Amended Answers to Oral Questions — Question No. 5 to Minister, 31 July

I seek leave under Standing Order 354 to make a personal explanation to correct an answer I made in the House yesterday.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.

Yesterday during question No. 5 the member for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti asked me this supplementary question: “What advice did he give to the Minister of Finance in so far as the transfer of 49 percent shareholding interests in State assets is not a contravention of Te Tiriti o Waitangi?”. I responded: “As Minister I did not give any advice to the Minister of Finance on that particular point.” In reviewing my notes, I find that I actually did provide the Minister of Finance advice on this matter. My advice was to bind the 49 percent shareholding interest on top of binding the Crown, in line with the Treaty clauses found in our free-trade agreements, written into the deeds. I recommended the wording “that shareholders of enterprises should do nothing to prevent the Government from meeting their obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi”.