Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill

on behalf of the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: I move, That the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time. Ā, tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou kua tae mai ki tēnei Whare mō te wā whakamutunga. Kua oti te tono mai, te whiriwhiri ngā kōrero me ērā atu. Nā reira, kua tae pai mai koutou i tēnei rangi, tēnā koutou katoa, tae noa ki ngā mihi ki a rātou kua ngaro atu, rātou kua tukuna atu ki te kōpū o te whaea. Nā reira, haere ngā mate. Waiho rātou ki a rātou, tātou ki a tātou, e kawe nei i tēnei kaupapa mō te rā nei. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

[Greetings to you all. Salutations to you collectively who have arrived here in this House for the final time. Submissions, statements, and everything else have been completed. Therefore you have arrived here safely on this day, so we acknowledge you all, including the tributes accorded to those who have passed away and have been interred in the womb of mother Earth. So farewell the dead. Allow them to remain there among their own while we deal with this matter that is before us today. Greetings and acknowledgments to you all.]

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the members of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū who have travelled here to join us on this important day. I acknowledge those who carried the burden of the wrong suffered by Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, many who have passed away without seeing this day. Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū are tangata whenua within their takiwā. In their takiwā they have held and continue to hold ahi kā roa. Their takiwā extends from Maungaharuru Range in the west to Tangitū in the east, from Waikari River in the north to Waiōhinganga and Keteketerau in the south. This is the takiwā of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, who are commonly known as Ngāti Marangatūhetaua, also known as Ngāti Tū, Ngāti Kurumōkihi, Ngāi Te Ruruku ki Tāngoio, and Ngāi Tauira—tēnā koutou.

In this takiwā, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū were the recipients of the Crown’s actions and inactions, which cannot be ignored or excused. In this takiwā, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū were challenged on their own whenua, yet, despite this, here they are today to settle with the Crown. The story of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū is therefore not a story about land loss but one of determined continuity. The settlement for Maungaharuru-Tangitū as encapsulated by this bill is a result of that determination. Prior to the arrival of the Pākehā, Maungaharuru-Tangitū lived independently and without the need to leave their rohe to survive. The Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū whakatauāki “Ko tō rātou pā kai ngā rekereke” means that their fortified villages were in their heels, and it eloquently describes that life for the hapū. Resources available on the coast of Tangitū and available on the inland areas mean9t that Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū had year-round nourishment without having to leave their tribal boundaries. These rich resources were and continue to be taonga to Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. The Crown’s actions completely changed this way of life.

We are here today to consider a bill that resolves injustices inflicted by the Crown through its acts and omissions under the privileges of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, arā Treaty of Waitangi. From the 1850s the Crown undertook a process that systematically confiscated nearly all of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū ancestral lands. The Waitangi Tribunal recorded in its Mohaka ki Ahuriri Report that Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū suffered land loss through pre-1865 Crown purchase, the operation from 1865 of the Native Land Court, the 1867 confiscation, and later Crown purchasing mainly conducted from 1910 to 1930. The impact of the land loss, the lack of development opportunities, the fragmentation and multiple ownership of tiny parcels of land, and the lack of access to the remaining land completely undermined the social, economic base of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. The impacts of that land loss can still be seen today.

Yet, despite that, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū are here today to settle with the Crown—me mihi ki a tātou. For generations Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū have sought redress for the many breaches of the Treaty by the Crown. From Te Teira Te Paea’s petition to the Privy Council in London in 1901 over the confiscation of Kaiwaka Block, to the filing of claims with the Waitangi Tribunal in the 1990s, Maungaharuru-Tangitū have continued to seek justice for the wrongs they have suffered.

In May 2004 the tribunal presented the then Minister of Māori Affairs, the late Hon Parekura Horomia, with the Mohaka ki Ahuriri Report. It reported that the claims of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū were well founded. It concluded that overall it had identified serious breaches of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Crown in the loss of Māori land in their district. The Waitangi Tribunal recorded in its Mohaka ki Ahuriri Report many actions and inactions by the Crown, a few I will mention here. It found that the Crown negotiated unscrupulously to purchase land at Ahuriri and Mōhaka in 1851. It described that the Crown was unjustified in its attacks on Pai Mārire followers at Ōmaranui and Pētane and its subsequent pursuit of the escapees and destruction of their property.

Further, the tribunal reported that the Crown unlawfully confiscated land from Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and had no basis for depriving the hapū of ownership of the Tāngoio and Maungaharuru blocks. It did not provide any redress for this exclusion of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū from the title to the Kaiwaka Block in 1870, despite protests by the hapū over many years and the extensive legal action they successfully took to be included in the title. The Crown also failed to adequately protect the environment in Mōhaka ki Ahuriri, including Lake Tūtira, coastal reefs, and other places. Through its failure to adequately protect the environment, the Crown’s actions negatively impacted on the treasured resources of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and the little land they retained. With resources impacted upon, the Crown failed to make adequate efforts to halt Māori depopulation and improve the health and living standards of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū to standards equal to those of the Pākehā. These actions by the Crown and others cannot be ignored or excused, and today Maungaharuru-Tangitū is here to settle with the Crown.

Today this bill gives effect to the deed of settlement negotiated between the Crown and Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. This bill provides for cultural, financial, and commercial redress, in compensation for these breaches. It is a way that the Crown can acknowledge that it breached the Treaty of Waitangi. It is a way the Crown can apologise for those breaches and their consequences. This bill looks to make amends for the Crown’s past actions, and to build a shared future with Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. The legislation before us is much more than a new law. It is a history of a people. It is the future of a people. It allows Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and the Crown to acknowledge the past grievances and look forward to a more prosperous future. It is about creating a bright and prosperous future for Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū.

At this point I just want to pay tribute to Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. They have suffered heavily at the hands of the Crown, but Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū have a proud history of seeking justice and have not remained passive as these injustices have occurred. They have continued in their kaupapa resolute and determined. I stand before you to acknowledge the courage and determination you have shown. However, my words can only briefly touch upon the mamae and the pain that Maungaharuru-Tangitū have had to endure and carry. This settlement will support the healing of the relationship between Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and the Crown. It also serves an important lesson for the Crown, to ensure that the devastation inflicted on Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū is never repeated. I hope the apology that forms part of this settlement will also assist in this healing. We acknowledge that as a consequence of the Crown’s actions from 1850, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū have been left bereft in its own whenua, yet they have come today to settle with the Crown. I commend this bill to the House. Tēnā koe.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. Tēnā tātou katoa ngā mema o te Whare nei.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Greetings to us all, members of this House.]

