 
: Leave has been sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon DOVER SAMUELS 
: I just want to repeat again what my experience and the experience of my people has been. The fact is that over years and years—over generations—the customary rights of my people have never been recognised in the law. It is as simple as that.  
It is absurd to suggest that Maori customary right does not need to recognised. To those people who say that when they get back into power they will repeal this legislation I say God help the nation if they ever do. I tell those people that legislation will not repeal what is inherently that of Maori the indigenous people of this nation. Maori are entitled to have their customary rights recognised and this legislation spells that out very clearly. Let me say very clearly to the Opposition members that I have had no access and neither have the generations of my forebears to actually even go to the court to have our customary rights recognised. This bill provides access for our people not only to obtain a customary right order but to go to the High Court and get recognition of a territorial customary right—in fact an aboriginal title. That is unprecedented in the history of this nation.  
I say again to the people of this country both Maori and Pakeha that my mokopuna and their mokopuna will stand side by side on the foreshore of this nation—our mokupuna both Maori and Pakeha—and look towards the future. Under this legislation future generations of our people will stand side by side proud to be New Zealanders. They will recognise their different origins but will be proud to stand together on the beach. I say “Merry Christmas” to the people of this nation; it is not too far away. Maori and Pakeha will be able to go down to the beach and nothing will be changed. They will be able to have their barbecues. Even Gerry Brownlee will be able to go down there with his bikini and try to get a suntan. Even the deputy leader of the National Party will be able to put on his swimming togs go down to the beach put a bit of slip-slop on—a bit of oil—and try to turn the same colour as my colleague Parekura Horomia. Nothing will change but God help them if they have any observers.  
I am here to tell the truth not to tell a bunch of lies. New Zealanders will be able to go down to the beach and do the things that they have always done. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Not true. 
Hon DOVER SAMUELS 
: Who is the apparition who made a comment? I cannot understand who he is. Maori will be able to go down to the beach and I repeat pick their pipis dive for their tuatuas go to their favourite rock go snapper fishing and do all the things that they have been doing in the past. The members who have got up and said that people will not be able to do so are a bunch of liars. They have not told the truth outside this Parliament because this bill does not change anything except by recognising the rights of our people. I come back and say again that I have heard claptrap from the parties on the Opposition side of the Chamber. I can understand the Green members talking like that. They are hallucinating; they cannot help it. They smoke too much psychedelic puha so I can understand that. 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I take personal offence to the description of the Green members as hallucinating. I ask the member to withdraw and apologise. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I heard that ruling this morning. The member will withdraw and apologise. 
Hon DOVER SAMUELS 
: I withdraw and apologise. I am just trying to make the point that groups of people out there spin untruths to our people. I appreciate what the Rt Hon Winston Peters said. That is politics but sometimes one actually has to tell the truth. I go out there and tell the truth.