Speech to the Federation of Maori Authorities Conference

Thank you for your
welcome.

It's great to be here
today and to be part of your conference.

Let me acknowledge in
particular your Chair Traci Houpapa and your Chief Executive Ron Mark. 

The Government values
the people gathered here, the organisations and people you represent, the roles
you play and the potential you have to shape the New Zealand of
tomorrow.

In particular we
believe that the Federation of Maori Authorities has a vital role to play in
accelerating the growth of the Maori economy.

I am supportive of
that mission.  Your success is New Zealand's success.

Like you, the
National-led Government is working hard to boost the growth of the New Zealand
economy.  Because a growing economy is ultimately what will provide New
Zealanders and their families the jobs, security and choices that they aspire to
and deserve. 

It's that desire to
build a brighter future which lies at the heart of the National Party's
relationship agreement with the Maori Party. 

We share a commitment
to improving the lives and prospects of all Maori, and indeed of all New
Zealanders, and our confidence and supply agreement has enabled us to work
across a number of fronts to achieve that.

We have forged a
strong relationship and one which I think has had a very positive impact on the
work of this Government and the lives of New Zealanders. 

In saying that, I
recognise that while the Government can provide the environment and policy
settings for success, ultimately it is you, the entrepreneurs, the innovators,
the workers, who will generate wealth and growth in this
economy.

We look to you for
the ideas and energy that will fuel development for New Zealand and its people. 

So the question for
this conference is:  how can you, working with Government and your wider
community, support Maori to grow their asset base and the benefits that flow
from that?

How can we unlock and
boost the potential value in Maori-held assets?

I view the Federation
of Maori Authorities (FOMA) as an excellent network for bringing together the
voices, people and ideas who together can answer those questions. 

We know there is a
great foundation to build on.  Great things have already been
achieved.

In the five years
from 2001 to 2006 the value of Maori owned and managed assets almost doubled to
a value of at least $16 billion.  As discussed at this conference the latest
data points to additional significant growth in the past four years. 

That growth reflects
a lot of hard work and a huge contribution by Maori.

It reflects the
flourishing of Maori businesses and the development of new ideas and ways of
doing things.

In part, it also
reflects the successful transfer of assets via the treaty settlement process to
iwi.

I want to talk a
little about that process today.  I want to reflect on where we have come to so
far, and what that means for Maori economic development.

This Government
places a great deal of importance on the treaty negotiation process, and on
completing fair and final settlement.  Not because we believe it is the most
important issue for Maori, but because like you, our goal, is to move beyond
grievance, towards the brighter more prosperous future we all
seek.

The settlement
process is the means by which we can acknowledge historic injustice, acknowledge
unfairness, and make amends for past mistakes. 

It also allows for
significant asset transfers to iwi, thus springboarding development
opportunities. 

It's that positive,
forward-looking part of the settlement process that excites me. 

This National-led
Government, together I'm sure with many of you, has been  impatient to stop
looking in the rear-view mirror at grievances past and to instead shift our
energies and focus towards building stronger foundations for the future. 

That has been
spurring us on to accelerate the settlement process.

Last year we held two
national hui with iwi to discuss ways in which Treaty settlements could be
achieved more efficiently and expeditiously.  They were very successful and the
discussions at the third hui a few weeks ago made it clear that iwi are just as
committed and motivated to settling claims as the Crown.

Iwi leaders see the
experience of others who settled in the late 1990s and how much they have
achieved in the intervening period.  They don't want to spend more time and
money on litigation and negotiation; they all want to cut to the chase, achieve
good settlements and move on.

The Government has
been working hard to achieve that.

Minister
for Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson has been doing a great job in this area
and the joint iwi-Crown achievements since last year have been very
significant.

In terms of numbers they include recognition of 14 mandates,
16 Terms of Negotiation, 12 Agreements in Principle, 10 Deeds of Settlement, and
the introduction of four settlement Bills to Parliament and the passage of three
settlement Acts.

