Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill

I move, That the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time.

Before I begin, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to those members of Ngāti Tūwharetoa who have travelled here today to attend the second reading of their settlement bill, especially Sir Tumu te Heuheu and the Tūwharetoa Hapū Forum negotiation team. Ko aku mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.

[My warmest regards to you all.]

This bill gives effect to the deed of settlement signed by Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown at Waitetoko Marae last year on 8 July. This deed will be the final settlement of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāti Tūwharetoa that arose from the Crown’s acts and omissions before 21 September 1992. The bill defines and settles the historical claims and comprises five parts, detailing the cultural and commercial redress and significant Crown apology redress. This redress has been carefully negotiated with Ngāti Tūwharetoa and represents a restorative strategy for progress that is both enterprising and meaningful. The aim of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Treaty settlement is to resolve the historical grievances of this iwi and restore Ngāti Tūwharetoa’s trust in the Crown by rebuilding our partnership, based on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

I’d like to keep my remarks regarding this second reading short, and I look forward to describing the bill in more and further detail and sharing my reflections about its intended impact at the third reading. I’d like to acknowledge the work of the Māori Affairs Committee, who have progressed this bill in a timely and professional matter. The committee began their consideration of this bill in December last year, and considered 80 submissions in total from interested individuals and groups. In March this year, the committee travelled to Taupō to hear 29 oral submissions. Consequently, the committee recommended several minor and technical amendments to improve the bill, including the addition of 24 Wai claims that relate to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

I’m satisfied with these recommendations, as they ensure that the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill has been robustly considered by the committee. I note a further amendment will need to be considered by way of a Supplementary Order Paper during the committee of the whole House stage. This amendment relates to the Waipāhihi Stream Conservation Area, scheduled to return to Ngāti Tūwharetoa as a recreation reserve on settlement date.

The second reading of this bill brings Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown closer still to the conclusion of their settlement negotiation, and their first steps together in a renewed relationship as partners. I commend the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill to the House. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Before I call the next speaker, can I just confirm that our time clocks are still not functioning, and remind you that I’ll give you a bell at two minutes remaining.

E Te Mana Whakawā. Nei rā mihi hōhonu ki ngā uri o Te Arawa. Ka huri te titiro ki ngā tapuwae o Ngātoroirangi i takatakahia o koutou whenua. Ngā uri o Tūwharetoa ki te Aupōuri, tū mai, tū mai, tū mai koutou. E mihi kau ana ki a koutou Tūwharetoa iwi i tae mai ki te Ūpoko o te Ika ko te tautoko o te kaupapa nei. Te muru o te hara o te Kāwanatanga e mahia te kōrero, tū hui, te tuarua o te pire i te pire nei.

[Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I respectfully acknowledge the descendants of Te Arawa. I turn my gaze to the footprints of Ngātoroirangi, who traversed your lands. The descendants of Tūwharetoa i Te Aupōuri, stand proudly, stand proudly, stand proudly. I acknowledge you the tribe of Tūwharetoa who have made the journey to Wellington to be part of this prestigious occasion. The sins of the Government can be addressed in this second reading of the bill.]

I’m honoured to stand here once again to acknowledge Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the people who’ve come today to witness this second reading. In the preceding six months since the first reading occurred, there’s been a lot of activity. The Māori Affairs Committee are now around halfway through this particular process and most of the elements of the select committee and the settlement are in place. It’s now about ensuring that we continue to keep the progress moving forward to the third and final reading.

The bill is set out in five parts. Part 1 is the summary of the historical account and includes the parameters of the Crown apology to Tūwharetoa. To me the apology is the most important part of the bill because a Crown apology is an acknowledgment that you, Tūwharetoa iwi, have been heard and that the hara committed against you is now in the stage of muru.

The other parts of the bill relate to cultural, financial, commercial, and other redress. In the period since the first reading, the Māori Affairs Committee received 36 original submissions. Fifteen supported the bill in full or in part, 15 had no position, and six opposed the bill. We also received 44 supplementary submissions and heard 29 oral submissions in Taupō.

In the process of working through the provisions of the bill, we were notified that we would need to amend clause 14(3)(a), which was a list, and it had to list 24 Wai claims relating to Tūwharetoa that are not currently listed in the definitions claim part within the bill itself. To ensure the integrity of the bill and the settlement with Tūwharetoa, these 24 Wai claims have to be included within the bill itself. Other amendments are nothing more than minor technical changes that do not affect the integrity of the settlement in any way whatsoever.

