Pānui - Māori policy commentary

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Tags: Aquaculture

Parliamentary matters and Māori news stories for the week ending 9 November 2012

  • On Wednesday the Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill was read a third time. This bill was introduced by Minister Pita Sharples and is supported by Tauranga Moana iwi (refer to E20/2012 for details).
  • On Wednesday the first reading of the Oaths and Declarations (Upholding the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill was not agreed to.  This private member’s bill (lodged by Te Ururoa Flavell) failed by 69 votes to 52.  This bill was designed to allow those giving legal oaths the right to make an optional plead to uphold the Treaty of Waitangi.  The National, ACT, United Future and New Zealand First parties voted against this; with the Māori, Mana, Labour and Green parties voting for it.  The matter arose after Hone Harawira unsuccessfully sought to plead an oath to the Treaty of Waitangi after being re-elected to parliament.  The matter is now closed. 
  • On Thursday the third reading for the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was completed.  The bill will pass into law once royal assent is given.  (Refer pānui E11/2012 for details on this matter.)
  • On Thursday a private members’ bill (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill was introduced in parliament.  This bill (lodged by Hone Harawira) provides for the introduction of state-funded breakfast and lunch programmes in all decile 1 and 2 schools and other designated schools.
  • Guy Royal has been appointed a director of KiwiRail.
  • Today the Tai Tokerau aquaculture development group launched the Northland Aquaculture Strategy.  The group, which includes the Te Tai Tokerau Iwi Consortium, are predicting marine farming will employ up to 700 people in the Northland region by 2030.
  • On Thursday a Nelson District Court judge fined fishing company Sealords circa $63,000 and ordered the company to pay reparations of $12,500 for failing to ensure the safety of an employee, under Section Six of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.  Sealords is half-owned by Aotearoa Fisheries.
  • The Māori Women’s Development Incorporation has commenced a series of financial literacy hui across New Zealand. 
  • Last Saturday the Federation of Māori Authorities, Industrial Research Institute and University of Otago launched Hikohiko Te Uira, Māori Enterprise Internship programme.  The programme will provide 10-week placements for Māori university students.
  • The Waitangi Tribunal has declined an application from Te Taou (an iwi located in the Kaipara Harbour region) for an urgent hearing to challenge the Crown’s approach to settlement negotiations with Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara.
  • Te Arawa Group Holdings has purchased the Wai-o-tapu Geothermal Wonderland in Rotorua.
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Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No3) amendments proposed

On Monday two  Supplementary Order Papers (SOP) 264 and 265, proposing  substantial  amendments to the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill  (No3) were  released. 

Supplementary Order Paper 264 proposes amendments which allows iwi and the Crown  more flexibility in negotiating settlements under the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004. The amendments provide a better platform for Māori as it  allows iwi to negotiate regional settlements of commercial aquaculture; this  involves 20% of any new aquaculture space.   Other changes include amending the Waikato Regional Coastal Plan to establish a new 300 ha marine farming zone in the Hauraki Gulf

 Supplementary Order Paper 265  proposes  amendments focussed on streamlining planning and consent processes.

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