Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill

Part 3 deals with “Cultural redress properties and other properties”, and that is of course a very important part of a settlement. As all members of the House will understand, as we have been on this Treaty settlement process for a number of years now, iwi like many others have close associations with various landscapes in the area, and Te Arawa no less. I see some very important sites in the bill, and I guess those have all been worked out—obviously they have to be. The Minister might like to take a call and let the listeners know how they were worked out.

For instance, Te Koutu Pa is very ancient in Te Arawa history. Clause 90 states: “(1) The reservation of Te Koutu Pa under the Reserves Act 1977 is revoked. (2) The fee simple estate in Te Koutu Pa vests in the trustees.”, who become the trustees of the settlement itself. Others are listed as I look down clause 88: “(h) site adjacent to Orakei Korako:”, “(j) Te Wairoa:”. They are all important sites and it is clearly important to have them returned as part of this settlement. Clause 96 states: “The site on Horohoro Bluff ceases to be a conservation area under the Conservation Act 1987.”, and “(2) The fee simple estate in the site on Horohoro Bluff”—once the law goes through—“vests in the trustees.”, as well.

As I say, it is a very important part of the settlement, and it is very important that Te Arawa is recognised for its ancient history and for its history in the areas that are deemed to be theirs, and that in the modern day there are sites that can be returned to them—properly returned. My colleague, in referring to Part 2 of the bill, also previewed some of the deeds of recognition that give voice to Te Arawa’s association with their land, their landscapes, and their important places. It is quite in order that this settlement follows the way of other settlements and recognises their history, their traditions, and their associations.

The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 250 in the name of the Hon Dr Michael Cullen to Part 3 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

Part 3 as amended agreed to.

Part 4 Commercial redress