It is an honour to rise and speak in the third and final reading of this significant bill, the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill. It is an honour on a couple of fronts. It is an honour because I am the local member for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, from which these people descend. But, more important, it is an honour for me to rise in support of this bill because I share common ancestry with my kinfolk who have joined us here in the public gallery today. My great grand-uncle Harvey Whaitiri is borne in the urupā of Pētane and I share common ancestry with the Spooner or Puna whānau. E te iwi kua tae mai tēnei wā, nau mai, nau mai, haere mai. Hoki mai ki tō tātou Whare i runga i te kaupapa whakahirahira. Nō reira, ōku rau rangatira, e kui mā, e koro mā, ngā mātua, ngā mokopuna, tamariki hoki, kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi.

[To the tribe who have arrived here at this point in time, welcome, welcome, welcome. Return to our House in regard to this important matter. And so, to you my leaders of a hundredfold, my elderly women and menfolk, my parents, grandchildren and children as well, I acknowledge, salute, and greet you.]

The Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū deed of settlement is the full and final settlement of all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū resulting from acts or omissions by the Crown prior to 21 September 1992. It is made up of a package that includes an agreed historical account and Crown acknowledgments that form the basis for a Crown apology to Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. It includes cultural redress and it includes financial and commercial redress. The benefits of this settlement will be available to all members of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, wherever they may live.

All Treaty claims are unique, and there is no difference with this particular claim. I want to acknowledge the envy that I share with the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū in terms of their takiwā and what it stands for. To members of the House and to the people who are listening, if you ever get the opportunity, you see amongst us a proud people—a proud people who enjoyed, prior to the wars of the past and the confiscation of land that occurred, the absolute subsistence of a beautiful forest out at Maungaharuru and all of the bounties of the coastline. Maungaharuru-Tangitū ki te tai, Maungaharuru-Tangitū ki uta.

[Maungaharuru-Tangitū to the shore, and Maungaharuru-Tangitū towards the hills.]

I mihi to you all in your tenacity and commitment to getting to today’s final reading of your important bill.

The Hon Pita Sharples has amply described the history and the mamae suffered by these people. Like I said, every settlement is unique. When I look over the settlement of Maungaharuru-Tangitū I want to touch on two particular areas that, for me, are unique to this settlement. I did mention them in my second reading speech when this bill came through the House. Unfortunately, we had bad weather so we could not get the whānau here, but I know that you were all here in spirit as we spoke of that.

The unique point of difference for me in this settlement is the speed with which the claims were actually settled. The speed that I acknowledged in my second reading speech was, on looking at it, 3 years and 7 months. Some people will say that that may be too fast and others may say “Phew, that was really efficient.”, but I do want to acknowledge your negotiators. I do want to acknowledge that without the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū getting behind the process, I do not think you would have met those time lines. I know Tānia Hopmans. I mihi to Tānia and Uncle Bevan and the others involved in the whole negotiation process for not only the swiftness with which you presented the claims but the way you shepherded your whānau, the hapū, to actually get to this point.

Like I said, the deed of mandate, just for the record, was signed on 20 October 2009. The agreement in principle was signed on 22 September 2011. The deed of settlement was signed on 22 March 2013 and it was ratified by the whānau on 25 May 2013. So from go to whoa—and I mention that the significant difference that stood out for me in this settlement was the speed—in 3 years and 7 months is pretty tough going. As a former Treaty negotiator I can say that that needs to be acknowledged. Underlying it is the work that went on behind the scenes. Also being a former mandated negotiator, the pressures on the whānau to move that swiftly cannot be underestimated. I am labouring this point, but I am doing it in acknowledgment that you would have got to this point only if you had the buy-in and commitment of the whole kainga, so again I mihi to you all for that.

The second significant part that jumps out at me in this settlement is the strong emphasis Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū have placed on the cultural redress in this bill. I acknowledge the many reserves, the lake beds, and the coastline that they have obviously fought to return some sort of control back to ngā hapū of Mangaharuru-Tangitū. Without dwarfing the financial redress, it speaks volumes of the importance that those cultural redress sites and those sites of significance have to a people who were left, I guess, desolate in terms of the land that they lost. So again that was clearly a strategy and a commitment from ngā hapū of Maungaharuru-Tangitū to ensuring that our lands, our waterways, and our coastline have returned back under the mana where they rightfully sit. So I want to acknowledge that as a significant component of this settlement.

I also want to quickly turn to the select committee process. I too want to acknowledge our chairman, the Hon Tau Henare. I am not going to say farewell—that will come in due course. The hearing that we had in Napier, which many of our whānau attended, was ably chaired by Te Ururoa Flavell. Because Tau likes to keep us moving in the Māori Affairs Committee, we had half the committee up at Auckland on that day and the other half came to Napier. So I do want to mihi to those who attended that hearing. The issue that came up that was addressed at the select committee hearing was hapū not feeling included, and also the cross-boundary issues between Maungaharuru-Tangitū and Ngāti Pāhauwera. I can say that through the work of the select committee, we were pleased that no one was going to miss out—no one was going to miss out. That became clear in the submission response on behalf of Maungaharuru-Tangitū that those whānau—who are our whānau—who felt they were not being included now would be. So the select committee process was fairly straightforward and robust, and we were very happy to support this bill in getting to where we are today.

As I close, it is important that I acknowledge people who have shepherded this bill to the House today. I do want to pay tribute to our kaumātuas, first and foremost—those who are here and those who are not here—for your wisdom, your guidance, and your patience in getting us over the line. To the negotiators, the settlement claim members, I mihi to you all. I mihi to ngā hapū for your involvement in ratification, and the Hon Pita Sharples mentioned the hapū. Also I mihi to the Hon Chris Finlayson, the Office of Treaty Settlements, and Government officials for their support and making sure that we got here today. I mihi to you, Mr Finlayson. Finally, I mihi to members of our select committee, who did the job expected of us to ensure that when this bill got to this House we had dotted every “i” and crossed every “t”. I can say without a doubt that that was done, ensuring that our part in this process was completed to the satisfaction of this House. I join with all members in this House in celebrating with ngā hapū of Mangaharuru-Tangitū this full and final reading of this bill. I commend it to the House. Kia ora tātou.

I too acknowledge the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and the long road that they have taken to reach this day. I welcome those who have travelled from the Hawke’s Bay to be here to listen to this, the third reading of their bill, the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill. To those of you who have worked so tirelessly to make today possible, I offer you my sincere thanks. It is wonderful to have this day arrive. It has been more than 20 years since Fred Reti, Bevan Taylor, Heitia Hiha, and others brought their raupatu claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, and those three individuals have been involved in the negotiations to this day.