A settlement of this magnitude, with the number of iwi that border and at times cross over into other iwi rohe, raises the inevitable cross-claim issue itself, and this particular bill was no exception—and particularly with 20 neighbouring hapū and also iwi within the greater rohe itself. There’s been an extensive consultation, particularly between Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Whāoa, and also Tūwharetoa, and I know personally how difficult cross-claims can be and how the perception of the imposition of mana is felt by Māori. And yet cross-claims preceded the arrival of Pākehā. Our old people had to find ways to live with each other in our competing demands on local resources, as was done here. And our tīpuna understood the need, though, to negotiate, and it was they who said: waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te taio [let us be close together, not wide apart].

My own Ngāti Waewae people, a part of Ngai Tahu, often speak of te tatou pounamu, or the greenstone door. What that actually means is that the pounamu was gifted to seal peace between people, and particularly within those issues around overlapping claims within the rohe. So I acknowledge the hard work of Tūwharetoa—and it was hard work—and particularly with their whanaunga iwi of Ngāti Whāoa and Ngāti Tahu in reaching a kind of broad consensus on what the Tūwharetoa settlement would actually look like.

So I still have really great faith—I think we all do, in the Māori Affairs Committee—that an agreement can be reached, particularly around the Rotokawa conservation area and then also where you look forward to that actually being concluded. I think one of the other difficulties that we have is that once a deed of settlement is signed, we’re actually bound to look only at the terms of the deed itself. So when we looked at Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, when they requested the bill include a number of new provisions for the settlement, including the Motutere Recreational Reserve, we unfortunately were constrained by our own legislative boundaries and could not consider those matters outside of which is contained within the bill before the House. So this also included the Waitete Landcorp farm and the Ōnekeneke property as well. That said, the provisions of the settlement have remained pretty much intact within the bill itself: the cultural funds totalling approximately $3.95 million and then also the financial redress of $25 million.

I just want to take the time to acknowledge the hard work of my colleague the Hon Christopher Finlayson, who progressed so much of this settlement and, equally, our previous speaker, the Hon Andrew Little, who has kept the integrity of the settlement and is working really diligently to bring the settlement to a conclusion. In National’s time at the helm of Government, we signed 59 deeds of settlements. To see these deeds progress to legislation is deeply, really satisfying, because the sooner we settle Treaty claims, the sooner iwi and all New Zealanders can begin to reap the benefits these settlements bring.

I think it’s important though, because of those from Tūwharetoa that are here today, that we acknowledge their ongoing patience and their true aroha that they have shown in all these years of loss that they have suffered. The Tūwharetoa humility and manaaki to this whole country stands as a testament to the mana of a truly great iwi like Tūwharetoa.

Finally, I think it’s important though, as has been done by the previous speaker, just to acknowledge the work of the Māori Affairs Committee, our chair Rino Tirikatene, and the fact that we travelled quite extensively, in some ways, to Taupō and we heard very passionate submissions in regard to a number of the issues that I have highlighted today. I think the important part of it, though, was actually the mana of Tūwharetoa and also the way that they sat there and listened to the concerns. One thing about the Māori Affairs Committee is the fact that it’s always good to hear submissions that support a bill but it’s most important, actually, to hear the submissions that do not support the bill. So that was something that I think was really a great hallmark in the hearing of these submissions and the work that has been done.

On that note e te Mana Whakawā, huri noa i te Whare nei [on that note Madam Deputy Speaker, to one and all in this House], for that reason of honouring this iwi, I hope that we can get through as quick as we can to that third reading and to the final legislation being passed in the House. On that note, I commend the bill to the House. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, e mihi atu ki a koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe, Madam Deputy Speaker. Otirā, tēnā koutou Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Ariki, Tā Tumu me ngā hapū maha kua tau mai nei ki te Whare Pāremata, tēnā koutou, nau mai, hoki mai. Tēnā koutou i o tātou mate maha o te motu. Āpiti hono tātai hono, rātou ki a rātou, āpiti hono tātai hono, tātou te kanohi ora ki a tātou tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Greetings Ngāti Tūwharetoa, paramount chief Sir Tumu and the many subtribes who have made it here to Parliament, greetings, welcome, welcome back. I also acknowledge those who have passed on. The connections have been made between those who have passed on, and connections have been established between us the living; greetings, greetings, greetings.]

