Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill

I move, That the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. This bill enables settlement of all the remaining historical Treaty claims of the Waikato iwi Raukawa. Last year the bill was considered by the Māori Affairs Committee, and I really do appreciate the work the committee did in considering the bill and the issues that were raised in the submissions.

For those guests of ours from Ngāti Raukawa who may be here, I say that members of the Māori Affairs Committee were in the Tūhoe rohe yesterday hearing submissions on their bill and they have been unable to get back to Wellington because of the fog. I know that they would have wanted to be here for consideration of this bill.

We are very lucky to have Mr Henare as the chair of the Māori Affairs Committee and I really want to thank both Mr Henare and the members of the committee for their very, very efficient work. The committee considered 22 submissions from interested groups and individuals, and it heard 10 submissions. It held hearings both in Tokoroa and in Wellington.

I am very grateful to those who took the time and trouble to make submissions. Their participation is a very important component of parliamentary consideration of Treaty settlement legislation. In a number of cases suggestions made in submissions about how the bill could be improved have resulted in better legislation being reported to the House. I should also say it is very encouraging to hear from those who support the bill. In the case of this bill the committee has incorporated a number of changes to the legislation. These changes are mainly technical in nature and they help clarify aspects of the redress.

I do not intend to fill the Chamber with my eloquence for a full 10 minutes. We are dealing with three bills this morning, and it is important that we progress all of them. I will have a lot more to say about this settlement at the time of the third reading, so with those few words I commend this legislation to the House.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. E koa ana tēnei ki te tuku i ēnei whakaaro hei whakarāpopoto i ngā whakaaro kei waenganui i a mātou, te komiti whakahaere mō ngā āhuatanga, e pā ana ki tēnei whakatutukitanga o Raukawa. Nō reira, Ngāti Raukawa tēnā koutou.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I am pleased to express these views that will sum up the thoughts amongst us, the committee, responsible for addressing the circumstances that relate to this settlement of Raukawa. So acknowledgements to you collectively, the tribe of Raukawa.]

It gives me great pleasure to be able to offer a contribution in this second reading of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill. I will reserve the substance of my comments around this bill for the third reading and want to limit this contribution really to the considerations that the Māori Affairs Committee made in hearing the submissions in Tokoroa regarding each component of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill. Can I say this: I want to commend the chair of the Raukawa Trust Board, Vanessa Eparaima, and your team for presenting the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill in a way that gave a quiet assurance to members that a lot of work had gone in to building and networking the relationships that impacted on some components of your settlement. I say that with some caution because, in a sense, this settlement can be considered within the context of the Waikato River settlement, within the context of the Ngāti Korokī Kahukura settlement, which is currently being considered by our select committee, and also—hopefully, Minister—the Maniapoto settlement, which, with fingers crossed, might just get to us before election time.

What we have is a matrix of very interwoven interests and whakapapa connections that contribute to a profile, I guess, of why settlements such as this will continue to require a lot of work. Vanessa herself, when she came to the select committee, made a very strong point about how much work had gone in to the issue of overlapping claims because of where Raukawa is situated with interests around Te Arawa whānau, interests with their cousins in Pōhara and Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, and interests with their whanaunga in Maniapoto. This is how their conversation occurred before the select committee.

Firstly, in relation to Waikeria, obviously, both Raukawa and Maniapoto have interests in Waikeria. One of the issues that came to the committee’s attention was how both parties signalled that they were wanting to take up or purchase the Waikeria property. We heard views from both Raukawa and Waikeria. We understand that with agreement of each party, whether it is by first right of refusal or otherwise, each party will have cognisance of one another’s interests to either purchase or exercise the first right of refusal interest in Waikeria. The select committee, stripping away all the narrative around this, considered that the provisions in the bill are fine and that this will be a healthy way to deal with this particular property.

The issue of Ngāti Korokī Kahukura is a sensitive issue because the original Raukawa claim was lodged by Wally Papa who is Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and now has since passed. His family continue to carry the interests of their hapū, which is straddled by Waikato and Raukawa in a very—let us say—independent way. What the committee had decided in this instance is that although certain mana whenua and Ahi Kā interests exist for Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, the overall benefit of the Raukawa settlement cannot get away from whakapapa links that are intrinsically tied to Ngāti Korokī Kahukura people and marae, and the fact that there is an amount of interest that must be expressed in relation to Maungatautari and to areas of overlapping interests.

I think it would be wrong for us to try to sift through some of the internal relationship, whakapapa, and geographical interests in a legislative way. My great hope, actually, is that through good relationships and ongoing communication, these types of issues will be sorted. I will probably come back to this issue when the Ngāti Korokī Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill comes to the House, to try to clarify how we can do that. But Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, on the substance of this bill, wanted the Māori Affairs Committee to make it absolutely clear that they had specific rights and interests from Arapuni back to Maungatautari, and that that should not be impinged upon by the Raukawa settlement. I think the solution here is not a legislative one; it is a relationship one. I stand to be corrected on that, but if I back my gut instinct on it, then the bill should enable those relationships to be strengthened in time. Whew—that felt like a hard thing to say.

