Personal Explanations — Question No. 4 to Minister

In response to a question relating to changes to the definition of historic heritage in the Resource Management Bill I stated that “I personally have no recollection of either MPs or officials drawing my attention to them at the time.” Later in response to a supplementary question I stated that “I can find no evidence whatsoever that my permission as Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage was ever sought by officials on that matter.” I made those statements on the basis of my own recollections and a thorough perusal of the official files relating to the matter that my office had requested the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to forward to me yesterday in their entirety. The files forwarded contained no references whatsoever to the wording changes referred to.

This evening a further document from the ministry was drawn to my attention. This was a briefing from the ministry dated 2½ years ago in September 2000, that sought my approval for the content and recommendations of the historic heritage provisions in the draft officials report to the Local Government and Environment Committee on the Resource Management Amendment Bill. That briefing did contain reference to the proposal to include references to cultural and ancestral landscapes and to spiritual values. It is clear I signed off that report. While I stand by my earlier statement that I had no recollection of that brief, I had no intention of misleading the House, and apologise if that was the effect of my answers.