I acknowledge the many kuia and kaumātua who are no longer with us, including Rere Puna and Arona Rangitere Taurima, who provided leadership, wisdom, and inspiration to the negotiators and to the hapū in their long journey for justice. I think the negotiators and the komiti for Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū have done their people proud. They left no stone unturned and no aspiration untold. Their determination to achieve the best for the hapū has, I think, led to a robust settlement package. It is a package that clearly reflects the four aka, or vines—the intertwined aspirations of the hapū—which, I believe, will continue to grow upwards long after settlement date.

This bill settles the historic Treaty grievances of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. In this bill the Crown formally acknowledges its breaches of the Treaty, offers an apology, and provides cultural, financial, and commercial redress. I think it would be good if many, many New Zealanders looked at the history of this hapū. The claims relate primarily to war, raupatu, and Crown land - purchasing methods that left the hapū virtually landless by 1930. The Crown purchased large areas of land from the hapū in the 1850s and 1860s without ensuring that the hapū would always retain adequate reserves. In October 1866 the Crown’s military forces unjustly attacked Māori at Ōmarunui and Pētane and began to treat the hapū as rebels. Some individuals were detained without trial for nearly 2 years on the Chatham Islands, and after they escaped became embroiled in a war with the Crown, during which Crown forces summarily executed some prisoners at Ngātapa in 1869.

The Crown confiscated hapū land at Tāngoio North and awarded their land at Kaiwaka to one of its Māori allies, who was not a member of the hapū. This led to the hapū beginning litigation, which proved fruitless and led to huge costs for the hapū, which were borne for generations. The Crown’s confiscation process led to the extinguishment of the hapū’s customary titles to nearly all of their remaining land. The Crown did agree in 1870 to grant this remaining land to individual members of the hapū, and also agreed that this land would be inalienable. However, between 1911 and 1930 the Crown unfairly and oppressively purchased nearly all of this land and left the hapū virtually landless.

Since the 1880s deforestation and the development of pastoral farming have significantly increased erosion and pollution in the takiwā. For example, the health of Lake Tūtira has dramatically deteriorated, and the hapū have lost significant fisheries here and along the coastline. Over the years, many hapū family lines died out due to infectious diseases and diseases of poverty such as typhoid and tuberculosis. Although living conditions and Crown health services have improved since 1945, there continues to be a substantial disparity between the health of hapū members and other New Zealanders.

The Crown failed to actively protect the hapū from the degradations of war, the alienation of their land, and the effects of native land laws. The hapū were not able to retain their land, maintain it economically, or prevent its deterioration. As with all Treaty settlements, it is not possible to provide full reparation for the losses that have been suffered. By entering into a full and final settlement, the people of this hapū have agreed to forgo full compensation, thereby contributing to the future development of New Zealand. I place on record on behalf of the Crown our acknowledgment of that and our thanks for this act of generosity.

As so often happens in a third reading, there are so many people who deserve to be acknowledged—those who have contributed to this settlement over the years. I want to acknowledge my ministerial colleagues—in particular, the Minister of Māori Affairs and the Minister of Conservation. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and the Hastings District Council deserve recognition because they really have been very helpful and very willing to engage with officials and the hapū. That has been central to a number of elements of the redress. I acknowledge the Māori Affairs Committee and my good friend Tau Henare. Now is not the time for a valedictory address in the direction of Mr Henare, but he has been a fantastic chair of the Māori Affairs Committee over many years, and he is going to be missed.

I want to acknowledge the valuable support and contribution made by the work of many Government officials and departments who have contributed to this settlement. I also acknowledge those who have worked with Maungaharuru-Tangitū, and I particularly want to mention their advisers. I see Professor Richard Boast up there in the gallery. He is this country’s pre-eminent legal and Treaty historian. His analysis of the history of this hapū needs to be read. It is devastating. I love the story of how he became involved when a bright young law student called Tānia Hopmans approached his office in the law faculty of Victoria University and asked him a couple of questions. The rest, as they say, is history. I thank him for the work that he does not only for this hapū but for other settling groups around the country as well. I also acknowledge his wife, Deborah Edmunds, and the team at Kensington Swan, who have done very good work in this area over many years.

Most important, I acknowledge the tireless work of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and, in particular, their negotiators Tānia Hopmans and Bevan Taylor. They are two of the nicest and most professional negotiators with whom I have worked in this area, and so nice that I was so willing to concede on so many points. I know that you have had a huge load to carry, and it has not been just your sacrifice. I am very grateful to your families for supporting you to fight hard for your hapū and to get your settlement to this point.

To the members of the komiti of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Incorporated and to the trust, thank you for supporting your negotiators and making some extremely difficult decisions at critical points. The dedication and determination of the hapū have been vital on the path towards settlement, and I commend you for your commitment to negotiating a settlement with the utmost good faith and with tenacity, and it does take courage. This settlement is the basis of a new relationship between the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and the Crown based on trust, cooperation, and respect, and it will succeed if the Crown, regardless of administration, honours its commitments to this hapū not just tomorrow, not just in 10 years or 25 years or 50 years, but for ever. That is why it is so important to ensure that the Crown lives up to its commitments, and that is why we have established the Post Settlement Commitments Unit.

Once again, thank you to those who have travelled here this morning. I commend this bill to the House.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. Korōria, harerūria ki a Ihowa o ngā Mano, Matua, Tama, Wairua Tapu me ngā Ānahera Pono me te Māngai hei tautoko mai, aia nei, āke nei, āe. Maungaharuru-Tangitū hapū, tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou kua tae mai nei ki te Whare Pāremata. Nō koutou tēnei rā, he rā whakahirahira tēnei. E ngā pou o te hāhī, tēnā koutou, ā, huri noa e rau rangatira mā i roto i tēnei Whare, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ā, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you. Glory and praise be to Jehovah of Hosts, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the Faithful Angels and the support of the Mouthpiece now and forever after, amen. Greetings and acknowledgments to you the subtribe of Maungaharuru-Tangitū, who have arrived here at Parliament House. This is your day and an important one at that. Greetings to the pillars of the church and to you leaders of a hundredfold throughout this House, acknowledgments, salutations, and greetings to you and to us all.]

It is indeed an honour for me to speak to the final reading of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill. Can I firstly acknowledge our manuhiri, Maungaharuru-Tangitū, who have travelled from afar. I understand you had to get up very early this morning, in the wee hours, and have travelled all the way through to come down here to Pōneke. So I would like to welcome you all.

I do want to give my acknowledgments at the start because there are so many people who have been part of this culmination that we are at, at this point. I do want to acknowledge the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust and, in particular, Tānia Hopmans and Bevan Taylor, the negotiators, and the trustees. I would just acknowledge all the whānau and our kaumātua and kuia who are here to witness this historic occasion, and to represent their whānau and the whānau who have gone before them, who have been on this long journey in taking their grievances forward, and who have been fighting for recognition over many generations. I do acknowledge you all for all your mahi and for coming here at this historic time. In particular, I started off my speech today with a wee Rātana inoi because I acknowledge the pou here, and Fred Reti and Hine Reti, the whānau. I know your dad, the late āpōtoro Joe Reti, who played a significant role as the initial claimant for the hapū. I do acknowledge your presence here today also.

Maungaharuru-Tangitū is a collection of hapū. They include Ngāti Kurumōkihi, Ngāti Tū, Ngāti Whakaari, Ngāi Tauira, Ngāi Te Ruruku ki Tangōio, and Ngāi Tahu, but not the one that I am part of. We may have a connection; I am not sure. As has been mentioned in the contributions from Minister Sharples and my colleagues, there has been a terrible history that was inflicted upon this people. The trouble started back in 1851. We know about the Crown and its modus operandi in the early settlement of our nation and how it went about purchasing large tracts of land at Ahuriri and Mōhaka. It failed to ensure that sufficient reserves were set aside for the hapū. They were not adequately consulted on any of the purchases, and those also included areas like Ahuriri and Te Whanganui-ā-Ōrotu, which were never part of the deal.

So there is a long history. Maungaharuru-Tangitū is not a familiar name in the history books. This hapū and its history seem to have been bypassed by historians, by and large. Most Kiwis know about the history of our country and the land wars in Taranaki and Waikato, or maybe the pursuit of Te Kooti through Poverty Bay and the Tūhoe land on the Central Plateau, but not many have heard of Maungaharuru-Tangitū and the hapū there or their district or the way they were ill-treated by the Crown. But not today—today is their day, and today their history and their grievance are finally being recorded and being recognised by this House. Indeed, it is a historic occasion. I do acknowledge the historians in the House, too—Richard Boast and his work with this wonderful hapū over many years also.

Not too many people have heard of Maungaharuru-Tangitū, but they do have a very particular mamae, because this hapū was the only hapū in the Kahungunu that suffered raupatu. I would like to talk a little bit about that, because that particular mamae is the way the lands at Ōmarunui and Pētane were attained. A group of inland chiefs wrote to the Crown to say they were travelling to Napier to negotiate the end of their participation in the New Zealand Wars, only to be stopped by colonial troops and given 24 hours to give up Ōmarunui.

They did not. A battle ensued and the chiefs were left to count the cost—23 Māori killed and around 80 exiled to the Chatham Islands, Wharekauri, Rēkohu, where they were detained for 2 years without trial. Members of Maungaharuru-Tangitū who were part of that were also part of Te Kooti’s escape from Wharekauri. When they returned, they found themselves in a fight not of their making. They were just part of the rebellion. It goes without saying that because of so-called rebels within the hapū, that was reason enough for the Crown to alienate 9,000 acres at Tāngoio as raupatu land and land taken as recompense for their disloyalty to the Crown. They then split the land into 12 blocks and gave title to individual Māori owners.

We are familiar, as I mentioned, with the tactics of the Crown in this situation, a tactic that it has employed in many other settlements that we have spoken about in this House. Another way to pressure the hapū into selling the land was to forbid the owners from leasing to private owners. This made the land less productive and less valuable, and it played right into the hands of the Crown. So the land could not be sold. But it went further. In 1909 there was more legislation that made it possible for individual owners to sell shares in the land to the Government. So by the 1930s, by these actions of systematically forcing the purchasing of the land from these people, some 100,000-plus acres of land had been bought by the Crown and taken from these people. The remainder of the hapū were left without an economic base or a presence in their takiwā. The only land they have left is 3 acres in Tāngoio where their marae is. Think about that—110,000 acres down to a mere 3 acres. It was a huge loss. As I say, it is the greatest land-grabbing machine—legal land-grabbing machine—in the history of this country that the Crown created as the Native Land Court. That was a part of systematically depriving these people of their whenua.

I do want to talk about that landscape, that ancestral landscape, of these people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū. It is that lovely stretch of coastal land mixed with foothills and a dividing range between Napier airport to the north, along the coast past the mill at Whirinaki, and onwards to Tāngoio and its dramatic gorge, heading towards Lake Tūtira. Nothing expresses this dramatic country of Maungaharuru Tāngoio better than driving from Napier to Taupō. The land is as beautiful as it is dramatic, from the fertile Esk Valley and its row upon row of grapevines and its pretty little church to the lakeside settlement of Te Pohue high up in the Maungaharuru Range. Throw in some big rivers such as the Mōhaka, and you pretty much get the big idea of the geography that I am talking about.

It is this part of the country that the beneficiaries of Maungaharuru-Tangitū whakapapa to, along with their relatives and whanaunga in Ngāti Pāhauwera. It is mountain to the sea in all its ruggedness and glory, and the people who should be binding the land together, holding it together—the tangata whenua—have been marginalised to Tāngoio, which is a very flood-prone area. That is the beautiful ancestral landscape of these people.

I am delighted that we can be here to celebrate the passing of this bill. This marks a new chapter for the hapū. I am delighted to be able to mihi to you all and commend this bill to the House, because it certainly is a historic day. I wish you all the very best for the future. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. E ngā tangata o tēnei hapū o Maungaharuru-Tangitū, ngā rangatira, ngā kuia mā, ngā koro mā, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. To the people of this subtribe of Maungaharuru-Tangitū, leaders, elderly women and menfolk, acknowledgments, salutations, and greetings to you all.]

I rise to take the call for the Green Party on this third reading of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill. I want to acknowledge the people in the gallery today, who have come from their rohe to witness this historic occasion: the final passage of this bill as it is passed into law. I mihi to the people of Ngāti Tū, Ngāti Kurumōkihi, Ngāti Whakaari, Ngāi Te Ruruku ki Tangōio, Ngāi Tauira, and Ngāi Tahu.

As well as acknowledging those who are with us today, those in the gallery, and those who are watching at home, I also want to acknowledge those who are not with us. That includes those who have passed away over the many decades it has taken to bring this legislation to its conclusion in the House today. Legal action for this bill started in 1870, so there are generations who have worked to bring this justice to the House and who have passed away.

I also think it is right to acknowledge the mate who are mentioned in the bill itself, those who died in 1866 defending themselves from the Crown’s forces at Ōmarunui and Petāne, those who were summarily executed by the Crown at Ngātapa in 1869, and, of course, those who died from poverty-related illnesses as a result of the loss of their land over the last 150 years. Tēnā koutou me ō koutou tini mate. Nō reira, haere e ngā mate, haere ki te wā kāinga, haere ki te kāinga tūturu o tō tātou Matua i Te Rangi, haere, haere, haere.