The next concern was the interests around Te Arawa. We had a very healthy conversation about whether Raukawa’s map of association should be included or not. The nature of the conversation was that Raukawa had expressed a geographical interest in an area, or an association with an area, but the question was whether that association necessarily, Minister Finlayson, leads to an interest. The conversation we had was that if there is an expressed interest with exclusive rights, then we must be very clear about it. If it is an association, then that relationship to a geographical area should not be leveraged over and above those Ahi Kā who live in a particular area.

I specifically refer to the submission of Eru George, who came to the select committee, and some of the concerns that he had on—I think, if I was correct—the west side of Mangakino. The committee was very clear in its mind that, having understood what Raukawa was trying to affirm, it was a whakapapa relationship and, therefore, a geographical connection to certain places within its settlement. We accepted that, but we did not accept that it should be anything more than that, if there are hapū, mana whenua, or ahi kā roa in areas who have a direct and relevant interest in an area. I need that to be very clearly understood in this second reading debate, because in the third reading debate, it is certainly my view, and it will have to be absolutely assured, that when people read the final Act and they read the debate in the House in reference to what was intended, the expression of interests should not be over and above those interests of mana whenua and ahi kā roa in a particular area.

We were very impressed with the way in which Raukawa had gone about seeking participation and affirmation of their mandate, and also their governance entity. There was no doubt about the fact that they had really thought about the future and how they could better prepare Raukawa going forward, and that they had looked at this from an intergenerational perspective, from a good governance perspective, and from a representative perspective. We could not fault the way in which they had approached that. Therefore, any criticism in that component of that debate was not really received by the select committee.

Those were, in essence, what I had identified as the key issues in this second reading that should be referred to. One last point: we did make an amendment to make it clear that should the Ngāti Maniapoto Māori Trust Board change and become some other entity, the reference in the bill needed to be clarified to ensure that any transfer of asset could go to the successor of the trust board. I wanted to make this point: given that the board is in its current process of claims hearings and it wants to be proactive in speeding up its negotiations, it may well be that any transfer of Waikeria in the future may go to another entity, not the Ngāti Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, and that is as it should be.

I enjoyed listening to the history, the passion, the expertise, and the wisdom of the people of Raukawa when they presented to the select committee. They have done a fine job. I trust that my comments relating to Ngāti Korokī Kahukura will be taken on board by all listening, and I trust that this bill will provide a way for better relationships to continue. Kia ora.

Tēnā koe e Te Mana Whakahaere. Ki ngā mema Pāremata huri noa i tō tātau Whare, tēnā koutou katoa. Kei Raukawa, ngā kanohi o Raukawa i konei i tēnei rā, me ērā o te wā kāinga o Raukawa, tēnā koutou katoa. Kei te mōhio tātau mō tēnei āhuatanga o te whakaaetanga i waenganui i ngā iwi me te Karauna, he uaua, he taumaha, he wero kei roto ēngari, ko te tikanga ka oti pai i runga i te mōhio, me whakatau ngā hara, me huri te kanohi o te iwi ki ngā tau kei mua i a koutou. Nō reira, he mihi tēnei māku ki a koutou katoa, mōku, mō tō mātau taha o tēnei Whare, otirā, i runga anō i te wairua o ngā whakaaetanga nei, i runga i te whakaae tahi a te Whare Pāremata, kia tau tēnei kaupapa i waenganui i a tātau. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

[Greetings to you, Mr Speaker. To all members of Parliament throughout our House, greetings to you all. To you of Raukawa, representatives of Raukawa present here today, as well as those at home, acknowledgments to you all. We are very much aware of the nature of a settlement process between tribes and the Crown. It is difficult and heavy going, and there are challenges in there. But normally wrongdoings are settled knowing full well that the tribe must face the future before you collectively. So this acknowledgment is to you all from me personally, and from our side of this House, and indeed in the spirit of these consensual agreements of Parliament for this matter to be settled amongst us. And so, acknowledgments, salutations, and greetings to you all.]

I am very privileged to have the opportunity to rise and make a small contribution to the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill. It is not usual that I have this opportunity, because, as the Minister of Education, I believe that I am out there investing in the post-settlement opportunities, which is to ensure that as many of our young people as possible are participating in quality early childhood education and are achieving through their primary school years, so that they can go on to be successful in securing a senior secondary qualification to be the investors in, the carriers of, and the faces of the future of iwi such as Raukawa, of iwi such as Ngāti Porou, of iwi such as Ngāi Tahu, and, of course, for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand. However, I do have that opportunity this morning, and, firstly, I acknowledge—as I have done—Raukawa.

Treaty settlements are both challenging and rewarding, and we know that, as the previous speaker, my parliamentary colleague the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, has indicated, they are as much about relationships past, present, and future as they are about a legal agreement between the Crown and the iwi themselves. In that regard, can I acknowledge the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, my friend and colleague the Hon Christopher Finlayson. He has tackled this portfolio with an absolutely unshakeable conviction of the importance of achieving these settlements, and achieving them quickly but without compromising the sustainability of these settlements. His track record of work cannot be surpassed by anyone, and that is a reflection not only of him but of his commitment to ensuring that we have a better, stronger Aotearoa New Zealand. So the work that has been done on the Raukawa settlement, those that have preceded it, those that are in progress, and those that are yet to come is a great tribute to that conviction that he carries every day in the work that he does.