Only a week ago, ministers and negotiators initialled a
deed of settlement with Ngati Porou - the second-largest iwi in the country.
Around one in ten Maori are of Ngati Porou descent.

These milestones
represent major momentum in settling the historical claims for many
groups.

As well as helping restore the honour of the Crown, these
settlements will help build a further economic base for iwi in the regions. The
deeds of settlement signed with Northern South Island iwi Ngati Apa and Ngati
Kuia in the last fortnight will bring over $50 million into those regions, as
part of a total regional settlement that will ultimately be worth around $300
million.

I understand that Ngai Tahu also sees this as an opportunity to
work alongside the top of the south groups to take a ‘whole of South Island'
approach to Maori development.  All groups in the South Island should be
commended for this, which aligns with similar models that have developed in the
Central North Island around forestry, geothermal, and utilisation of marginal
land through carbon farming.

I see
that as more iwi settle and focus on development, the strength of a grouping
like this coming together for commercial purposes will mean the Maori economy
grows exponentially. 

This
year has seen the largest volume of milestones achieved by the Office of Treaty
Settlements and claimants in a single year and it is almost twice the output of
the next largest year.

Because
we have accelerated the pace of settlements, there is an increasing focus on how
groups can set strategies for post-settlement success, and that is something
that Government Ministers have kept an open dialogue with iwi leaders
on.

Because, in many
ways, I believe we are at a pivotal point in terms of Maori economic
development.

We are moving on from
a time when iwi leadership and resources have been heavily focussed on resolving
historic injustices, and we are fast moving to an era in which that energy will
be increasingly devoted to development and business opportunities for the
future.

Specific achievements that need
mentioning include establishing an innovative process for the settlement of the
historical claims of the 20 groups with standing in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The
first major milestones to be achieved within that process have already been
marked, including an agreed structure for the ownership and management of the
volcanic cones of the region.

This year we also introduced the
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill, which will repeal the Foreshore
and Seabed Act and restore the right of iwi and hapu to seek customary title
through the Courts.

This is important
because it showed this Government's commitment to recognising property rights.

When the previous
government passed the Foreshore and Seabed Act, although 40,000 mainly Maori New
Zealanders marched on Parliament in protest, it's easy to forget there was
considerable disquiet from business groups that the Government would pre-empt a
Court process and extinguish potential property rights the way it did.

Business groups also
contributed prominently to the Ministerial Review of the Act last year,
reiterating their objections.

The Marine and
Coastal Area Bill restores the right to seek customary title in parts of the
marine and coastal area, where a group has had exclusive use and occupation of
the area since 1840.

That brings with it a
certain bundle of property rights for the customary title holder, including
development and mineral rights similar to a fee simple title holder.

The Bill also gives
customary title holders the right to commercialise those development rights,
such as giving permission for activities that also require resource consents in
the customary title area, and providing rights of input on marine-mammal
watching permits.

In keeping with the
historical nature of customary title, the rights do not include the right to
exclude or charge the public for entry, or to sell the title. But the Bill
restores the rights taken away in 2004.

This reflects that a
government which respects property rights over politicking is not just good for
business in general, but also Maori business.

My sense as I travel
around the country, visiting communities, marae, schools and homes is that most
New Zealanders, Maori included, want to move the conversation on. 

To move on from a
conversation about past injustice, to one about how to address Maori
underachievement, about how to deliver world-class education standards, to
ensure Maori have the skills and resources they need to succeed and how to
ensure that Maori children and families have good jobs and high aspirations.   

The desire to see
Maori improve their lot in life, to be better equipped to succeed and to no
longer be overrepresented in negative statistics associated with education,
health and crime lay at the heart of why both the National and Maori Parties
chose to work together even though neither party was compelled to do
so.

We've been making
some good progress together. 

On the social side, I
think the Whanau Ora initiative has been really exciting.  