E tū ake au te tautoko i tēnei pire, i tēnei pānuitanga tuarua—I stand to wholeheartedly support this bill, the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill, at its second reading. This is another important milestone in the progression of this significant claim for Ngāti Tūwharetoa, the fifth-largest iwi in Aotearoa, and it certainly has been an enjoyable part of the process that we have conducted as a select committee in this phase. And I do want to acknowledge Tā Tumu and all Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa and all of the 26 hapū of Ngāti Tūwharetoa that are represented, previously through the Tūwharetoa Hapū Forum, and all of those hapū who gave very passionate submissions on this significant piece of legislation.

We, as a committee, travelled to Taupō, as my fellow whanaunga Tutehounuku Korako mentioned, and it was a very, very moving occasion, and I do want to acknowledge all of the kōrero that we received from Ngāti Tūwharetoa; from the Taupō District Council, who were supportive of the bill; likewise, too, other neighbouring iwi, who had differing views on certain aspects of the bill. But this bill is centred on Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and the cornerstone of all settlements, including this settlement for Ngāti Tūwharetoa, is the deed—it’s the deed of settlement that was signed just over a year ago now. And our job as a committee is to use the force of Parliament to put through legislation which is required to implement certain aspects of that deed. And so, bearing in mind those parameters, we worked conscientiously as a committee. We listened very carefully, and we certainly asked the officials that were advising us to do all they could to advise us on certain very tricky areas and some complex issues that arose in our consideration of the bill. And I do want to go into those, because there was a significant number of submissions—11 in total—regarding the Lake Rotokawa Conservation Area. And, as we have in all Treaty settlements, there are, inevitably, overlapping claims or overlapping interests, and we see that all over the motu, and none more so than Ngāti Tūwharetoa, who are overlapped by 20 other iwi or hapū groups.

The Lake Rotokawa Conservation Area was one of a particular mamae for Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The Crown expressed a willingness to include and return that conservation area to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. It was included in the agreement in principle. However, as the process of actually getting to the completion of the settlement took place and the Crown and Tūwharetoa sought support from their neighbouring whanaunga of Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whāoa to the inclusion of that particular aspect to the settlement redress, unfortunately, Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whāoa did not agree to that, and despite numerous efforts and hui, unfortunately, the Crown decided to remove that particular piece of property from the ultimate deed that was signed. And so that was a great area of concern to many, many of the affected hapū. It’s pretty rare, I would say, for a piece of land which the Crown has expressed a willingness to return—and, unfortunately, in dealing with the overlapping interests, no arrangements could be agreed upon between the various groups to ensure that that could actually be effected. So I do regret, actually, that Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whaoa wouldn’t go that step further—not even a joint or some dual-management arrangement could be agreed upon, and so, as a result, the property was taken out of the settlement all together.

I would also want to talk to the Motutere Recreation Reserve, and I do want to acknowledge the Te Rangiita hapū, who spoke passionately about that particular piece of land. This particular reserve is not included in the settlement, but there was support by the Taupō District Council and by Ngāti Tūwharetoa that it could be included as redress. And, unfortunately, given the parameters that we were constrained by, we were unable, as a committee, to expand the deed that had been executed to insert that particular property. However, I took some comfort from the remarks from the Hon Andrew Little that that aspect could be addressed in the future. And I certainly hope that administrative processes are put in place to ensure that that is followed through, because what we’re talking about is land that is, ultimately, vested in the Crown. There is a recreation reserve which is vested in the Taupō District Council, and the Taupō District Council has granted a lease, I understand, to like a camping operator—it’s a camping ground. And, ultimately, we would want to see the return of the underlying land, especially given all the parties agree to it, and I certainly would look forward to further progress from the Minister to ensure that that can happen.

There were many, many other issues that we traversed as a committee. I do want to make note of the Ōnekeneke property, which is going back to Ngāti Tūwharetoa as part of this settlement. However, there have been issues around the lease of that property—the lessee is the DeBretts hotel. So those issues are being worked on in regard to the validity of the lease that now sits on that property, but we have been advised that the Minister will be presenting a Supplementary Order Paper further, in the committee of the whole House, to clear that matter up. Because, at the moment, there are discussions under way, I understand, to clarify the lease situation.

Lastly, there were many other issues. I will go into further aspects as we go through. I have no idea where I’m at for time, but I heard the bell.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Forty-two seconds.