Similarly, I would like to pay tribute to Tau Henare, as chair of the Māori Affairs Committee, for the gusto, zest, and vigour with which he tackles these challenges within the select committee. He is relentless in his passion in getting this work done.

Can I extend that to all members of the Māori Affairs Committee, all of whom, on all sides of the House, understand that they are carrying a responsibility on behalf of the Crown of New Zealand, which sees no divisibility in terms of our particular political partisanship. This is how Treaty settlement work should be carried out, because we are honouring the partnership that the Treaty of Waitangi, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi, reflects.

That means that we do need to put aside our partisanship and focus on how we get the best and most durable and sustainable settlements possible in the interests of not only enhancing and strengthening those relationships, and healing those that were broken in the past because of injustices in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi, but also in terms of looking forward to a future that creates a stronger Aotearoa New Zealand. So I thank the members of the Māori Affairs Committee for that work. Some of them are unable to be here today because of Hine-Pūkohurangi, who has made it impossible for our manurere to fly today.

As I have indicated—indeed, as both the Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Hon Nanaia Mahuta have indicated—there are particularities that relate to the Raukawa settlement that must be dealt with within this settlement bill. We know that there are relationships, given the geographic location of Raukawa, that inevitably impinge on both expectations and relationships. These are sensitivities that must be worked with and worked through in order to ensure not only that we get a durable settlement for Raukawa in terms of this settlement bill but that we get durable and enduring relationships, whakapapa relationships, that are on the boundaries of Raukawa, and, therefore, reach into the wider Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Maniapoto, and others that Raukawa bounds and is bounded by.

This is not an unusual feature, obviously, of the Treaty settlement map, because all of us are not only physically co-located with each other but are whakapapa connected with each other. I was thinking of that, in fact, when the Hon Nanaia Mahuta was speaking, because, of course, Nanaia is a tipuna who has particular whakapapa connections between Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou. Also, of course, we have very mobile iwi, and over the future years we will see even greater connections between ourselves.

Our Government is particularly invested in how we get these settlements so that we can get on into economic prosperity for all. Māori and iwi have demonstrated their capacity and capability for entrepreneurial activity, for enterprise, for business creation, and for innovation. The lack of an economic base has hindered that development in a number of iwi. Raukawa has already demonstrated its extreme capability to look towards the future.

I can remember many years ago sitting in the Ngāta Memorial College assembly hall as Professor Whatarangi Winiata came to talk about his vision for Whakatupurango Ruamano, and, of course, we are well into Ruamano now. But even then—and I think this was in the late 1980s or early 1990s—he was talking about the importance of Te Reo as the platform or vehicle for language, culture, and identity that provides the context for economic drive, for social prosperity, for political participation, and for growth in all of those dimensions.

That kind of vision is something that he carried, as a revered leader of Raukawa, for the iwi map of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Wānanga o Raukawa is another example of Raukawa’s vision for education and for their young people, and not just for their young people but for the health and vitality and vibrancy and dynamism and strength of Raukawa in a fully rounded way. They have demonstrated that by ensuring that Raukawa has secondary tertiary qualifications that create the human capital base for realising the potential that this Treaty settlement will now give exponential heft and momentum and lift to.

So I am delighted to be able to have the opportunity to be in the House this morning to speak to the speedy resolution of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill, such that we can have a meeting of that investment in human capital, and, of course, we would say: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. In more clinical terms, we would talk about human capital. Regardless of the way we describe it, Raukawa has already invested in their future, continues to do so, and now has the opportunity of strapping economic, commercial, and cultural redress to that, to give lift to their aspirations for their own people and, in so doing, contribute to the strength of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is on all of those bases that I stand to support this bill in the House today. Nō reira, kia ora tātou katoa.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. Tēnā koutou Ngāti Raukawa kua tae mai nei ki roto i te Whare Pāremata nei, tēnā koutou. Huri noa, rau rangatira mā tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Greetings to you collectively, the tribe of Raukawa, who have arrived here into this House of Parliament. Salutations to you collectively, esteemed leaders of a hundredfold throughout, and to us all.]

I am delighted to speak in the second reading of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill. I wholeheartedly endorse and tautoko the sentiments of previous speakers—both the Hon Nanaia Mahuta and the Hon Hekia Parata. My colleague the Hon Nanaia Mahuta covered a lot of the aspects that were dealt with at the Māori Affairs Committee. We had a very enjoyable trip to Tokoroa, where we heard the submissions. I was particularly impressed with the chief executive of Ngāti Raukawa, Vanessa Eparaima, and all of the people who were involved in that team, to bring the bill to its current place here in the House. My colleague has dealt with a lot of the aspects in terms of the Waikeria lands, the overlapping claims, and the other such specific matters that were the subject of the submissions before the committee.

What I would like to do is focus on the history of Ngāti Raukawa. I would like to make this the topic of my speech, and I would like it to be recorded in Hansard because every iwi that goes through a settlement has their own history, and I think it is right that it be recorded. The history does form part of the historical account that is contained in the bill also. The iwi of Ngāti Raukawa are central to the story of the New Zealand Wars. We know that the Waikato-Tainui settlement took care of the raupatu aspects, but these settlements, particularly for Ngāti Raukawa, encompass other aspects regarding their individual grievances and settlements. So Ngāti Raukawa were central to the New Zealand Wars, and through genealogical links and the current social status of the day, they were, in the 1860s, members of a land alliance opposed to the further sale of Māori land to the Crown and to land speculation.

