Henare Tau: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Henare Tau: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 24 July 2008. Volume:648;Page:17410. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10.  
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Does the Maori Trustee support the expropriation of $35 million out of the Maori Trustee’s general purposes fund? 
Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Building and Construction) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: The Maori Trustee has been closely involved in the development of this proposal and supports the Maori Business Aotearoa New Zealand concept.  
Hon Tau Henare 
: Is it not correct that last year the Minister’s office was in talks with the Maori Trustee about becoming an investor in a development fund; and that the Minister put papers to Cabinet recommending it expropriate $35 million of trustee money only after the Maori Trustee refused to become that investor to the tune of $35 million? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: The Maori Trustee is a highly valued civil servant and administrator and indeed he released a public statement yesterday amplifying the level of support he gives to the proposal. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: In the press release that the Minister refers to did the Maori Trustee refer to his support or otherwise of the expropriation of $35 million out of the general purposes fund? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: What is at stake here is a proposal to write off over $60 million worth of historical debt and to introduce $19 million—to improve the operational capacity of the Maori Trustee—a $4 million capital grant and a transfer of $35 million. It is akin to transferring from one waka to the other—something the member is a tohunga at. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Can the Minister confirm that yesterday’s press release was not issued by the Maori Trustee but by the communications manager at Te Puni Kokiri after news of the Maori Trustee’s opposition to the expropriation of $35 million of trustee money was leaked and that none of the comments his department strong armed out of the Maori Trustee in a vain attempt at damage control even mention the expropriation of the $35 million that I have asked about in the last three questions and not got an answer? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: Obviously a bill lies before the select committee which the member occasionally turns up at. Number two— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That comment was inappropriate. Would the Minister please address the question. 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: The bill lies before the select committee. I repeat that it is not impounded money. It is not confiscated money. It is a transfer from one organisation to another—an entity that will have the Maori Trustee as its chair. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Can the Minister confirm evidence presented to the Maori Affairs Committee yesterday that none of the 2000 attendees at the consultation hui on the Maori Trustee Bill were told of any intention to expropriate the $35 million of general purposes fund money but rather were only asked whether they supported general reform of the trustee and the principle of having a development fund? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: There was a consultation process and the overwhelming response was that such reform and the creation of an entity with at least $35 million would be a boon for the iwi. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I seek leave of the House to table the transcript of yesterday’s select committee where the Maori Trustee said he did not support the movement of $35 million. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.