Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before I speak to the bill, it’s appropriate, as a person who comes from Whanganui and a former member of Parliament for the Whanganui electorate, to acknowledge deceased member of Parliament now, but also former member of Parliament and friend and colleague of many here, the Hon Chester Borrows.

In taking this brief call, speaking to the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill—noting that the member in charge is the Hon Stuart Nash, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries—it’s not yet known which select committee, for the first reading of this bill, it will go to. Potentially, it could go to the Primary Production Committee, which the fisheries amendment bill that was before the House last year went to. Or, potentially, it could go to the Māori Affairs Committee. It’s unknown. But, in speaking to that—I turn to the bill—there have been a number of members who spoke to this last evening, in that the purpose of the bill is that, under the 1992 fisheries deed of settlement, the Crown and Māori agreed to a full and final settlement of all Māori claims to commercial fishing rights.

The Maori Fisheries Act of 2004 set out a framework for the allocation and transfer of fisheries settlement assets to iwi, institutional arrangements, and a governance framework for managing fisheries assets for current and future generations of Māori. So this bill—the amendment bill—is to update and modernise the governance and administrative framework for managing iwi fisheries settlement assets that are administered by Te Ohu Kai Moana; the Māori Fisheries Commission, as it was formerly known.

I’ve often shared in the House that I relate back to lived experience, personal experience, and professional experience. Back on 11 September 1992, my son was born here in Wellington, and I returned home shortly after that. Within two weeks of his birth, I received a phone call from the then chief executive of, as it was known, the Māori Fisheries Commission offering me a job as a legal adviser to that. Robin Hapi was then the chief executive of the Māori Fisheries Commission, now known as Te Ohu Kai Moana. I didn’t take the role, because, as I say, I had returned home to Whanganui. The priority was returning to the support of whānau, with two young children. It just happens to be that I correlate the timing of the establishment of the Māori Fisheries Commission some almost 32 years ago now. And here we are, addressing before the House the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill.

As I’ve outlined what the purpose is—and in the two minutes that I have left remaining—this bill will come before whichever select committee it does, for due consideration and then reporting back to the House for the second reading. Standing as a National Party member of Parliament, it’s known that National supports this bill at first reading, taking a keen interest for it to go before the select committee to open it up for public submission. As has been outlined, it’s to look at modernising and streamlining iwi governance of the asset-holding entities.

National is very keen to hear from submitters, because, just a little bit of reading that I’ve done in relation to this, it seems that—and, again, Māori are as diverse as every other New Zealander in this country. Just because we’re Māori doesn’t mean to say that we all think and have the same mind-set in terms of how business is done. It’s known, from some articles that have been read, that there have been High Court proceedings filed, and those have been initiated by Ngāi Tahu, who are not aligned with what the whakaaro, the thinking, of Te Ohu Kai Moana is—in terms of the distribution of funds, particularly, that are collected. That is also supported by Ngā Puhi. There are some news articles there. There are likely to be submissions that come through from the members of our public community and those particularly tribal entities that have an interest here, in Te Ohu Kai Moana and the distribution of those funds.

So, in the 38 seconds that I have left, my colleague to follow later in addressing this will do so somewhat more fully, but the bill is comprised of, in two parts, 100 clauses, three schedules. It’s going to require some prudent scrutiny, importantly listening to the submitters and then looking further at whether this needs to be improved. The National Party supports this bill at first reading and very much looks forward to the submissions from members of the public, and those particularly, the iwi entities, affected by the management of Māori fisheries. Kia ora.

Kia ora, Madam Speaker. It’s a pleasure to be here this evening, and as I begin this speech to recognise Jamie Tuuta, who’s a member of my community—or probably Barbara Kuriger’s community, more noted—but in terms of our Urenui, the chair of Ngāti Mutunga, but also recently appointed as the chair of Sealord Group, which is obviously a significant role here in Aotearoa in terms of fisheries around our coastlines.