With other hapū of the Waikato-Tainui confederation, Raukawa became followers of the Kīngitanga movement, which led the land league movement. They fought bravely and with honour against the forces of General Cameron in Waikato, in the Bay of Plenty, and in their own tribal rohe at Ōrākau. They fought at Tauranga twice, in 1864 and in 1867. Some survivors of the campaigns became so-called fugitives and went on the run, with some joining small guerrilla-type bands of fighters. Having been forced into conflict with the invasion of Rangiaowhia, Raukawa really had no choice but to try to defend their tribal lands. They became part of the raupatu. The land was confiscated because they were deemed to be rebels. Ngāti Raukawa came under further pressure when land that had once been locked up in the Kīngitanga land bank slowly started to be alienated. Once shady land dealers had got their mitts on land deeds, it became a free-for-all. It became apparent that not all members and beneficiaries of hapū land received any recompense.

Raupatu issues aside, the tribe has two serious issues. In 1866 Ngāti Raukawa missed out on giving evidence in the Taupō-nui-a-Tia block because they were deemed, as I mentioned, to be in rebellion against the Crown. The ancestors Raukawa and Tuwharetoa were related and had many shared interests around the western and northern Lake Taupō region. It still rankles with the people of Raukawa today that they have no interest in this block, when whakapapa clearly shows that they have.

But by far the most egregious action against Ngāti Raukawa was the taking of land in the Pouakani block and the gifting of that to a hapū that had no association with the area. It was over in the Wairarapa, within Kahungunu. That land became the incorporated township of Mangakino, on the shores of Lake Maraetai, on the Waikato River. Most of the township’s shareholders probably live in the Wairarapa—Featherston, Carterton; far away places, with no association to the Mangakino township itself. That is one of the country’s most poorly thought-out acts, and we as members of Parliament and members of the Māori Affairs Committee, through supporting the passage of this bill and other settlement bills, have an opportunity to right the wrongs—some of the wrongs—that have been inflicted on these iwi.

I do not want to prolong my contribution, but I do acknowledge Ngāti Raukawa and the long and arduous journey they have been on to get to this point. I am looking forward to passing the bill through the final stages of the House. We are a very busy committee, as the Hon Hekia Parata noted. We have, as a committee, a significant amount of legislation under consideration. Yesterday we were up in Tūhoe; the day before we were up in Tauranga. We have, as a committee, a lot of work on our plate, but I can assure everyone—members and all the good people out there in Aotearoa—that it is very rewarding work and we really enjoy doing it. We know that when we see the looks on the faces of the kaumātua and the kuia, particularly at the final third readings, it is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a member of this House.

So, in closing, I would like to acknowledge the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and his team and all the good work that they have been doing in loading us up with plenty of mahi to do. We are ready for more. I am sure there is more in the pipeline.

💬 Hon Christopher Finlayson: There’s a Hiku bill coming.

Te Hiku, up in the far north—we are looking forward to that. But today is about Ngāti Raukawa. I tautoko this bill and I look forward to its third reading and its eventual passing. Kia ora anō tātou.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. Tēnā koutou e te Whare. E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā rangatira mā, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Ngā rangatira o Raukawa nei, tēnā koutou.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Greetings to you collectively, the House. To the authorities, languages, and esteemed leaders, salutations and acknowledgements to you all. To you, esteemed leaders of Raukawa gathered here, greetings to you collectively.]

I recognise that the fog has not only left us bereft of the presence of the wonderful Tau Henare, the chair of the Māori Affairs Committee, but I think it may have delayed some of Raukawa as well. I am sure there are lots of people watching this at home, and I acknowledge you as well.

In my first speech on this bill, the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill, I said that I thought it was a privilege to speak here, and I maintain that position. I am fully aware that the passing of this settlement bill into law is a momentous occasion and it has taken enormous persistence and sheer hard work to get to this point. I acknowledge in the gallery today Chris McKenzie, one of the lead negotiators.

I also feel that to speak on this bill is a privilege, because I am Raukawa, Ngāti Huri from Pikitū Marae. I want to personally acknowledge Ruthana Begbie in her role as one of the claimants and as a kuia of Pikitū. In my first speech I also acknowledged the passing of kaumātua George Rangitūtia, who signed the settlement deed from his hospital bed. I want to acknowledge those kaumātua and kuia who are no longer with us who have helped create a settlement that will give Raukawa an economic base for future generations.

At Waitangi a couple of weeks ago kaumātua Maanu Paul from the Māori Council said in his kaikōrero, as he welcomed us again to Te Tii Marae, that there is a concern that with the Treaty process we will set Māori against Māori, pitting Māori against Māori. Raukawa know this feeling too well. In the bill it outlines one of the grievances that the Crown apologises for, the alienation of the Pouakani Block in 1915—nearly 100 years ago—when the Crown gifted 20,000 acres to an iwi with no ancestral ties in the area. We heard in the first reading of this bill that the honourable Meka Whaitiri has whakapapa to that iwi, as does our own co-leader Metiria Turei.

