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Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson has welcomed the Waitangi Tribunal’s report into claims by the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, which clears the way for the Crown and Ngāti Toa to conclude negotiations for settlement of that iwi’s historic claims.

The Waitangi Tribunal rejected the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust’s main claim against the Crown that it should not recognise Ngāti Toa’s interests in the wider Wellington area.

The House today unanimously passed four bills giving effect to historical Treaty of Waitangi settlements for the Maraeroa A and B blocks, Ngāti Mākino, Rongowhakaata and Ngai Tāmanuhiri.

Auckland lawyer Sarah Janine Katz has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Katz graduated from the University of Otago in 1987 and went on to complete an LLM at the University of London, graduating in 1992.

In 1987 Justice Katz commenced practice with Chapman Tripp in Wellington. After working overseas, Justice Katz returned to New Zealand working at Buddle Findlay, becoming Partner in 1997.

Justice Christine Ruth French has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

In 2008 Justice French was appointed a Judge of the High Court, based in Christchurch.

She graduated from the University of Otago in 1981 and went on to attend Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship, graduating BCL in 1983.

Justice Susan Glazebrook has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Glazebrook has been a Judge of the Court of Appeal since May 2002. Before being appointed to the High Court in June 2000, she was a partner in the law firm Simpson Grierson, specialising in taxation and finance law, as well as a member of a number of commercial boards and government advisory committees.

Justice Glazebrook’s appointment to the Supreme Court will commence on 6 August 2012.

Disestablishing the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is unthinkable, and is not a possible outcome of any review of the orchestral music sector, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said today.

“The NZSO is a world class institution,” he said. “It has a fundamental role to play in the future of the orchestral sector. Any suggestion that the NZSO is in any way under threat is utterly without foundation and is laughable.”

The House sat today in extended sitting hours today to progress four Treaty settlement bills through their second readings, demonstrating the benefits of the Crown and iwi negotiating settlement of past grievances in good faith as Treaty partners.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the appointment of Judge Heemi Taumaunu as a Judge of the Court Martial. Judge Taumaunu was sworn in at Auckland on 21 June 2012.

Judge Taumaunu is of Ngāti Porou and Ngai Tahu descent. He was appointed to the District Court bench in 2004. He holds warrants for the general, jury and youth jurisdictions and also sits in Rangatahi Courts regularly.

Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today congratulated the Wellington East Girls‘ College choir, Cantala, for their first-equal placing in the treble choir category of the prestigious Summa Cum Laude international youth music festival in Vienna.

“This is an outstanding achievement for the 31 young women involved and choir director Brent Stewart,” Mr Finlayson said. “They have done their school and New Zealand proud.”

Cantala was judged best of 23 choirs in the category.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson is pleased to announce the appointees to the Government’s First World War Centenary panel.

The panel has been set up as an advisory group to help steer what will be an extensive programme to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

A new initiative by Creative New Zealand to boost the ability of cultural organisations to attract private investment was welcomed today by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson.

“I am pleased to see Creative New Zealand invest $1.05 million up to mid-2015 in its Creative Giving programme,” Mr Finlayson said. “It will provide tailored, one-to-one advice to cultural organisations that will help them attract more private investment over and above government funding.”

The government has received the first part of the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure Caused by Canterbury Earthquakes, dealing with matters that will inform the rebuild of Christchurch, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Ministers will now consider the report and its recommendations. An announcement about the government’s response and about the public release of the report will be made in due course.

Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today congratulated the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on receiving the prestigious International Award for Architectural Excellence from The Royal Institute of British Architects for its recently completed redevelopment.

It is the first time a New Zealand building has won.

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Ranginui at Te Ranga near Tauranga today, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.

The Crown was represented at the signing by Mr Finlayson and Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples. The signing was witnessed by local Member of Parliament Simon Bridges.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson is attending the fourth annual Quintet meeting of Attorneys-General, being held in Ottawa, Canada, this week.

The annual meeting is also being attended by the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice of Australia, Hon Jason Clare; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Canada, Hon Rob Nicholson PC QC; the Attorney-General of England, Ireland and Wales, the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC, and the United States Attorney-General, Eric Holder Jr. It is taking place on the 15th of June.

The Crown today initialled a deed of settlement to collectively settle the historical claims of 13 iwi and hapū over shared interests in the Auckland area, including maunga (volcanic cones) and motu (islands), Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.

The deed initialling took place at at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and was attended by Mr Finlayson for the Crown, representatives of 12 of the iwi and hapū groups, which have been negotiating as the Tāmaki Collective, and also Mayor Len Brown.

An expert panel will review Te Ture Whenua Māori Act with a view to unlocking the economic potential of Māori land for its beneficiaries, while preserving its cultural significance for future generations, Associate Māori Affairs Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

There are over 27,137 blocks of Māori land under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act, comprising 1.42 million hectares, or around 5% of the total land in New Zealand.

The Crown has signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Raukawa at Aotearoa Marae near Te Awamutu today, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.

The Crown was represented by Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Minister for Whanau Ora, Hon Tariana Turia. The signing was witnessed by local Member of Parliament Louise Upston.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson and local MP Louise Upston have had a very constructive and useful meeting today with local landowners which would help inform negotiations on the role of Maungatautari reserve in historical Treaty settlements, Mr Finlayson said.

Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson expressed his disgust at protestors who chose to use the National War Memorial in Wellington for political campaigning this morning by hanging banner from the carillon in Wellington.

“The National War Memorial commemorates all those soldiers who died protecting our freedom,” Mr Finlayson said, “and to see it defiled for political reasons is offensive to the whole community no matter what an individual’s political beliefs.”

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson and Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss today welcomed the beginning of the 12th New Zealand Music Month, saying it was a great way to sample from a full range of local music offerings nationwide.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson this afternoon expressed his sadness at the death of Grant Tilly, a founding member of Wellington’s Circa Theatre.

“Grant had been unwell for some time and his passing is very sad,” said Mr Finlayson. “It is impossible in a press release to list all his achievements in the theatre. He was one of a small group of people who formed Circa Theatre in 1976 and built it into its pre-eminent position today.”

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson has named Greg Donson as The Clark Collection/Creative New Zealand Scholar for 2012. Mr Finlayson said he was delighted to announce the 2012 Scholar as the Scholarship is a partnership which enhances New Zealand's body of expertise in the decorative arts and built heritage.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council and local iwi are leading the way in the management of natural resources, said Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson after attending the opening ceremony of the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee.