Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:635;Page:6368] 
7.  
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: How does the Crown intend to ensure that the method of calculating the quantum of the settlement for Ngati Mutunga will be fair in reality as well as fair in the circumstances? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Acting Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: The Crown’s view is that the comprehensive redress package offered to Ngati Mutunga and accepted by them is fair in the circumstances. The reality is that the Crown and Ngati Mutunga acknowledge that the Crown could not afford to pay full compensation for the breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What explanation can the Minister provide for the Crown being unable to adequately explain the methodology for how it determined the Ngati Mutunga settlement and does he agree with Ngati Mutunga that the Crown needs to demonstrate more transparency if the settlement process is to have any credibility or long-term durability? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: During the hearing of submissions in Taranaki the Ngati Mutunga negotiators did express some concern about the process and a lack of understanding over the formula to determine the quantum. However they were also very very forthcoming in saying that the priority for them was in the outcome of the negotiations because they wanted to put the grievances of the past behind them and start building a future for future generations of Ngati Mutunga. 
Pita Paraone 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. Yesterday during the Finance and Expenditure Committee proceedings the Minister of Finance confirmed that the $1 billion fiscal cap imposed by National in 1995 for Treaty settlements will be exceeded; why is this the case and how will it be funded? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: I cannot answer that question in full but who better to make that statement than the Minister of Finance? 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: How is the Ngati Mutunga settlement consistent and relative to the other recent settlements particularly given the massive breaches suffered by Ngati Mutunga including the entire confiscation of their tribal estate and the imprisonment of their people? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: The quantum settlement for Ngati Mutunga was consistent with previous settlements—that of Tainui Ngai Tahu and other groups that have already settled. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. What the Minister gave as an answer was basically part of my question. I asked how the settlement was consistent with those other settlements and I did not actually hear an answer. 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: The quantum agreed on was relative to previous settlements. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Can he confirm that the notion of a fiscal cap of $1 billion was actually abandoned well before the Labour-led Government came into office—under the National - New Zealand First coalition from memory? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: I can. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Was the predetermined settlement figure to be offered by the Crown to Ngati Mutunga altered in any way after the Crown accepted that the total land confiscated from Ngati Mutunga was actually 150000 acres and not 75000 acres; if so by what amount; if not why not? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: The Government had no predetermined quantum figure for Ngati Mutunga. Those negotiations started in 1999 under a National Government.