I want to acknowledge that this is only the second time that I have travelled with the Māori Affairs Committee to hear submissions on a Treaty bill, and I do feel that it was a privilege to have the opportunity to go to Tokoroa to hear the submissions from submitters in their own voices. I believe that there is a clearer understanding of issues when in the rohe of the tangata whenua, and it is also good to hear the submitters who oppose the settlement, because understanding is always clearer when it is kanohi ki te kanohi.

It is clear from the evidence presented that Raukawa have worked hard to maintain relationships with the iwi that are all around them—Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, and Tūwharetoa in the south. During the submissions I was very heartened to hear that one of the guiding principles for Raukawa has been to not settle their own grievance by creating more grievances. I have also heard that from the Chair of the Raukawa Settlement Trust, Vanessa Eparaima. She said the same thing during her speech at the signing of the settlement deed in June the year before last at Aotearoa Marae. I think Maniapoto were on the pae then too.

I have also read the submissions that Raukawa have made in support of the Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill, with similar statements. Again, that was stated by Raukawa in their submission supporting the Ngāti Hauā Claims Settlement Bill. We did also see in the evidence the memorandum of understanding that was developed some years ago between Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Raukawa.

Raukawa have also worked collaboratively with other iwi on previous settlements, including around the Waikato River and the central North Island forestry settlements. So it is obvious to me that Raukawa are genuine in their desire to settle their own grievance and not negatively impact on other iwi. Having said that, there are some overlapping interests, and we heard about them during the submission processes. I am pleased that the Hon Nanaia Mahuta has put it on record how we see those overlapping associations and interests playing out.

Overlapping interests and associations include the Waikeria Prison land with Maniapoto. I note that there is the potential for the two iwi to develop joint ventures around this land. I also note that there are restrictions on Raukawa exercising first right of refusal. They cannot purchase unless they have consent from Maniapoto. The select committee report outlines that Maniapoto’s interests are protected.

We heard from the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust about the overlapping interests in Lake Ōhākuri. It has been clarified, and will be clarified in the bill, that Raukawa’s statement of association includes only the part of the lake that is within the Tātua West Block. We also heard from Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, who were concerned that they may have been inadvertently included in the claimant definition of the settlement bill and wanted explicit exclusion about the overlapping areas of interest.

The report back to the House by the Māori Affairs Committee also clarifies that Ngāti Korokī Kahukura’s area of interest is explicit in their own settlement. It is explicit in their own deed. I note that Raukawa’s claim over where they have stated association areas or interests does not give Raukawa mana whenua status in areas that are clearly Ngāti Korokī Kahukura’s.

I also need to make the political point that some of that unease that the Greens feel about these raupatu settlements as full and final is because it is the Crown that dictates who it will and will not negotiate with. If we look at the historical account of this settlement and the battle to be recognised as an iwi, to be recognised by the Crown was indeed a struggle for Raukawa. That was resolved only at the end of last century, so Raukawa know better than many the grievance that is felt from that.

The fact remains, though, that while the Crown decides who it will and will not recognise, there may be hapū or iwi left out of settlements. So our concern is that there may be some whom the Crown will refuse to negotiate with because it will choose the winners and determine who will be the losers. Fundamentally, this does little to ensure the partnership between ngā iwi Māori and the Crown, as was envisaged by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Greens also maintain that we do not see these Treaty settlements as full and final settlements. What is lost is far greater than what is gained, and I think that is clear from the historical account in the bill. Thank you, Mr Tirikatene, for outlining some of that. Having said all this, I recognise that Raukawa have worked within the limitations dictated by the Crown over a very long period of time for this settlement, and that the passing of this bill is to be celebrated. Certainly, it gives Raukawa more of an economic base and the independence to utilise the incredible entrepreneurial skill in the iwi to raise the standard of living for our people. I know that Raukawa are already working innovatively, and are trialling youth services, for example, that could be potentially rolled out throughout the country.

Today is a day to celebrate the passing of the second reading of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill. The Greens will be supporting it. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe e Te Mana Whakahaere, ā, tēnā koutou. Tihei mauri ora! Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata, whakamaua kia ū, kia tīnā. Tēnā koutou. Ki te Whare e tū nei, tēnā koe. Ki ngā hoa Pāremata, tēnā koutou. Ki Ngāti Raukawa, tēnā koutou. Haere mai, nau mai ki te Whare Pāremata. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker, and greetings to you collectively. Behold the breath of life! Seek the distant horizon, draw it near, grasp and hold on to it firmly. Greetings to you. To the House that stands before me, I salute you. To parliamentary colleagues, I greet you. To the tribe of Raukawa, I acknowledge you. Welcome to Parliament House, welcome. Greetings, acknowledgements to you collectively and to us all.]

Kia ora. Good morning. It is a huge privilege to be one of the speakers in the history of the settlement process. Although I do not pretend to be one of those who have led the charge in this area, if we look at the history of settlement claims from both sides of the House, there have been men and women here who have worked to bring settlements to a head.

Today I would like to acknowledge the members of the Māori Affairs Committee, led by Tau Henare, who cannot be here. They are obviously stuck in fog, as other members of the House have alluded to. The committee has worked collaboratively across the House to bring these settlements and this second reading of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill to the House.