[Acknowledgments to you and your many, many deaths. Therefore, depart the deaths. Return to the homeland, to the true home of our Father in Heaven. Farewell, journey on, and goodbye.]

To return to the living, I want to address what this legislation is about. This legislation is an acknowledgment from the Crown that it breached the Treaty of Waitangi and acted abominably towards the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. It offers some small compensation for the Crown basically stealing, through various dodgy methods, the land that belonged to the hapū. The legislation does not mince words. The Crown’s actions are described as a sham, as a misuse of its monopoly powers. The bill says things like “the Crown exploited …”. So the point of this bill is to restore some of the mana lost as a result of the hapū being alienated from most of their lands and consequently having their role as kaitiaki taken away from them. From my understanding of the legislation, the first land alienations were in 1851 with the Ahuriri Block and the Mōhaka Block, when the hapū were tricked into accepting a low price for the land, believing that they would receive full ongoing economic benefits from European settlement, and that just did not happen.

The hapū lost more land in 1866 when the Native Land Court awarded the Moeangiangi—I will try that again. The Moeangiangi—I have really got to work on my Māori pronunciation, sorry. I will come and talk to you later and get the right pronunciation. That reserve and the Pētane and Te Pāhou blocks were awarded to individual Māori. The land losses continued in 1867 with the Crown declaring a confiscation district over most of the takiwā of the hapū.

In 1870 the Crown also gave—and it has been mentioned before—30,000 acres at Kaiwaka to a Crown ally, cutting the hapū out of the deal. The legal expenses that were incurred by the hapū at that time have been described in the legislation as crippling. The actions of the Crown continued to alienate the hapū from their land throughout the 1900s, with the compulsory vesting of Tāngoio South in the Ikaroa District Māori Land Board in 1907. It continued through the 1930s with the Crown abusing its powers through various mechanisms to ensure hapū remained separated from their land. This is spelt out in Part 1, clause 8(13)(e), where is says “the Crown’s actions were unfair, oppressive, and did not live up to the standards of good faith and fair dealing, which are expressed in the Treaty of Waitangi …”.

So it is worth restating that the loss of their land has had a massive impact on the people and it has had a massive impact on the land as well. With no land—or hardly any land—the economic base for the people was gone. The hardship they endured was extreme. I think one of the most distressing aspects in the history here is that entire bloodlines, entire families died out. In Te Ao Māori we recognise that whakapapa links are hugely important. When the people lost their role as kaitiaki, the land suffered as well. The legislation lists the pollution of Lake Tūtira, the pollution of the coastline, the degradation and loss of mahinga kai, and the flooding of the community and marae at Tāngoio. It mentions the degradation of the environment from deforestation and pastoral farming. Like others, I note that the flood-prone 3 acres with the marae at Tāngoio is all that remains from the original 100,000 acres that was the takiwā of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū in 1850.

In this context, the fact that this hapū will settle with the Crown is phenomenal, especially when the compensation is so very small and covers maybe a fraction of what the land losses alone are worth. Even then, there is very little land actually returned to iwi. Separate from the commercial redress property, there is roughly 30 hectares in total in the two reserves in the cultural redress package. We should also contrast this with the four gifting-back properties that are some of the Ōpouahi Reserve, the Bellbird Bush Scenic Reserve, the Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve, and the Whakaari Landing Place Reserve, which together make about 1,100 hectares. These are the reserves that the Crown will symbolically give to the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, and they will give them back to the people of New Zealand. I have to recognise that these people are incredibly generous.

I am aware that with the legislation the apology of the Crown is accepted by the hapū, as they wish to move forward and to heal. I celebrate with them the enormous success they have achieved in bringing this settlement through the House and into law. Like others, I wish to acknowledge the Treaty negotiators, the kaumātua, the people who have ushered this through.

But I have to say that although we celebrate with Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, we also disagree with the Government that this is a full and final settlement. We say this every time because, as we all know, it is not full compensation. We do not believe it is final either because we do not know how the generations that are yet to come will be impacted by these historical claims. What is known is that the hapū will be on a surer economic footing as a result of this deal than it has been for the last 150 years.

My dearest wish is that with the passing of this bill and the many others like it that have been passing through this House that the true history of our country, like the account that is listed in the deed of settlement and in the bill, will be taught in our schools so that the rangatahi of this hapū, for example, will be able to hold their heads up with pride and know where they come from and know what happened to their people. I also wish that every citizen of Aotearoa comes to understand that the Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of our land. Nō reira, to the whānau and the iwi here today, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koutou to so many familiar faces of people from Hawke’s Bay, who have been there for a lot longer than I have ever been there. Thank you so much for your cooperation, your generosity, and your patience.

I just want to talk about something a little bit different—maybe it is part of my journey. We have heard from other speakers. When we signed the deed at Tāngoio Marae not too long ago there was a moment of change for me. That shook my faith a bit in our system. Up until that time, I had always looked at the progress we are making with Treaty settlements around the country, but I always rested upon the legal framework, trying to address things that had not been right many years ago, and resting upon that framework as a legislator but also as a fair play Kiwi who does believe in fair play and fair dealing, as prescribed in the Treaty.

But it was when the most wonderful person, Bevan Taylor, spoke. He told the story about—and excuse me if I do not get it quite accurate—how his grandfather had used legal process to seek redress. He had gone all the way to the Privy Council, and had borrowed large amounts of money, which are still being paid off or have only recently been paid off. They were huge, huge sums in today’s terms. It was at that moment when I learnt how the Privy Council, the place of last resort for all of us who rely on the legislative process, the fair and transparent legal process, had let you down. For various reasons that are beyond my limited legal brain, it let you down, and actually let all of us down, to this day, leading to the bill we have in the House today.

At that moment, I started to question my faith in the process, the procedures, and the system that we have to allow all New Zealanders redress before the law, whoever they are. I was shaken when I learnt that story—absolutely shaken. I thank and acknowledge you, and particularly Mr Taylor for his calm and gentle way of describing more of that to me later during the day. It was a fundamental moment for me—a learning, a revelation—that the system that this place is set up to be part of, to protect, had let you down and let New Zealand down. That made me start to question so much else of what is discussed and talked about in and around all Treaty settlements, and in and around all issues about our identity as a country and the founding people of our country. I have been doing that for quite some time.

