Carter David: Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Carter David: Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 23 September 2008. Volume:650;Page:19005. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 I simply want the Minister to clarify one point with regard to Part 3 “Amendments to Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004”. The reason I want clarification is that some quite differing information was given in the previous debate on the second reading. The principal question I want answered by the Minister is— 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Say it slowly. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I will say it very very slowly for the Minister and member for Christchurch East. How much new aquaculture space—new aquaculture management areas as they are called—has been created since the passing of the original legislation in 2004? In my contribution and the contribution from my colleague— 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Do you know the answer? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Yes I do know the answer. When the Minister does her homework she will have to stand and say that no new space has been created. The reason I think that should be clarified is that the Green member of course suggested in the debate that some new space—new aquaculture management areas—had been created particularly in Northland.  
The reason this does need to be satisfied with regard to Part 3 is that if new space has been created then effectively 40 percent of that space must now be made available to Maori. I suspect from the contribution of the Maori Party in the second reading debate that they are not aware of receiving any space and I suspect that in this case the Maori Party is absolutely right. They will not have received any space because no new space has been created. That is why this legislation is so critical. It is but a band-aid to fix a far bigger problem.  
In 2004 the Government passed legislation that the then Minister David Benson-Pope announced as being groundbreaking legislation that would lift this industry from at that stage about a $200 million industry to a billion-dollar export industry. That has not occurred and I think the Minister should take time to clarify with the officials immediately behind her to find out how much space has been created— 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: You have already answered the question. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I think that the Minister needs to answer for the sake of the Maori Party members. They need to have accurate information and they can then be informed how much space has been created since 2004. I am sure they will find the answer is zero. Therefore the Minister might also like to rise and give me an explanation as to what else she is proposing to do to fix the legislation beyond this particular measure to ensure we do get enabling legislation to allow this industry to reach its potential.  
The Minister will be well aware of this very fancy document I am holding. I think she must be about the only Minister who actually did not get to sign it. Everyone else has put their name on the bottom of it but I do not see Lianne Dalziel’s name there. It is a particularly glossy brochure. It points out the potential of this industry. It is not a laughing matter I say to the Minister. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: What year was it? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: This was June 2007 and the member was a Minister then? 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Yes. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Only just or just about to go out? I cannot remember the details. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Minister of Commerce. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Minister of Commerce!  
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Women’s affairs and small business. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: This is important—Minister of Commerce. This Minister of Commerce should be enabling legislation to allow the aquaculture industry to reach its potential which is a billion dollars - plus. 
Phil Heatley 
: What did she know that the others didn’t? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: No—I suspect it is because perhaps there was a fall-out between this Minister and Benson-Pope because Benson-Pope did not ask for her signature; I am not sure. But every other Minister certainly managed to sign it. A lot of them are not Ministers any more but I guess that is not the point.  
The final question I think is one for the Minister to confirm for the sake of the debate today. How much new aquaculture space has been created since that wonderful piece of heralding legislation was advanced by the Hon David Benson-Pope in 2004—legislation that the National Party strongly said at the time would not work? If the answer is that no space has been created it is— 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Can’t be no space I’m sure. Must be some space. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I am sure there will be but we are waiting for the Minister to take a call. I am sure that that is absolute proof that the National Party was right about this legislation and the Labour Government supported by New Zealand First was as expected absolutely wrong about it.