Can I acknowledge Minister Finlayson, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, who has worked tirelessly, as Minister Parata pointed out, to bring many settlements to fruition. For those who are interested, there have been 68 Treaty settlements across New Zealand. Of those, 42 have come to fruition since 2008. We are well over halfway through the Treaty settlement process, which is indeed a milestone. If I reflect on the mihi that I used at the start of my whaikōrero this morning, it talked about reaching for the big goals, the stars, and going after our dreams. I think that certainly one of the dreams that not only Māori but many New Zealanders now have is that we can progress through these Treaty settlements, get through to the end of them, and look to the future.

If I talk to many of my constituents, there have been concerns historically about the time frame it has taken and concerns about the cost of it. But when you actually reflect on what it is now achieving, it is well worth the process, well worth the time, and well worth the investment of the Crown in these settlements.

In regard to Raukawa at this second reading, as in each of the bills that have come before the House there are different idiosyncrasies or different situations that have arisen in how each of the iwi or hapū have arrived at the settlement process. In regard to Raukawa, they are here with this process because they became landless. That lack of land and resources undermined their ability to form an economic base and to be part of the economy. And actually that is really, really important, because when you are not part of the economy—if you are not in work, if you do not have businesses—it is really difficult to see a future. Having that ladder—having your people in business, I guess, and in jobs—provides aspiration and a strong future. So I think these settlements are the foundation to providing the economic base that is so necessary to providing that aspiration and that future for so many New Zealanders, and, in this case, Raukawa.

The redress in Raukawa’s situation includes an apology for the actions that arose through the land wars throughout that period. The Crown acknowledges this, and profoundly regrets and unreservedly apologises to Raukawa for its actions. It apologises and regrets its actions during the New Zealand land wars of the 1860s, and it apologises for its past failures.

Of course there is some commercial redress that goes hand in hand with this. Raukawa will receive approximately $52 million. It is interesting to reflect on that, because some constituents of mine always look at the number—the dollar figure—and say: “Oh, it’s been millions, it’s been hundreds of millions—it’s been billions.” Well, in fact, it has not been that large. If you think about the total appropriations of the New Zealand Government on an annual basis, it is somewhere around $78 billion to $80 billion, which is pretty significant. But if we add up the total that we have spent on Treaty settlements to date, it is above the envelope, but it is only about $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion. In the greater scheme of things, it is not a significant appropriation, but it is certainly one of the best investments we can make.

In this case $52 million is going to Raukawa. I note that it also includes the opportunity to purchase part of the Pureora North Crown licensed land. If I understand it correctly, Pureora Forest is, obviously, below Tokoroa, which is where the rohe of Raukawa exists, but for those who are interested, Pureora is now the start of one of the great New Zealand cycle trails. Just before Christmas I decided to take my son and do the trail. For a few days before Christmas we cycled an 84-kilometre trail from Pureora and down south, through the old timber trails there. If anyone who is listening is into cycling, I have got to say that that was one magic ride. I am not sure what opportunities will come for Raukawa with that particular land. Maybe it is forestry, but I think that they could get into the tourism around the cycle trail. We stayed with one lady in the Blackfern Lodge. There are some members on different sides of the House who have said that the cycle trails would never be successful. Well, this particular lady used to have 450 bed nights per year, and she now has over 3,000 bed nights a year as a result of the trail. So those are the opportunities that come from tourism and investment.

There are other opportunities for Raukawa here, such as the 25 Crown-owned properties that they will have the opportunity to purchase in and around their rohe there. Raukawa will have the first right of refusal for a period of 172 years on a further 36 Crown properties.

In addition, there is some cultural redress. There is a cultural fund of $3 million, a pouwhenua fund of some $50,000, where pou can be built and established around the rohe on sites of cultural significance, which I think is an excellent thing to do.

So, ladies and gentlemen, it is a privilege to stand and be part of the history of these Treaty settlements. I am looking forward to speaking on the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill, which comes up next, which is from my own rohe of Heretaunga, of Hawke’s Bay. Yes, it is a privilege to speak on these historic Treaty settlements, and I wish Raukawa all the best as this bill progresses through to the third reading and to final settlement. Thank you.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. E te iwi, Ngāti Raukawa, ā, tēnā koutou. Nau mai, nau mai, hara mai.

[To the people of Ngāti Raukawa, greetings to you collectively. Welcome, welcome, welcome.]

It gives me an absolute privilege and honour to stand in support of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill at its second reading, and to join with colleagues in this House in doing so. It feels like this week is Treaty settlement on speed dial, with this being our second one today and with our third one to come following this. As a new member of the Māori Affairs Committee, it definitely requires one to have their skates on when dealing with the Treaty bills. But can I say that it is an absolute honour to be part of that select committee, and I want to acknowledge all members for the commitment in what they do in bringing these very important settlement bills to the House. In my experience, when settling historical Treaty claims, a couple of things come to mind. One is the assertion of iwi in terms of their mana in their own rohe, and the settlement process also allows us to tell their story. So if I could beg the indulgence of the House, I would like to do exactly that.

