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New Organisms And Other Matters Bill (Treaty of Waitangi) (Consistent) (Section 19(1)) [2003] NZBORARp 18 (9 April 2003)
Last Updated: 4 November 2020
New Organisms And Other Matters Bill
9 April 2003
Attorney-General
Legal Advice
New Organisms And Other Matters
Bill:
Consistency With The New Zealand Bill Of Rights Act
1990
(Treaty Provisions)
INTRODUCTION
- On
26 March 2003 we provided you with preliminary advice on the consistency of the
New Organisms and Other Matters Bill (PCO 5072/4)
with the New Zealand Bill of
Rights Act 1990 (the "Bill of Rights Act"). At this time we concluded that the
Bill, as drafted at that
time, did not appear to be inconsistent with the Bill
of Rights Act. We have now had an opportunity to consider the version of the
Bill (PCO 5072/10) that is to be considered by the Cabinet Legislation Committee
at its meeting on Thursday 10 April 2003.
- The
key changes to the Bill from the earlier version we provided advice on is the
inclusion of a number of provisions aimed at meeting
the Government's stated
intention to "better reflect the Treaty relationship between Māori and the
Crown in HSNO".
- We
have considered whether these provisions raise issues of consistency with the
right to be free from discrimination under section
19(1) of the Bill of Rights
Act. We have concluded that they do not appear to be inconsistent with the Bill
of Rights Act.
Possible issues of consistency with section 19 of
the Bill of Rights Act
- Clause
2.4A of the Bill amends section 16 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
Act 1996 ("HSNO") by clarifying that when
the Minister for the Environment
appoints members to the Environmental Risk Management Authority ("ERMA"), he or
she needs to consider
whether the person has knowledge and experience of a range
of matters coming before ERMA including the Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga
Māori.
- While,
in practice, it seems highly likely that the majority of people possessing the
required levels of knowledge and expertise would
be Māori, it is also
possible that persons of other races may possess the requisite knowledge and
could make valuable contributions
as members.
- We
note also that the identification of these particular areas of knowledge as
relevant does not in any way prevent knowledge and
experience of other relevant
matters being taken into account in making appointments. From this perspective,
the clause does no more
than to specifically identify knowledge and experience
of the Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga Māori as relevant matters to be
considered in making appointments. Accordingly, we have concluded that no issue
of discrimination on the grounds of race arises in
relation to this clause.
- Clause
2.5A of the Bill inserts Part 4A into HSNO. Part 4A establishes a committee
within ERMA known as Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao.
This committee has been
designed to provide ERMA with advice and support on policy and process issues on
an "as needs" basis, as
determined by ERMA. Nga Kaihautu Tikanga Taiao is to
provide this advice from a Māori perspective and the advice is to be
consistent
within the terms of reference established by ERMA.
- While
clause 2.5A establishes a mechanism by which ERMA can obtain advice on issues
and the perspective of a particular racial group,
we note that there is nothing
to prevent the Authority obtaining advice on the perspectives of other racial or
cultural groups as
required. Therefore, we do not consider clause 2.5A to give
rise to an issue of consistency with section 19 of the Bill of Rights
Act.
CONCLUSION
- We
are of the view that the version of the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill
that is to be considered by Cabinet Legislation Committee
does not appear to be
inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act.
- In
accordance with your instructions, we attach a copy of this opinion for referral
to the Minister of Justice. A copy of this opinion
is also attached for referral
to the Minister for the Environment if you
agree.
Allison Bennett Principal Legal Adviser
|
Boris van Beusekom Legal Adviser
|
cc Minister of Justice
Minister for the Environment
In addition to the general disclaimer for all documents on this website,
please note the following: This advice was prepared to assist
the
Attorney-General to determine whether a report should be made to Parliament
under s 7 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
in relation to the New
Organisms and Other Matters Bill. It should not be used or acted upon for any
other purpose. The advice does
no more than assess whether the Bill complies
with the minimum guarantees contained in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The
release
of this advice should not be taken to indicate that the Attorney-General
agrees with all aspects of it, nor does its release constitute
a general waiver
of legal professional privilege in respect of this or any other matter. Whilst
care has been taken to ensure that
this document is an accurate reproduction of
the advice provided to the Attorney-General, neither the Ministry of Justice nor
the
Crown Law Office accepts any liability for any errors or omissions.
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