Parker David: New Zealand Geographic Board (Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa) Bill — In Committee 
Parker David: New Zealand Geographic Board (Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:646;Page:15556] 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Land Information) 
: 
 Madam Chair— 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. I apologise about getting the words wrong. But it is very difficult because being in Opposition we are not used to having a Government filibustering its own bill. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: That is a frivolous point of order. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I would like to respond to a number of the points that the Hon Trevor Mallard made. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Yeah; Cabinet doesn’t talk to itself. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Mr Mallard raised what is a serious issue and he raised it as is his right. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. I know there has been a little bit of to-ing and fro-ing and a little bit of humour—some good some bad—but I think the Minister is prepared to take a call and speak to the issue. I think the shouting and boorish behaviour we have on the other side of the Chamber has gone a wee bit too far. I think those members should taihoa. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: I do accept that. I would ask members on the benches right around the Chamber to take a little bit of order in what they are doing. Calling for points of order and being disorderly in the calling for them does not make much sense so if we could have less of the barrage please and let us hear the contribution from the Minister. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Thank you Madam Chairperson. The first point I will make is in respect of the commencement date. There is a Supplementary Order Paper that changes the commencement date from what it was in the bill that went to the select committee which was 1 July 2008 to a date to be appointed by Order in Council. 
Darien Fenton 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. I am sorry but I cannot hear the answers the Minister is giving and I am really interested in them. Madam Chairperson could you ask the members opposite to let us hear them please? 
Brian Connell 
: I think the difficulty here is that the Minister is not speaking into his microphone and that he is speaking to his own party rather than addressing the Committee. Madam Chairperson if you could direct the Minister to do that then I think we would all hear what is being said. I am sure it is riveting. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: I will ask the Minister to do that. Before he resumes could I also remind the member immediately to my left Sandra Goudie that the interjections should be minimal short and brief and not a barrage of noise. Thank you. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Thank you Madam Chair. The Supplementary Order Paper changes the commencement date so that the legislation if passed comes into force on a date appointed by Order in Council. 
The other more substantial point was the issue raised by the Hon Trevor Mallard as to the way in which the legislation can be referred to either by its Maori name Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa Act or by its New Zealand equivalent the New Zealand Geographic Board Act—with the year 2008 in both cases. One of the things that has changed since the previous legislation was passed back in 1946 is that we now have two official languages in New Zealand. We have Maori and English being used as alternatives plus New Zealand Sign Language— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: English is not an official language. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Oh I am sorry. Well we have Maori as well as English being languages that can be used for official purposes in New Zealand and that is particularly important to both those who favour Maori and those who favour English in terms of geographic features. Indeed the increasing importance of the Treaty of Waitangi—which is also recognised in this legislation; it was not in the previous Act—is also one of the changes that has taken place since the previous legislation was passed in 1946. 
In terms of giving recognition to those two languages in some legislation it is important that we go that extra step and give both the Maori and English alternatives to titles in Acts and that we enable either to be used. I think this is respectful to the interests of those who are interested in Maori geographic place names that we give that recognition in this legislation. It reflects the earlier steps that were made by the previous National Government when bringing in the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act in order to acknowledge the importance of Maori place names to Ngai Tahu. So it surprises me that National having conceded in the 1990s the importance of that to Ngai Tahu in respect of their claims settlement—and it was very important; it remains very important to them in respect of the naming of geographic names—is choosing tonight to oppose this legislation and the entrenchment of the principle of giving due regard to Maori place names in the naming of geographic features. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: What’s a Maori place name? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: A Maori place name can be different from the English word. If the member wants an example then he is obviously not as well informed as I thought he was. Mount Egmont and Taranaki is one of the more common ones that seems to be known to most members but there are lots of other examples if the member wishes to learn about them. 
As the Minister with responsibility for this legislation I am certainly happy to have both the Maori and English translations of the name of the bill incorporated into the legislation. I think it is a step forward and that it goes towards improving relationships between Maori and non-Maori. It gives due recognition to the importance of both Maori and English. I hope that answers Mr Mallard’s question.