Ngāti Raukawa derive their identity from their eponymous ancestor, Raukawa, who descends from the Tainui waka through his father, Tūrongo, a descendant of Hoturoa. Through his mother,Māhinaarangi, Raukawa also descends from the Tākitimu waka and Tamatea Ariki-nui. In terms of relationships, you always remind yourself of how you relate to others, and so I mihi to Māhinaarangi, an ancestor of Ngāti Kahungunu. The Raukawa rohe is described in a tauparapara used by Raukawa kaumātua. The district of Raukawa is from Te Wairere, Horohoro, and Pōhaturoa, and at Ongaroto is the house of the ancestor Whaitā. From Nukuhau to Taupō-nui-a-Tia, to Hurakia on the Hauhungaroa range, from Titiraupenga mountain, the horizon is the boundary of the district of Raukawa. To the mountain Wharepūhunga and the marae of Arowhena. To the ranges of Whakamarumaru, the view extends to the region of Te Kaokaoroa-o-Pātetere to Maungatautari. The view extends beyond Wharepūhunga to the ancestor Hoturoa to the marae at Pararewa.

The Crown recognises the mandate of Raukawa negotiators in September 2008, and I do particularly want to acknowledge the chairperson of the Raukawa Trust Board, Vanessa Eparaima, for her leadership and her guidance in getting us to this point in the process. I want to acknowledge also that we have Chris McKenzie in the gallery here in the House. I mihi to you, Chris, for the mahi, and to all the Raukawa whānau, hapū, and iwi for the work that you have done. Like I said in my previous call it is not an easy undertaking. There are a lot of compromises. It is often done with a lot of humility and a lot of grace and so I mihi to you and also, clearly, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. I was listening to the previous speaker, Mr Tremain, a fellow Hawke’s Bay-ite, talking about the speed the Hon Chris Finlayson has applied to the role of Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, and I do want to acknowledge Mr Finlayson for that.

Turning to the historic background to the claims of Raukawa, I acknowledge that they suffered much from the wars of that time. Of course, like many, they lost a lot of land. I too joined the Māori Affairs Committee in its hearings in Tokoroa, and was pleased to see the number and range of submitters who appeared before the select committee. We had a number of interested groups in support, clearly, and with some mentions also of how the bill could be improved. We had submissions from, for example, the Te Arawa River Iwi trust, Ngāti Paretekawa, Ruthana Begbie, a wonderful kuia from Tokoroa. We also had submissions from a neighbouring iwi of Raukawa, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura Trust.

One of the submissions I do want to just highlight—because I absolutely believe that that is the way the country is going to be moving in terms of local and regional relationships—was the submission done by the mayor of—

💬 Hon Christopher Finlayson: South Waikato.

Yes, the name escapes me at the moment.

💬 Hon Christopher Finlayson: Neil Sinclair.

That is right, Mr Finlayson—Neil Sinclair. What I enjoyed from his submission to the select committee was the ongoing relationship with Raukawa in terms of what is pending in terms of the settlement. I enjoyed the fact that he spoke not only highly in support of the bill but on the issue around maintaining relationships and the opportunities that a settlement such as the Ngāti Raukawa one will bring to the community in his area. I do not want to go on much more in terms of the detail of the bill, but I do want to acknowledge the work that people have done to bring it here, and to support it in its second reading. I, too, look forward to its third and final reading. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe e te Mana Whakawā, kia ora e te Whare, tēnā koutou e te iwi, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. For reasons that others have explained, and largely revolving around the lingering fog at Wellington Airport—of course fog is a meteorological condition with which we in the Waikato are totally unfamiliar—I find myself here rather unexpectedly. We have not had much fog in recent times, I have to say. For those reasons I am rather unexpectedly taking a call. Nevertheless, as a Waikato member of Parliament, albeit from the western side of Kirikiriroa, I am particularly pleased to be able to support this Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill, which is of such significance and interest throughout the wider Waikato region.

Other speakers this morning have already traversed the background to the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill, and the considerable work that has been undertaken by all parties in bringing this bill to its second reading today. That is in itself a matter to welcome warmly. Could I, as other speakers have done, acknowledge very sincerely the outstanding leadership and work of the Hon Christopher Finlayson, the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, who has been doing an outstanding job in that role for more than 5 years now. It is worth pointing out that under his stewardship, we have signed 42 deeds of settlement. Minister, I congratulate you on that and thank you for the huge work you have been doing in this area.

The Raukawa grievances include the Waikato and Tauranga wars of the 1860s and the confiscation of Raukawa land following that conflict. The introduction and implementation of native land laws that facilitated the alienation of Raukawa land and the Crown’s failure to ensure that Raukawa had adequate lands to ensure for its present and future needs contributed to the considerable economic, social, and cultural detriment of Raukawa. That is at the heart of the process that we have been undertaking and the major basis of the Crown’s apology.

I believe that the settlements process in New Zealand is now being seen for the considerable benefits that it can convey. As others have mentioned, some people around the country have been dubious about them. There have been some cynical comments, but now, as we see in my own area of Waikato, where the Tainui settlement was, of course, the historic trendsetter—that Tainui settlement of nearly 20 years now is having a huge and enduring impact for the good throughout the Tainui region. It is a model that others have followed and that we are seeing unlock iwi economic potential and boost regional and provincial areas. In keeping with our priority as a Government to build a more productive and competitive economy, it is absolutely part and parcel that we want to ensure that iwi are in a position to be a leading part of that process.

