Te Pire mō Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Bill

Before we commence debate on this bill, there are several procedural matters that I want to comment on. Firstly, the title and commencement clauses of this bill are contained in Part 1AA. The debate on this part will be taken first, and there will be no concluding title and commencement clause debate. The second matter relates to the dual-language nature of the bill. As you will be aware, the Te Reo Māori and English texts of this bill have equal authority. Neither text is to be considered a translation of the other, though they are intended to be equivalent in meaning. I will recognise this in the conducting of the Committee’s consideration of the bill. For the purposes of debate, the Te Reo Māori and English text for each part will be taken together. Hence, the question for the first part will be that Te Wāhanga tahi AA—that is, Part 1AA—and that Part 1AA stand part.

I note that separate amendments to the two texts are possible. The Minister’s Supplementary Order Paper 164 amends Te Reo Māori text for Part 1AA but does not amend the English text, as there are matters requiring amendment in one but not the other. Recognising that the two texts are separate, the votes on the two texts will be taken separately.

Further, because the two texts of the bill are of equal authority, amendments that are in one language are not automatically treated as amending the other text of the bill. If a substantive amendment is to be agreed to by the Committee, it is highly desirable that the text in both Te Reo Māori and English is agreed to. If it appears likely that the amendment that is proposed in only one language is not to be agreed to by the Committee, the Minister may wish to postpone further consideration of the part under Standing Order 303(1)(d) and (4), to allow time for the amendment to be drafted in the other language. For that further amendment to be tabled, the alternative is to have a bill that may be deficient in one of the language versions.

I seek leave for all parts of this bill to be considered as one debate, and voted on separately, of course.

Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is objection.

Te Wāhanga 1AA Ko te ingoa me ngā whakataunga tīmatanga i Te Reo MāoriPart 1AA Title and commencement provisions in English