Hide Rodney: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Foreshore and Seabed Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee 
[Volume:621;Page:17097] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 We are debating Part 4 and in particular the Winston Peters clause. I ask the Minister in the chair Dr Michael Cullen to name just one activity—he is yawning because he cannot—that this clause will apply to. Can he call one out? Can anyone hear the Minister calling out one activity that will be protected by Part 4? Not one! This is the most useless legislation that we have seen in this Parliament for years and years. We hear Mahara Okeroa calling out. This just shows a Government— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I am sorry to interrupt the member. I know it is a robust debate and I enjoy passionate and vigorous debate. But I have to say to members on my right that I have difficulty in hearing even Mr Hide. I caution the members now: whakarongo; turituri. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: What is clear is that the Government wants the legislation to go through Parliament as quickly as possible. Why? Because the Government is embarrassed by it and even when Opposition members get up to speak about it Government members try to drown us out. They do not want New Zealanders to know the truth.  
Part 4 achieves nothing. It is race-based legislation on speed—that is what we have. Michael Cullen looks confused—and well he may be. How do Maori go about getting their customary rights orders? How do they do it? They go off to the Maori Land Court and they get— 
Dail Jones 
: They can use this process. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Well why would they use this process and not the other one?  
Dail Jones 
: Why not? 
RODNEY HIDE 
: The point is that Maori were here before 1840. I know that Mr Jones is a recent immigrant and that he is embarrassed about that fact being a New Zealand First member. Maori were here before 1840 and they can use the other process. What advantage does that give them? That gives them the Maori Land Court. Let us remember that this Government did not trust the Maori Land Court to deal with the original case. The Government did not trust it nor did Parekura Horomia and John Tamihere. So the Maori Land Court will decide Maori claims for customary rights but everyone else will go to the High Court. Here is another difference: Maori can claim spiritual connection—tikanga Maori. I ask Mr Jones where that is for everyone else. Where is the spiritual connection in this part? [ 
Interruption 
] Oh it does not have one. That is the point. We have legislation that in the other part deals with spiritual connection but in this part does not. Why? Because there are two separate processes in here: one for Maori and one for non-Maori.  
The solution was quite simple.  
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Merry Christmas. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Well even Parekura Horomia has woken up. That is a first. It is past his bedtime and Parekura Horomia is awake. He normally nods off at question time and does not come round until lunchtime the following day. We should do the obvious thing and let Maori simply have their day in court. I ask Mr Horomia and Mr Tamihere what was wrong with that. What is wrong with letting Maori have their day in court? Then Mr Horomia could say that everyone is equal before the law because Maori and non-Maori could go to court and have that tested. [ 
Interruption 
] Parekura Horomia the Minister of Maori Affairs is calling out that Maori should not be able to have their day in court. That is why that Minister will be toast at the next election. He is voting tonight for two laws for New Zealanders one for Maori and one for non-Maori and he is saying to Maori that they cannot have their day in court. That is what Mr Horomia is saying. He is saying that Maori cannot have their day in court. They are second-rate citizens—[ 
Interruption 
] Parekura Horomia says we should read  
Hansard. 
Tariana Turia says I am right. I may check my assumptions but I think she is right about that. [ 
Interruption 
]