Chris Finlayson MP

NEWSLETTER, Issue 4, May 2013

Welcome

to

my

fourth

newsletter of the year.

April and May were important

Together with the Attorneys-General of Australia, Canada, USA, and Great Britain

months

with

all

Treaty

Quintet Meeting of Attorneys-General in New Zealand

On 8 May I hosted the annual meeting of my counterparts from Australia, Canada, the United States and England, Wales and Northern Ireland in Auckland. The purpose of the meetings is to share relevant experience and knowledge, and improve cooperation on complex and crossborder legal issues. Each Quintet meeting has a major topic for discussion by the AttorneysGeneral. This year the topic was developments and best practice with respect to prosecuting crimes of sexual violence against women and children. This is an area of great concern because of the seriousness of crimes of sexual violence against women and children and the particular challenges to successful prosecution. The Quintet resolved to work together more closely to fight sexual violence against women and children. We also affirmed the declaration made by G8 Foreign Ministers that rape and other forms
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settlements now signed in the South Island, and the annual Quintet Auckland. Meeting of the in Attorneys-General

of serious sexual violence in international armed conflict are war crimes and also constitute grave breaches as defined in the Geneva Conventions and their first Protocol. The meeting was a valuable opportunity to compare notes from jurisdictions similar to our own, and look at ways to work together to solve the increasingly difficult challenges posed by globalisation to law enforcement and the courts.
The attendees were: Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP: Attorney-General, England and Wales Hon Rob Nicholson PC QC MP: Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral, Canada Hon Eric H. Holder, Jr.: Attorney-General, United States of America Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP: Attorney-General, Australia Hon Christopher Finlayson QC MP: Attorney-General, New Zealand

Hon Christopher Finlayson MP National Party List MP

- Attorney-General - Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations - Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage - Associate Minister for Mori Affairs

May 2013 Issue 4 Chris Finlayson MP (04) 817 6808

South Island Historic Treaty Settlements Now Completed

The 20 April signing between the Crown Ngti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu at Onetahua Marae in Golden Bay marked the final deed of settlement for historical claims in the South Island. This is the 62nd deed of settlement signed by the Crown since 1990, and the 36th since November 2008. This government is committed to resolving all historical Treaty grievances, and so it was a monumental occasion when we signed the last outstanding deed of settlement for historical claims in the South Island. We have increased the rate at which settlements are being reached so that full and final resolution on these issues is accomplished sooner for the benefit of Mori and all New Zealanders. This government is committed to just and durable settlements of these grievances in a timely fashion. Treaty settlements provide an economic boost for regions. Local iwi are committed to their areas, and settlements help them create opportunities for development and long term growth. Around 60 groups are now actively engaged with the Crown in various stages of ratification, negotiation, or pre-negotiation towards that goal. Over the past four years the completion of all historical settlements has gone from being a vanishing point constantly on the horizon, to being recognized as an achievable goal that is now well advanced.

Bowen House Office: Private Bag 18041 Parliament Buildings Wellington 6160 New Zealand Phone: (04) 817 6808 Electorate Office: Level 7, Quinovic House 32-34 Kent Terrace Mount Victoria Wellington 6011 Phone: (04) 801 6130 E-Mail: christopher.finlayson@parlia ment.govt.nz Website: www.chrisfinlayson.co.nz Facebook: /CFFinlayson Twitter: @chrisfinlayson

Any feedback, queries or concerns you would like to talk to me about, please dont hesitate to contact me. Authorised by Christopher Finlayson MP, 32-34 Kent Terrace, Wellington Mt Victoria,

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May 2013 Issue 4 Chris Finlayson MP (04) 817 6808