Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Further progress resolving Treaty claims



Hon Christopher Finlayson
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

8 March 2012 Media Statement

Further progress resolving Treaty claims

Parliament has agreed to extended sitting hours today and, if necessary, to sit on Friday 9 March to give five Treaty settlement bills their first readings and to progress several Treaty bills through other house stages, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Rongowhataata, Ngāti Whatua o Ōrākei and the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement bills, the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Settlement bill and the Maraeroa A and B BIocks Incorporation bill (a private bill to set up the Maraeroa governance board) will all be read for the first time this week.

“The Human Rights Commission recently reviewed the last five years of Treaty settlements, and concluded ‘the pace of historical Treaty of Waitangi settlements increased dramatically, from ten milestones achieved in 2007 to over 60 in 2011,’” Mr Finlayson said.

“However delays in legislating for settlements mean delays for iwi in sharing the benefits with their people and putting these grievances behind us as a nation,” Mr Finlayson said. “It is a credit to this House and its members that they have agreed on innovative ways to address this through extended sitting hours, and it shows the broad support across parties for settling these historical grievances and moving on.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Extended sitting hours keeps things moving and reduces the time iwi have to wait to take full advantage of settlement benefits.

“Iwi in many cases have waited many, many years for this moment to occur and it marks the beginning of the final stage of their journey to settlement,” Mr Finlayson said. “All these bills are about mending a broken relationship and agreeing to a better future for all.”

The Ngāi Wai o Maniopto Waipa River Bill, Ngāti Whare and Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Pahauwera and Ngāti Porou Claims Settlement bills will also progress through the Committee of the Whole House stages during the extended sitting hours.

Copies of the Deed of Settlement of these available on the Office of Treaty Settlements website www.ots.govt.nz



© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.