6. Question No. 6—Māori DevelopmentHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister for Māori DevelopmentQuestion No. 6—Māori Development6. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister for Māori Development: How many meetings if any has she had with mana whenua Tainui the Kīngitanga ministerial colleagues or any other person in respect of Ihumātao?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister for Māori Development): I've had two meetings each well reported in the media the first on 25 July and another on 31 July and I regularly meet with my ministerial colleagues and talk about a variety of topics; Ihumātao is likely to have been one of them. Hon Dr Nick Smith: Was financial support being considered or discussed at any of those meetings for purchase of the land?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: No.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does she agree with the Māori King that the Crown should negotiate to purchase the land and return it to Māori ownership?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Mr Speaker—Hon Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I'm not challenging your ruling but I'm just questioning around responsibility for the views of the Māori King from the Minister for Māori Development—I'm just not sure quite how that lines up.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: Well no I don't need to hear from Dr Smith. This is a public opinion about a matter for which this Minister has been given responsibility to answer this question in the House and we often—and in fact you know as recently I think as yesterday Mr Robertson you answered questions based on the opinions of outside persons in an area for which you had responsibility. I think that the question of the Māori King commenting on an issue which affects Māori—the Minister for Māori Development does not have responsibility for that but can and has been asked for her opinion on the comment and that is within I think a reasonable question. Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: The views of the Māori King are a matter for him and of particular note for mana whenua groups. We acknowledge and thank him for his leadership in bringing mana whenua groups together. Hon Dr Nick Smith: Will she rule out the Government taking up the advice of the Māori King—of the Government negotiating to purchase the land and return it to its Māori owners?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: It's not a matter of whether I will rule anything in or out. This Government is trying to find a constructive solution to a complex set of issues at Ihumātao and if he was concerned about getting a really good outcome where there's certainty I'm sure he would change his line of questioning.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does the options of a constructive solution to the problem include the taxpayer providing money for the purchase of the land as suggested by the Māori King? SPEAKER: Do the options"—but anyway yep.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I'm not entirely sure how the member jumped to that question based on the primary but what I can say is that this Government is concerned about getting certainty of outcome to all parties involved and in order to achieve that we need everybody to come to the table and look for a constructive innovative solution.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Will the Minister visit the site and meet with the protesters?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I think the Minister fails to recognise that I—SPEAKER: The member.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I think the member fails to recognise that I have connections to that area. I don't need to visit a site to know that the rubbish that they created in trying to ram through development without the support of the local community has proven to be a problem and we have to sort out the mess that he started."