This piece of legislation is simple. I guess we’ve traversed any conversations about it over the last few days in terms of what it does and the reason for it, so I’m going to keep my comments short. But, of course, it’s around ensuring that iwi have a greater degree of rangatiratanga over their fisheries, which is something that is significant and important. When we think of rangatiratanga, it’s around that leadership—or it’s around that autonomy to make decisions; it’s around self-determination when it comes to the spaces in terms of fisheries.

Secondly, we look at this legislation and last year I had the privilege of being on the Primary Production Committee when we debated, when we went through the process of looking at the Fisheries Amendment Bill, which is now the Act. So I note as well, we continue the process; we continue progress in terms of strengthening, modernising New Zealand’s fisheries management system. I commend this bill to the House.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to take a short call on the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill first reading, concluding this evening.

As it is the first time that I have spoken in this House since the loss of Chester Borrows, can I also add my condolences to his family. Chester was a remarkable person who was the personification of service for his community and service regardless of need and social position—he was there for everyone. The genuine outpouring of grief from his community reflects the respect and mana in which he was held.

I don’t intend to speak for long on this bill. The review that was required by the Maori Fisheries Act in 2004, which specifically said that a review had to be carried out no later than the 11th year following the commencement of that original Act—well, it happened at the 11th year, and the review was finalised in March 2015. So eight years on, and here we are, at the point of having the legislation committed to a select committee that we are assuming, perhaps, is the Māori Affairs Committee, but it’s not entirely—

💬 Arena Williams: Yes.

It is?

💬 Arena Williams: Yes.

Acting Madam Chair, it was very good to see you in full flight this morning, chairing the Māori Affairs Committee. You looked very comfortable in that position. I suspect you should stay there, but that’s just a personal view. But, anyway, I have had that confirmed, it is going to the Māori Affairs Committee, so, Harete Hipango, that’s good news from our perspective.

So this review was carried out. It, obviously, followed, then, eight years of extensive iwi engagement to land this proposal, which, of course, needs to see the original Act amended to give effect to it. As discussed already tonight, essentially, the bill amends the mandated iwi organisations and their asset holding companies to take more direct control of Te Ohu Kai Moana and Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd, and that changes the governance arrangements accordingly, and changes the status of shares within that structure and some surpluses will then have to be settled accordingly. So there is a debate as to how best to do that, and this legislation has suggested it is a one vote per iwi basis. So we will see in the select committee process whether that indeed does have widespread support. It’ll be interesting to see how that debate in particular unfolds, but it makes sense.

The fisheries in New Zealand, I think, are a remarkable export story. In particular, Māori interests in our commercial fisheries have become so strong and impressive in their commercial performance over the last 15 years or so and I think it is an understated story of New Zealand agriculture. We should focus and celebrate the collective contribution they make, not only in New Zealand export receipts but also in terms of the communities in which they operate.

So this is, as discussed already tonight, not particularly complex, although it has had a long gestation. We look forward to it being discussed and debated in the Māori Affairs Committee, and it has the support of the National Party to proceed through that process.

Tēnā koutou katoa. I rise to take a short call as the final speaker for the Government. This is a very important kaupapa, the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill, because it has taken quite some time for iwi and Te Ohu Kai Moana to develop and recommend a suite of changes to the Act, voting on proposals, and including a significant restructure of the Government’s framework, and so the next steps of the implementation are even more important. The bill makes changes to the Maori Fisheries Act 2004 to give effect to recommendations which Te Ohu Kai Moana have already conducted in a review of settlement entities. The changes will give iwi the certainty, the clarity, and the pathway forward for rangatiratanga over their assets, with a strong intent to improve benefits to all Māori, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

The select committee process—just in my final comments—is very important, and I want to encourage Kiwis across the motu with a strong interest in fisheries to have their say on the bill to ensure that we get it right to protect the vast, diverse ocean ecosystems for generations to come. I commend the bill to the House.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

The question is, That the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill be considered by the Māori Affairs Committee.

Motion agreed to.

Bill referred to the Māori Affairs Committee.

Instruction to Māori Affairs Committee