Maori Fisheries Bill

, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries: I move, That the Committee divide the bill into the Maori Fisheries Bill and the Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (No 2) / Maori Land Amendment Bill (No 2), pursuant to Supplementary Order Paper 254.

I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. This bill has been quite fiercely debated over the last 2 weeks, in two different bites, and each time the Māori Party has voted, and has made it known in the House and through the media that the Greens have been carrying its proxy. I am aware that the Green whip at the moment is different from the whip who was acting on the rest of the bill, and I would hate to see a member who has been opposing the bill throughout the process then find that her proxy was not being utilised. I draw that to the Committee’s attention, and wonder whether the whip might have missed the call.

The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson): I thank the honourable member for his contribution. All I can say to that is that it is up to the Māori Party as to what it does.

Bill reported with amendment.