Forty-two seconds! I want to use up every second, because this is so important to Ngāti Tuwharetoa, but, ultimately, we are implementing the deed that has been executed. We did our best as a committee to try and address these other aspects. There has been a glimmer of hope that some action will be taken in future, and I certainly hope that is the case, and I just want to, once again, acknowledge Ngāti Tūwharetoa for their persistent hard work thus far, and we look forward progressing through the remaining stages of this bill.

Nō reira, tautoko ana ahau i tēnei pire, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Therefore, I support this bill; thank you one and all.]

This is a second reading debate, so I will keep my comments relatively short. I know that my friend the member for Te Tai Tonga wants to go the full 10 minutes, but I won’t. In opening my comments, can I acknowledge the MP for Te Tai Tonga, Rino Tirikatene. He’s an excellent chair of the Māori Affairs Committee. He is courteous, he’s generous in spirit, and he manages to get through the work. Whenever Kelvin Davis is answering questions in the House, I look across at Mr Tirikatene, who’s got a sort of beatific smile on his face, which suggests that he knows, as so many other people know, that he should be answering those questions, because he leaves Mr Davis for dead. And the same comments could be made about Ms Wall, who is a daughter of Tuwharetoa; of course, she should be in Cabinet as well, and the sooner that happens, the better.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Come to the bill.

But I’ll come to the bill. I’m just trying to be nice!

So there are a few brief comments I want to make. The first is dealing with overlapping claims. I often refer to Ngāti Tuwharetoa as sort of the Poland of Māoridom, surrounded by a lot of other iwi—big iwi, small iwi—and so it’s inevitable that there are going to be overlapping claims, and I want to commend them and I want to commend the good people of, for example, Ngāti Maniapoto for the way in which these issues have been dealt with. Overlapping claims are difficult issues; they go right to the history of an iwi, and they can be very emotional. I think that all iwi, including Ngāti Tuwharetoa, are to be commended for the way they have dealt with these issues. If one or two matters have remained outstanding, well, that doesn’t surprise me given where Ngāti Tuwharetoa is based.

Mr Tirikatene has dealt with the Motutere Recreation Reserve issue, and I endorse everything he said. I certainly hope that, at some stage in the future, this reserve will be able to be returned to Ngāti Tuwharetoa. There’s a technical reason why it was out of scope in terms of what we, in the Māori Affairs Committee, could discuss, but he has summarised that very well. There is a sensitive issue over the Ōnekeneke property, as he commented on a few minutes ago. We have to step through that very carefully. There will be a Supplementary Order Paper, and we have to make sure that that issue is dealt with adequately both for Ngāti Tuwharetoa and also for the hotel.

I just want to say something about Waiteti Landcorp farm, because that was another issue the committee dealt with, but it was outside the scope of the bill. Ngāti Tuwharetoa wanted it included as cultural redress, or they wanted a reasonable time frame to be stated for Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Landcorp farming to complete due diligence and negotiate the price. Look, I have every sympathy for every settling iwi trying to deal with Landcorp, because Landcorp have this view that disposing of farms is fundamentally the wrong thing to do. When I was the Minister, I was firmly of the view that my task was to get as many Landcorp farms to settling iwi as possible. I would complain about Landcorp and their attitude to settlements and the way in which they would inflate prices for farms. Their attitude, frankly, in relation to Treaty settlements is most unsatisfactory, and I have every sympathy for Ngāti Tuwharetoa—Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa is another example of where it’s like Napoleon on his way to Moscow: it was fighting every step of the way to try and get the right result for the iwi. So, often, what we used to do was appoint people to the board of Landcorp, hoping that they would have a better understanding of Treaty settlements. And, as an old mafia boss once said, “You can buy people, but how long do they stay bought?” In the case of directors of Landcorp, they would stay bought for as long as it took for the ink to dry on the warrant of their appointment, and then suddenly they would believe that Landcorp has this special role to run farms, and the return on capital is what? About 1.5 percent. I mean, they’re hopeless when it comes to making money out of these farms, whereas, of course, they belong to the iwi and should be returned.

So, look, I know that’s, perhaps, a little bit of rave, but I just want to emphasise the point that Ngāti Tuwharetoa on this issue and iwi on this Landcorp issue are totally right and if it were me, I would force Landcorp to adopt the old Nike slogan “Just do it.” I’d perhaps go further and adopt the Stalin approach: “Or else.” And I think that there really does need to be, on the part of the Government, an opportunity given to Landcorp to sharpen up their ideas.