It's one of a number
of Government initiatives to help families become more self-managing and to take
responsibility for their own development and well being. It recognises the
importance of the family and the things that make families
special.

Fundamentally Whanau
Ora is based on the idea that, with a little help, people are capable of sorting
out their own lives - and putting in place the fundamental elements for
long-term well being - so surely it's within our grasp as a Government to
recognise that and to organise our own services around whanau and
family.

I understand Minister
Turia is going to speak more about Whanau Ora at this
conference.

The obvious
counterpoint to all of this is the need for Maori to live and work in an
economic environment capable of providing them the jobs and opportunities they
need. 

As I said earlier,
the Government has a role to play here, but ultimately it is you as the business
people, the enterprises, the groups of entrepreneurs, the innovators and the
kaitiaki of Maori assets, that will spur that growth on.

I'm excited about the
role FOMA can play.  I am aware your organisation has recently been through some
changes and that you are looking to redouble your efforts. 

As you look to the
future, I hope you do so with three big opportunities in mind that I'd just like
to touch on briefly.

The first is the
importance of science, innovation and research and development. 

The information I've
seen estimates that of the billions of dollars of assets held by Maori, at least
half are estimated to be in the primary sector.  I see great opportunity for
these primary sector businesses to step-up and grow, particularly through
science, innovation and research and development. 

It's this science and
new thinking that will boost the value of the products you produce, that will
increase the profitability of production process and that, ultimately, will
create extra value out of the resources you already have.

The Government sees
science as a key tool for tapping into New Zealand's potential.  That's why we
appointed Sir Peter Gluckman as my Chief Science Advisor, it's why we've
increased funding for fundamental science, supported reforms to the Crown
Research Institutes to make them work better with industry and why we've
introduced new grants to support business innovation.

As owners and
managers of some of New Zealand's most significant natural resources, iwi and
Maori organisations are key end-users of this research, so you really stand to
benefit from this push from Government. 

I understand The
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology is working directly with a
number of Maori organisations to help identify these opportunities.  In
addition, the research commissioned by Minister Sharples' Maori Economic
Taskforce is designed in part to better inform the opportunities for growing the
Maori asset base through science and innovation.

I understand many of
you will have been contacted as part of this research, and I do hope you are
able to make good use of it.

I hope also that this
conference, and the support provided by FOMA is a catalyst for Maori asset
holders to think about how science and research could boost their efforts and
how you can strengthen your relationships with the science sector.   

The second big
opportunity I see is the Rugby World Cup 2011. 

It's important for
Maori to make the most of New Zealand's time in the spotlight, focusing on
maximising the social and economic return of the
tournament.

It's a great
opportunity for Maori business to showcase their products, and innovative
business ideas as well as creating connections with international markets. 

Which brings me to
the third opportunity, which lies in making the most of New Zealand's
considerable international trade relationships to maximise
exports.

I think there is
great potential for Maori businesses to band together to make the most of these
opportunities.  Networks like FOMA are very important in this regard. 

As a recent example,
Minister Sharples has recently returned from leading a Maori business delegation
to Shanghai in order to provide a platform for Maori to increase market exposure
for Maori sectors and businesses as well as to cultivate
relationships.

I understand the
delegation was a huge success and that business links were established with
distributors and other contacts and relationships forged.  

It's important to
maintain the momentum generated by visits like these, and I understand delegates
are considering initiatives in a number of areas including fisheries,
agriculture, tourism, technology and investment. 

In closing today, let
me repeat that I think the future for Maori business is brighter than ever. 

You and the people
you represent are faced with bigger growth opportunities than ever before. 

Managed well, those
opportunities can be turned into jobs, increasing incomes and better livelihoods
for Maori throughout the country.  Indeed for all New
Zealanders.

Organisations like
FOMA are important vehicles for bringing your leaders and thinkers together, and
conferences like this are a great way of sparking the ideas and aspirations that
will lead the way.

I wish you all the
best for the year ahead and I look forward to talking with you this
afternoon.

Thank
you.