I am thankful, of course, that we have got to this point. It is a tragedy that we had to even get to this point, but we have, with all the hurt, with all the things that happened long ago, and with the implications for whānau, for family, for bloodlines, for people, for pride, and for mana that have been so, so attacked and damaged over many years. But it is an absolute credit and strength, and I admire and bow to you, because you have kept the faith, and at the end—I can be thankful, but it has taken far too long—the legal process and the parliamentary process has finally worked in your favour in at least a limited way.

Again, I just acknowledge your standing. I am proud to be part of Hawke’s Bay, but I am just proud to have been there on the day of the signing of the deed, and I am thankful for my understanding, for my family and our community’s understanding, of learning about what actually happened and how you have come to this place. I do thank you for my glimpsing of the system’s failure so long ago. Yes, it may be working a little bit better now, but at that moment—I will say again—my faith in the judicial system was shaken when I learnt that story, regardless of it being in the context of 100 or so years ago.

I look forward to working with you to make sure that that system we all have faith in, good faith and fair dealing, serves us much better as a people going from today onwards than it has, obviously, in the past. Kia ora.

Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. Tuatahi, tēnei ka tāpiri atu aku mihi ki a koutou kua uru mai nei i roto i tēnei o ō koutou Whare ki te whakarongo ki ngā kōrero e pā ana ki tā koutou kerēme Tiriti. Nei te mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. In the first instance, I add this salutation of mine to you collectively who have entered this House of yours to listen to the speeches about your Treaty claim. Heartfelt greetings to you all.]

It gives me great pleasure to join with my colleagues Meka Whaitiri and Rino Tirikatene and the Ministers to be able to support the passage of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Claims Settlement Bill and make it law. None of us in the House could hope to express the rich tapestry of history, good and bad, that has led to this point in time. I suspect people have been up very early travelling to get here. I suspect that there has been a lot of excitement from people to be able to say, finally, that it is done and we can move on. I suspect that there are a lot of kaumātua who are thinking about other kaumātua who are no longer with us, because this is an important day for you and it is an important day for us. It is not only a day to remember history but a day to celebrate the future and one your children, grandchildren, and mokopuna will be able to hold on to, because this is an opportunity as well.

I was not on the Māori Affairs Committee for this particular bill, so I thought, well, what I would like to do is have a look at the cultural redress components of your settlement, because often that is the place where the stories are told, and where the histories have been retold and will continue to be retold. If New Zealanders were interested to know what was happening in their own area in relation to Treaty settlements, they would go to the cultural redress components of Treaty settlement legislation. This is what I found.

Interestingly enough, with the help of Google and the help of my colleague Meka Whaitiri, I managed to find a number of very interesting things. Firstly, I remembered that during the by-election Meka and I were travelling through her electorate, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. I do not know how many kilometres she had already travelled, but we went past Lake Tūtira. You know, seeing is holding on to things. She proceeded to tell me stories about the area and Lake Tūtira and things like that. I notice that a significant component of your Treaty settlement is the vesting of four lakebeds back to you: Lake Tūtira, Lake Ōrākei, Lake Waikōpiro, and Lake Ōpouahi.

As I used my Google engine, I said: “Well, gee, Lake Tūtira.” I remembered that we went past that, and I found that both Lake Ōrākei and Lake Waikōpiro were close by. Further investigation showed that they are on a number of websites. When New Zealanders come to look at the Hawke’s Bay and see what they could experience, these are some of the lakes they get steered to because there is wildlife there, there are walkways, there is access to these particular lakes. If you were not a frequent visitor to the Hawke’s Bay, Lake Tūtira might be a reason why you would want to go there.

I found that particularly interesting. I thought: “Well, if these are being vested back as reserves with public access, then why are people going there?”. So I had a look and there is a wildlife refuge order over the lake. It makes particular mention of people being able to use the lake, but you cannot have powerboats on Lake Tūtira. Well, I did not know that. But it did then give me a sense of the fact that people enjoy this place because it is a place where you can experience nature and the wildlife around it, and they also utilise the lake in ways that people get enjoyment out of.

We have a connection, albeit remote, and it is through Lake Ōpouahi. I understand that round the lake there is a pest-proof fence. I rather suspect that that pest-proof fence might be the same kind of fence that we have got at Maungatautari in Cambridge. The whole idea of the pest-proof fence for Maungatautari was to regenerate and repatriate natural wildlife into the area, so that you can keep the predators out and get our wildlife back there. There are stories in that, because I suspect that it is a place where our tūpuna gathered because of the wildlife that was there. It may have been the kai that was there. So that is our connection, albeit remote.

I was really interested to see that on your websites around restoration, around preservation, and around telling stories—and it is all in Google—there are a whole lot of activities that have already happened; activities you are already doing prior to the Treaty settlement to repatriate the things that belong there in ways that you can be very proud of.

Then I come to some of the statutory acknowledgments and deeds of recognition. Here is a story or two. The peaks of the Maungaharuru Range are—well, there are so many pictures on Google that, actually, it is breathtaking. It makes you want to experience them and have a look for yourself at what is to be shared in the Maungaharuru Range. But it is the Mangapūkahu Scenic Reserve that I want to come to. Interestingly, I found out with a little bit of research that the background of the reserve was connected to the Arapaonui Block, which was in the New Zealand Gazette in 1860. It had its native title extinguished, but there was going to be a reserve put together. So I am kind of weaving back through the history, finding this out. What it indicates is that this is perhaps the reserve at Mangapūkahu.

But when I go back to our history here in Parliament, there was a petition that came before Parliament from Peter Bloomer in 2008. He petitioned the Māori Affairs Committee in particular because of the lack of access for Māori to get to their sacred sites. I thought: “Well, that is interesting.” It was the former member for Te Tai Tonga in 1987—and Rino’s auntie—Whetū Tirikātene-Sullivan, who made a point of actually ensuring that that petition got some recognition by the Department of Conservation at the time. That was interesting because then what it indicated was that, yes, this was a reserve; yes, it had sites of significance. There needed to be an opportunity to ensure that Māori could continue to go back to the reserve, because at the time it was seemingly under Crown land administration. That particular petition was supported by the Māori Affairs Committee in terms of reviewing that. So we do have walking access there in that particular scenic reserve. I thought to myself, golly gosh, if you are reading through the deed of settlement and you just read the name of the “Mangapūkahu Scenic Reserve”, you would not have any sense of what was really happening in this area or any sense of all the bureaucracy, I guess, that had to be got through to be able to repatriate important sites of significance back to people.

