Mapp Wayne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mapp Wayne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11372] 
5.  
Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Justice 
: Will the Government be reviewing its foreshore and seabed proposal to ensure that there will be no dual title of public domain and customary title given her answer last week that the Government’s proposals provide “methods of communication that are already provided for in the Resource Management Act”? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON (Associate Minister of Justice) 
: 
 No. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: In that case can the Minister tell the House which version of the foreshore and seabed policy the public should believe: the view expressed by Mr Mallard that the notion of rights that are not associated with the title is something the public does not understand or Dr Cullen’s view that the concept is easy to understand or even Tariana Turia’s view that Crown ownership would be a lot clearer for her people? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The policy is an iterative process and in the fullness of time there will be one version that even the Minister can understand! 
Russell Fairbrother 
: Will customary title in any way limit public access to the foreshore or seabed? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: No. 
Dail Jones 
: Why does the Minister not uphold the rule of law and await the Privy Council decision in the Ngati Apa case on the foreshore and seabed before taking action—a process that would ensure all New Zealanders are treated equally before the law and could result in a decision that makes New Zealanders’ angst of the last 8 months completely unnecessary? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The proposal to change the law encompasses more than the rather narrow point of appeal to the Privy Council. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Can I take the Minister back to her original answer and ask her whether in the light of that she agrees with the statement made as recently as last evening on television by the Prime Minister that the Government’s policy will not see any exclusivity created with regard to the foreshore and seabed? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: That is correct. Nothing has changed. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Why does the Government not simply accept the view of the majority of New Zealanders both Maori and non-Maori who want Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed particularly given that Mr Mallard has said: “You never say never to Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed.”? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The Government is ensuring that the foreshore and seabed are clearly stated to belong to the people of New Zealand and that includes all the people of New Zealand. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: If it is the view of the Minister as stated last week and apparently now that the public domain title confers no extra rights on Maori than they already have under the Resource Management Act why has the Government put the country to such uncertainty to create this new concept of public domain title instead of staying with Crown ownership? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: What the Government is doing is ensuring that the foreshore and seabed belong to all people in New Zealand. The specific reference to the Resource Management Act relates to the involvement of all New Zealanders in that process. This proposal enables clear identification of who should be consulted in what circumstances. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Given the Minister’s— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the member cannot do that. I refer him to Speaker’s ruling 142/6. Please start with a question word. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Why is the Government— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have called only Dr Mapp. I have made a new ruling so I am going to be a little careful in how I impose it but I thank the members who have raised the point. I refer them to Speaker’s ruling 142/6. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Why is the Government persisting with this new concept which apparently creates no additional rights other than Crown title in light of the fact that Mr Mallard himself has said it is not something that the public understands? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The reason why the notion of the people of New Zealand is an important one is that it is an inclusive notion. For many the Crown is seen as excluding some. The notion of the people of New Zealand includes the Crown.