32988 (2025). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister for Infrastructure

32988 (2025). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister for Infrastructure: Will the Minister guarantee that mana whenua with Customary Marine Title applications in the South Taranaki area are fully consulted and given the opportunity to exercise their rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Marine and Coastal (Takutai Moana) Act?

Hon Chris Bishop: As part of their consideration of applications, expert panels are required to seek comments from, among others: (a) any relevant Treaty settlement entities, including, to avoid doubt,— (i) an entity that has an interest under a Treaty settlement within the area to which the substantive application relates; and (ii) an entity operating in a collective arrangement, provided for under a Treaty settlement, that relates to that area; and (b) any protected customary rights groups and customary marine title groups whose protected customary rights area or customary marine title is within the area to which the substantive application relates; and (c) any applicant group under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 that is identified in the report prepared under section 18 or 49 and seeks recognition of customary marine title or protected customary rights within the area to which the substantive application relates.