I also want to acknowledge, as others have done, the inimitable style and leadership of the Hon Tau Henare in his chairing of the Māori Affairs Committee and the contributions of all members of that select committee, who have done very good work.

This second reading debate represents another significant step on another important journey. The process has been a long and often arduous one. It is in everyone’s interest for the destination to be reached, and I look forward to the day when that occurs for Raukawa. I thank all speakers for their contributions to this debate and especially all who have been a part of this important Treaty settlement negotiation. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, rau rangatira mā, nga whānau o Raukawa. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. I specifically want to mihi to Chris McKenzie, who is here in the House. He has led the Raukawa claim as their chief negotiator for many years now. In fact, when I went on to the Raukawa website I was really impressed to read your pānui. In fact, dating back to 2011 Raukawa had comprehensive claims hui right round the rohe of Raukawa. From my perspective, the inclusive and transparent way that you have led this Treaty settlement process needs to be acknowledged. I want to acknowledge the Minister Chris Finlayson and congratulate him on the wonderful work that he is doing to enable these settlement processes to happen in a timely manner. I also want to mihi to Tau Henare in his absence, to Nanaia Mahuta, and to other members of the Māori Affairs Committee, and, in fact, everybody across the House. This is the one area where we have consensus, where we are all working together, to ensure that our whānau, hapū, iwi can move on positively into the future. So this area of Treaty settlements is one where we have consensus about what is best for the nation.

What I want to highlight are just a couple of things. Firstly, I do want to acknowledge Wally Papa and others, because I did have a look at that Wai 443 claim. Wally was the initial claimant, and I think that we should always remember where processes begin. So I want to acknowledge Wally and the whānau for, I guess, beginning the kaupapa that the Raukawa Trust Board and the Raukawa Settlement Trust have continued.

I want to acknowledge that the deed of settlement that has now been translated into this piece of legislation had 93 percent support from Raukawa beneficiaries. I think that we should acknowledge that. Also, the trust board was mandated by the 16 marae, and the Raukawa Settlement Trust comprises representatives of those 16 marae plus 10 hapū representatives. So what we have seen is a very inclusive process, as I said before, that has enabled, I guess, the smooth passage of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill and the deed of settlement through the rohe of Raukawa. What I have been particularly impressed about, and it was really in a submission by Kataraina Hodge, was the fact that throughout this process she wanted to provide some context in respect of our whakawhanaunga within our iwi. So the bill itself was carefully crafted to ensure that our whanaungatanga was maintained. I want to acknowledge throughout this process that rangimārie feeling. The ability for everybody within Raukawa to participate needs to be highlighted.

What I also want to highlight is that the Raukawa Charitable Trust is one of the largest iwi health providers in the south Waikato. The Raukawa Charitable Trust whānau have been participating positively within their community. They have the capacity to deliver health services. From reading their website, I see they have got a huge focus on kaumātua health, whānau health, the retention of their reo. So this iwi group has not waited for this Treaty settlement process to get on with the mahi. I think what this settlement process will do is enhance the mahi that they are already doing. I think we need to acknowledge the fact that this iwi grouping actually has been able to develop their capacity to develop their capability to deliver services not only for their people but also for the people of the south Waikato. So I want to acknowledge and thank them for the work they are doing.

When I read the Treaty settlements legislation, I am always really interested in the statutory acknowledgments. For me, that statutory acknowledgment is acknowledging the status that our iwi groups have as mana whenua of Aotearoa. It is a status that no other group has. So it is not about us being an ethnic group or another racial group within Aotearoa New Zealand; it is actually recognising the special relationship that we have. So the statutory acknowledgments within this particular settlement acknowledges the relationship that Raukawa has with aspects of the Waikato River and its tributaries, to lakes, to geothermal sites—for example, part of the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, the Pātetere Scenic Reserve, the Arapuni Scenic Reserve, the Kaahu Scenic Reserve. I am mentioning these names because I think the significance of that statutory acknowledgment actually creates the opportunity for the relationship that both central and local government will have to develop with Raukawa. It will be about how we manage those sites, the consents that will happen over those sites. For me it means that Raukawa, in this instance, will continue to have a formal decision-making responsibility for those sites into the future. For me that is the most significant aspect, because for ever the footprint of Raukawa will be felt throughout the south Waikato.

I also note that there will be naming rights for certain sites that Raukawa will have, which mean that we will maintain that footprint. The tupuna for Raukawa will for ever in our history be acknowledged. So I am really pleased to support this bill. I am really pleased to be a member of Parliament who has an opportunity to participate in these Treaty settlement processes. I am no longer on the Māori Affairs Committee. It was a committee that I was very honoured and privileged to be a member of. I, again, just want to thank my colleagues for the way in which they conduct the business of the House. I want to thank our hapū and iwi groups for the way in which you have conducted yourselves. And, as always, I want to acknowledge the generosity in this instance of Raukawa to enable us to get to this point in time. I look forward to both the Committee stage and third reading of this bill so that we can make a piece of legislation that will reinforce the deed of settlement that Raukawa has created. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Bill read a second time.