MANA in Parliament, 20-22 August 2013

Posted on August 28, 2013 by admin in Mana in Parliament

GCSB Bill

  • This Bill was passed into law this week, with the committee stage finishing up on Tuesday and the third reading being completed on Wednesday.
  • Hone made a number of media statements against the Bill and also spoke at the GCSB public meeting at the Auckland Town Hall on Monday night. See the MANA website, www.mana.org.nz for his weekly Ae Marika column which outlined the kōrero he gave there. The gist of it was that we shouldn’t only be outraged and opposed to a law that allows the government to spy on NZ citizens who challenge the status quo, but that we should also be opposed to those laws that continue to ramp up the spying and surveillance of those on benefits. In a similar vein, Hone issued a media statement on Wednesday announcing that MANA would push to repeal the GCSB Bill when there’s a change in government and get us out of the US’ pocket given their goals are in direct opposition with our own – and instead invest such time and money into our own issues like feeding our kids, creating jobs, and building homes for whānau here at home.
  • On Thursday, Hone asked questions of the government about the GCSB spying on New Zealand citizens including on those Iwi who, with the NZ Māori Council, are challenging the government’s right to sell water-based power companies given they haven’t yet properly recognised or settled Māori proprietary interests in fresh water. The government said while they won’t be telling the public who the 88 people are the GCSB illegally spied, they can give assurances that protestors and rights campaigners won’t be spied on under the agencies now expanded powers. See the MANA website for Hone’s subsequent release saying that he is definitely not reassured by this. Refusing to release the names proves that the GCSB won’t be more transparent as the government has promised – they’ll continue to keep secret the groups of people already on the GCSB’s radar and who’s likely to be next.

Other government bills up this week

  • Inquiries Bill: This Bill also went through its final stages on Tuesday and Wednesday and was passed into law on Thursday. The Bill reforms and modernises the law relating to inquiries, including Royal commissions and commissions of inquiry, and was unanimously supported by all parties in Parliament. The new law on inquiries provides for two new types of inquiry – public inquiries for matters of significant public importance, established by the Governor-General, and government inquiries for more immediate issues requiring a quick solution. The government has indicated that the first government inquiry will be into the recent whey protein contamination incident. Let’s get lobbying the Governor-General!
  • Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill: This Bill passed its second reading on Thursday and was once again opposed by MANA. While the stated purpose of the Bill is to provide more affordable housing, the Bill won’t actually lead to the building or availability of any affordable homes for low income whānau – simply because there’s nothing in the Bill that specifies it must happen. Instead, the Bill frees up more land and reduces consent processes so that developers can build more high-end housing for those with money. MANA’s policy is that a sizeable investment needs to be made in the building of state housing, including 20,000 homes in Auckland, which are rent controlled and that new development areas need to include at least a minimum of 50% affordable homes. First home buyers would be enabled to purchase such homes via a home ownership scheme with low interest rates which would be funded by a tough capital gains tax on property investors.

Te kai a te rangatira, he kōrero – Te Tau Ihu Claims Settlement Bill
Hone is a member of the Māori Affairs select committee and on Wednesday this week committee members continued to hear from a number of submitters on the Te Tau Ihu Claims Settlement Bill, including from Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Toa including the Wi Parata whānau and the return of Whitireia, and from Te Ati Awa who are challenging Ngāti Toa’s claim to Tapu Te Ranga. Submissions on the Bill will continue to be heard in the coming weeks.

Consultation on the Māori Community Development Act
The government is looking to review this Act which legislates for a number of important rōpū, including the NZ Māori Council and Māori wardens. Te Puni Kōkiri is running a series of consultation hui throughout September, so if you can make it, go along and have your say. Written submissions are due 5pm 30 September. For more information, go to www.tpk.govt.nz/en/consultation/mcda/