So with those comments, I commend the bill to the House. As I say, it’s the second reading. It’s been a pleasure dealing with Ngāti Tūwharetoa, who are excellent people, and I really think that when this legislation is through, there is the issue of the mountains that needs to be addressed, and then I think in the central North Island we’re getting to a stage where most of the Treaty settlements will be justly and durably resolved. I’m sure the Minister is looking forward to negotiating with the balance of the Wanganui groups, and with the great Mōkai Pātea in the northern part of Mr McKelvie’s electorate, because they are issues that need to be addressed in the near future as well.

Tēnā koe, Madam Deputy Speaker. Ki te ariki o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tā Tumu te Heuheu, tēnā koe. Ki ngā uri o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui aku mihi mahana, ngā mihi maioha me ngā mihi aroha katoa ki a koutou. Nau mai ki tēnei whare, te Whare o Pāremata, tō tātou Whare. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[To the paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Sir Tumu te Heuheu, greetings. To the descendants of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, greetings one and all. My warmest, deepest, and most appreciative thanks to you all. Welcome to this House, welcome to Parliament, welcome to our House. Greetings to each and every one who is here.]

I greet you from my maunga, Whakarongorua, and from the waters of Hokianga-nui-ā-Kupe we greet you. I acknowledge your maunga, Tongariro, Taupō te moana, and thank you all for your presence here in the House today for this second reading of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill. It is my pleasure, on behalf of New Zealand First—Aotearoa Tuatahi—to speak on this bill.

Tūwharetoa, may I have the privilege of reciting one of your treasured sayings?

Ka titiro whānui au ki ngā kokonga o tōku rohe, kei reira ngā mana o te motu, ko ngā whānau, ngā marae, ngā hapū. Kī mai ngā kōrero o ō mātua tūpuna, whakaponotia, manaakitia, pūmautia ki ngā tikanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

[I look to the furthest reaches of my territory where the real authority of the country resides—with families, marae, and hapū. I repeat the words of your ancestors—believe in them, look after them, and be steadfast in the customs of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.]

I’d just like to let you know that my broadcasting career—many years ago now–was born in the poho of Taupō-nui-a-Tia. My voice was first heard on the airwaves of Hits and Memories Radio Lakeland. It was a radio station on the hill overlooking the town of Taupō. We had the most amazing view out of any radio station in our country. We looked out over the waters of Taupō, through to the maunga in the distance. Many times they would be snowclad right throughout winter. It was the most amazing place to begin a career. I was nurtured and protected there by the wairua of Tūwharetoa, and I thank you for that.

Tūwharetoa are connected to Te Arawa, where I grew up—just up the road in Rotorua and then up the road and around the corner in Rerewhakaaitu. So Tūwharetoa are part of the place of where I grew up.

I’d like to acknowledge, in this reading, the chair of our Māori Affairs Committee, Rino Tirikatene—an excellent chair. We’ve heard made mention of this already today. It’s really a privilege to be part of this committee and to work in such a collegial manner on these Treaty settlements. Rino mentioned that this reading, this second reading here today in the House, marks a very significant milestone, and I’m privileged to be a part of it. The Minister, the Hon Andrew Little, spoke about, in his submission today, that this represents a restorative strategy for progress that is both enterprising and meaningful, and it is hopeful that, really, it does become enterprising and meaningful once we’re through the third and final reading of this bill.

In earlier readings, the first reading, unfortunately I wasn’t able to be a participant in that, but my colleague the Hon Shane Jones was, and I’d just like to read out what he said, in case you hadn’t heard it. He said that “This is not just a settlement about resources; this is an affirmation and a reminder to us as Māori parliamentarians of the role that the ancestors of this tribe have played over the years in not only contributing to the Kīngitanga but keeping alive the ancient Polynesian kaupapa of Te Ariki.” I think those are really important words for us to remember as Māori politicians.

I would like to also make mention of the Hon Christopher Finlayson, the former Minister, for the work he did in getting the bill through the stages when he was in charge, and also the comments he made about the many overlaps. We’ve heard a lot about that in the select committee, and how these must be worked through in a tikanga process. He made mention of the iwi and how you have dealt with all of these issues. You must be commended for that.