So, again, I reiterate that I am but a humble newcomer to the full extent of the rich history that you have within the context of your settlement. But can I say again, and reiterate in support of your Treaty settlement, that if anyone wanted to have a glimmer of the essence and the rich tapestry of history that belonged to you, the people of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, then they should go to the cultural redress section of your settlement. You have done well to get to this day. A lot of people have worked really hard within your team, and I guess mention has to be made of the Crown officials in the Office of Treaty Settlements whom you have had to negotiate with, and certainly the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations for his efforts to get this progressed as speedily as possible. I wish you well. I know that the future will look bright, but, more important, when your children tell these stories they can visit their places with pride and know that those stories can continue to be told to their children and their children after them. Tēnā koutou katoa. Kia ora.

Ā, tīhei mauri ora. Whaia te pae tawhiti kia tata, whaia te pae tata. Whakamaua kia ū, kia tina, ā, tēnā koutou.

[Behold the breath of life. Reach for the distant horizon and the one close at hand. Seize and hold fast to them, and greetings to you collectively.]

Kia ora, Mr Assistant Speaker, and members of Maungaharuru-Tangitū. Welcome, nau mai, haere mai ki te Whare. It is a huge privilege to be able to speak in this third reading of your settlement bill, the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill, and to welcome you to Parliament to be part of this historic occasion. Today, those of us in the House and in the gallery are part of history.

This bill, sponsored by the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, the Hon Christopher Finlayson, is another step along the pathway towards meeting a huge commitment that we made as a Government back in 2008 to settle as many outstanding grievances and issues as possible with hapū, with iwi, and with whānau throughout Aotearoa. It is great to be here today and to be part of the historic occasion of making one of those settlements in my own electorate of Ahuriri, of Napier.

Today I have to acknowledge the Minister because he has done an outstanding job in getting to where he has got to. To put it into perspective, over the course of history over the last 20-odd years there have been 69 Treaty settlements, and the Crown is now over halfway towards completing that journey—a very important journey. Of those 69 settlements the Minister before us today has been responsible for 43 deeds of settlement since November 2008, which I think is an outstanding achievement. I believe that he will be remembered in this Parliament and in New Zealand for the accomplishments that he has made and for the work that he has done to progress some very difficult issues.

I have no doubt that within your own hapū there have been issues to overcome. I remember talking with Bevan about getting to the point of settlement and the issues that you have had to overcome. It is a huge undertaking. So I do acknowledge not only you but the Minister in this process.

The great thing about the settlements is that they do recognise and right the wrongs of the past. I would like to think—I guess only history will judge us properly—that it strengthens the partnership between the Crown and Māori. There is no doubt that it does unlock economic potential and boost regional and provincial areas such as Heretaunga, Ahuriri, and Hawke’s Bay—the place that I call home, just like all of you in the gallery today.

The purpose of this bill is to give effect to the deed of settlement signed by the Crown with the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. I have got to say that this settlement is particularly relevant to me, given that my home lies within the rohe of Maungaharuru-Tangitū at its southern boundary. As Nanaia Mahuta said in her speech, it is, in my opinion too, not only one of the best parts but the most beautiful part of Aotearoa. There is no doubt in my mind.

To the south is the old Ahuriri lagoon and lagoon farm. That is sort of at the southern boundary of the area, which is the rohe of the Maungaharuru-Tangitū in that beautiful area of richness of Bay View. I am fortunate to live in the Esk Valley, which is, again, at the southern boundary of this beautiful area. But if you think that to the east is the Tangitū coastline and the richness of that area of the rohe from Waipātiki Beach, Tāngoio, Arapaonui, and further up the coastline, it was renowned historically for the kai moana, and still is in that part. I have had the good fortune of being able to be part of that over my 47-odd years—to be able to go out with my whānau, with my family, when we are holidaying out at Waipātiki Beach and dive for pāua and kina and kōura. It is an amazing place. To the north is the Mōhaka River, which we were fortunate last year to settle with Ngāti Pāhauwera. We have seen the result of the settlement there, which is to empower Pāhauwera to go forward as an iwi and a hapū. To the west we know that the area is bound by Maungaharuru, which is the mountain range—“maunga” meaning mountain; “haruru” meaning the area of many beating wings. My hope is that over time we can return some of those birds to Maungaharuru. I know that Julian Robinson is working closely with the hapū on a project to do that.

I am particularly fortunate not only to have my home in the rohe but also to own some land there. My brother and I own some land, on the ridge line of which there was an old pā site from many years ago. In January of this year members of the iwi met with me. We wandered across the land looking for old pits and other evidence. We spoke of the opportunity for a coastal pathway from Napier to Waipātiki, a pathway that I think could bring significant tourism potential over coming years. We spoke at length about the beauty of the land and the rich resources there. So, like I say, this settlement has particular relevance to me and my own family. But, more important, today’s third reading ends a process that began many years ago.

Can I acknowledge, as I said at the start of my mihi, those in the gallery who have contributed to the journey. There are too many to mention, but, in particular, can I acknowledge Bevan Taylor and Tānia Hopmans, who have led the negotiations. I mihi to you and acknowledge the huge undertaking that you have done and what you have achieved here today. More generally, can I acknowledge all the whānau who are here today and who are part of this process.

I chose in my opening the whakataukī, “Whaia te pae tawhiti kia tata, whaia te pae tata. Whakamaua kia ū, kia tina.”

[Reach for the distant horizon and the one close at hand. Seize and hold fast to them.]

I chose it not just because it is another whakataukī that I could use in the speech, but more as a wero, a challenge. Today is not the end of a process; it is the start of a journey, and my challenge to you is to reach for the stars, to use this opportunity to be everything it can be for your respective hapū, to rise to the challenge, and to become leaders in our community, leaders for your mokopuna, your tamariki. Use this opportunity to be the very best that you can be.

It has been a huge privilege to be part of this process and I am particularly honoured to be here at the third reading with members of the hapū in the House. Can I thank you for that privilege. It is indeed one of the highlights of my time as a member of Parliament and I will remember it for the rest of my days. Thank you very much.

Kia ora, Mr Assistant Speaker. E ngā mana, e ngā reo, rau rangatira mā, ngā whānau o Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. To the authorities, languages, leaders of a hundredfold, and families of the subtribe of Maungaharuru-Tangitū, greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you all.]

I am a proud member of this Parliament. I am also proud to be Ngāti Tūwharetoa, to be Waikato, and I know that all of us here in the House—our Māori caucus, Māori members across the House, and, as we have seen displayed, not only Māori members but all members of this House of Parliament—congratulate you on what has been a battle since 1851. I congratulate you on this, the third reading of your settlement legislation, the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Settlement Bill. I congratulate you on the heart and soul and tenacity to get to this point of recognition.

I say welcome to your House. Parliament is your House. You are tangata whenua. You are not manuhiri here. I acknowledge that status that you have and I thank you very much for the journey that you have made. I know that for all of you there will be many emotions that are flowing not only through your bodies but through your minds as you think about your tūpuna, our tūpuna, and the fight that they have had for over 100 years now to get to a point in time where we, as a country, can acknowledge you for your status as tangata whenua and as mana whenua, which cannot be underestimated in the context of the bill.

I am always really interested in the statutory acknowledgments in the deeds of recognition because what they do is to be very clear about the co-governance—co-management—of a number of historical sites over waterways and over reserves. There is the fact that within your piece of legislation, 22 place names will hold the names of tūpuna who will for ever be acknowledged as having mana whenua over your rohe.

I want to acknowledge all the members of your Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust, because what today is all about is the future. You have a board that has been established and committee members. Your chair is Bevan Taylor. I would like to acknowledge Bevan, Charmaine Butler, Tānia Hopmans, Tamehana (Tom) Manaena, Kerri Nuku, Sabre (Thursday) Puna, Cathy Spooner, and Elaine Taylor. The people within your Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū who have now been empowered with the leadership role in terms of taking your hapū forward, I acknowledge you.

What this piece of legislation does is create a base for you, and it is a base that adds to the base that you have, and have always had, in terms of your identity, your language, your culture, and your marae. This adds to that base, and from that base it has been great to see—I have visited the website; I am a bit of a googler, just like Nanaia, and I have looked at your priorities—that engaging with central government and local government will be a key priority for you. In terms of these statutory acknowledgments, you will have an ongoing role in resource management issues related to these specific areas, and also you have established protocols with the Minister of Energy and Resources and the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, so obviously you see a partnership going forward between yourselves, as mana whenua, and the Crown. Actually, if we are all really serious about what these settlements are about, they are about finally realising what the Treaty of Waitangi was all about. It was about a partnership between mana whenua and the Crown. That is the biggest acknowledgment that I can say today. It is actually about the going forward and our rightful place now in terms of the decision making that will be required within our rohe.

The other issue that I want to focus on is, for me, a clear commitment to you to serve your people within the context of education and within the context of health. I see that one of the opportunities you have is to establish other entities that can then contract from the Crown to make sure that the services your people will receive in the future are culturally appropriate and will reinforce your language and your particular kawa and protocols. I see that as the other aspect of this piece of legislation going forward. It is that part that I want to focus on and wish you all the best for, because within that context we provide opportunities for our tamariki and mokopuna to be educated and to get the skills that you require as a group of hapū leading into the future.

I am not going to talk too much more other than to again congratulate you. I am sure you will travel home and have a big party back at your marae and within your whānau.

I hope that this process has empowered you and that you have seen, through the speeches here in the House, that this is an area where we have consensus. Every member of this House of Parliament going forward will work with the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and with our Māori Affairs Committee, and as a member of the House of Representatives in this 50th Parliament, I am incredibly proud to be part of a process that acknowledges our true status as the original sovereign owners of this land. The opportunity going forward is now in your hands. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Ka tū ake anō ahau ki te mihi ki a koutou katoa. Ki te whānau o Maungaharuru-Tangitū, ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa.

[I rise once again to acknowledge you all. To the family of Maungaharuru-Tangitū, greetings to you all.]

The purpose of this bill is to give effect to the deed of settlement signed by the Crown and Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū. The Māori Affairs Committee whānau examined the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Bill and recommends that it be passed. A number of submitters expressed dissatisfaction with the way Maungaharuru-Tangitū claimants have been defined in the bill. The concerns centred largely on two issues—the entitlements for claimants with connections to both Ngāti Pāhauwera and Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū, and those individuals descended from ancient hapū who may fall between two settlements.

Ngāti Pāhauwera—it is an important part of the settlement process for claimant groups to have the opportunity to set out their whakapapa as they see it, and this has been done in the deed of settlement. Although different approaches to self-identification have been taken, the select committee is confident that this has not resulted in any entitled individuals being excluded from benefiting from one or more settlements.

Ancient hapū—we also heard from submitters who believe that as their ancestral hapū were not explicitly mentioned in the deed of settlement, they could not benefit from it. The committee is satisfied that between the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū and the Ngāti Pāhauwera settlements, the people and hapū in that region will be fully represented and that after the enactment of this bill no outstanding claims will remain to be settled.

Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū comprises six hapū with interests in historical claims in the Hawke’s Bay area north of Napier—Ngāti Kurumōkihi, Ngāti Tu, Ngāti Whakaari, Ngāi Tauira, Ngāi Te Ruruku ki Tangōio, and Ngāi Tahu. The claims of the hapū relate primarily to war, raupatu, and Crown land-purchasing methods. The only land left in the possession of Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū is in a flood-prone zone, which is the location of its marae, Tangoio, and its kōhanga reo.

The bill gives effect to the undertakings by the Crown in the deed of settlement. The bill includes a summary of the agreed historical accounts, Crown acknowledgments, and apologies, and provides for a cultural redress package including vesting of part of Opouahi Station and part of Opouahi Scenic Reserve, unencumbered; and the vesting of Te Pohue Domain Recreational Reserve, subject to reserve status and public access being retained, and excluding the hall that is located on the site. The site will continue to be administered by the Hastings District Council. The bill provides for the vesting of the lakebeds of Lake Tūtira, Lake Orakai, Lake Waikōpiro, and Lake Opouahi, subject to reserve status; and the vesting of administration of the stratum above the lakebeds in the hapū, in trust, subject to reserve status. The stratum is a space occupied by the water and air above the lakebeds, but not the water itself. The bill provides for vesting and gifting back four significant cultural properties: the Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve, the Bellbird Bush Scenic Reserve, the balance of Opouahi Scenic Reserve, and the Whakaari Landing Place Reserve.

These sites will be vested in the hapū on the anniversary of their confiscation, 12 January 2017, and gifted back to the Crown 7 days later. The bill provides for tātai tūāpapa, an overlaying classification, over nine sites of significance to the hapū; and the establishment of a fund with the purpose of soil conservation in the Tangōio area and the formation of a relationship between the hapū and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. The regional council is to manage the fund. The redress reflects the special nature of the Tangōio area and the desire of the hapū to exercise kaitiakitanga there. The bill provides for te kawenata with the Minister of Conservation that will recognise the special relationship that Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū has with that land, relationship agreements with the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporation in respect of fisheries, statutory acknowledgments and deeds of recognition for several sites, including the hapū coastal marine area, and the appointment of an advisory committee.

This Sunday 50 kōrure will be released into Maungaharuru, and we wish you well on that occasion. I commend this bill to the House.

Bill read a third time.

Waiata