We heard 29 submissions when we headed to Taupō in March earlier this year, and it was really fantastic to go back to what has been a part-time home of mine in an earlier phase in my life. We had several minor and technical amendments that were made to the bill as a result of those hearings and those submissions that we received, and 24 Wai claims relating to Ngāti Tūwharetoa have been added to as well.

I won’t go into too many of the submissions, because they have already been spoken about in this House, but I would like to make mention of the kōrero we heard around Waihī Village—Turumākina hapū. We heard about the Māori reservation that was situated—this is on the south-western shores of Lake Taupō, not very far north-west of Tūrangi, if you’re familiar with that geography. They need funding assistance from the Taupō District Council for the installation of a water line. Now, this is because there has been a bit of an issue with the water treatment plant that supplies treated water to 26 properties and two marae there. The sewerage tanks, they are old, and, with the possibility of effluent seeping out into Lake Taupō—and none of us really want to think about that in too great a detail—they’re seeking help with sorting this out, aware that the Crown has funded and supported other initiatives to clean and upgrade waterways, and that, certainly, is something on the Government’s programme. I would just like to make mention of that submission, because it was something that I thought was very pertinent.

Also, I’d like to make mention of the Motutere reserve. That’s not included in this settlement, but we heard great support from the Taupō District Council as well as Ngāti Tūwharetoa that it could be included at some point in the future and there was acknowledgment from the Minister that hopefully this will be dealt with at some point in the future, as has been indicated.

Just towards the closing of my speech today, I’d like to just make note of a couple of lines that I heard during the submissions in Taupō, and the first is this: “It is the tikanga of Ngāti Tūwharetoa that has got us here. Tikanga will get this finished.” The second point is “This is an occasion in which we behave in mana. This will leave our mauri and mana intact.”, and I think those two statements are something that we can all reflect on.

So just in conclusion, puritia tō mana kia mau, kia ita, aha itaita, kia mau tonu. Nō reira, he hōnore, he korōria ki a Atua, he maungārongo ki te Whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa [grasp tightly to the land, be firm; let not your mana, your land be torn from your grasp. Therefore, honour and glory to God, peace on Earth, and goodwill to all men.]

I commend this bill to the House. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Tēnā koe e Te Mana Whakawā. Tēnā koe, Te Whare. Rau rangatira mā, tēnei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te rā. Tēnā koutou ngā iwi rangatira o Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Ariki, Tā Tumu te Heuheu; tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

[Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and greetings to the House. I greet you our distinguished guests who have gathered here for this important occasion. Greetings to the supreme tribes of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, to the paramount chief Sir Tumu te Heuheu; greetings, greetings, greetings one and all.]

It’s wonderful to see so many representatives of Ngāti Tūwharetoa here in this second reading of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill. I want to start by just acknowledging your patience, and I’m only too aware, as your MP, how long this journey has been. I also want to acknowledge that the journey still has a few steps to go. I also want to acknowledge my colleague the Hon Christopher Finlayson, who has recognised—for Ngāti Tūwharetoa, as with iwi across New Zealand—how critical this process is and how important it is to get resolution, to get settlement in a full and final way, but actually how critical it is to acknowledge the wrongs of the past.

Many people across New Zealand, who might be listening to this debate today, will, of course, know of the mighty Ngāti Tūwharetoa. They might not recognise, though, that it is the fifth-largest iwi across New Zealand, with 36,000 members. I don’t think anyone will be surprised that Ngāti Tūwharetoa is at the heart of the central North Island. From personal experience, I would say you are the beating heart not only of the North Island but of the country, and it is very much centred on Lake Taupō, or Taupō Moana. Although in some of the speeches, in this debate and others, there’s been recognition of the impact on Lake Taupō of some of the public works, for example, that weren’t necessarily—with the hydroelectric power stations, and of course the dam has created quite significant changes for you and your awa.

I do want to also, in this second reading, say how enormously proud I am of Ngāti Tūwharetoa’s contribution to making sure that the health of the lake is also a significant priority, not just for you but in recognition of its vital importance to New Zealand. So not only is Ngāti Tūwharetoa strong, noble, and generous of heart; you are also an economic powerhouse, so vital to the Taupō district, so vital to the wider central North Island.

So I won’t speak at length on this second reading. I do want to just say that I used to be a member of the Māori Affairs Committee, with the now chair Rino, and I’m only sorry that I wasn’t a member of it to see your legislation work its way through the process. I know there’ll be some issues that are causing some frustration still, and I acknowledge the acknowledgment of the Minister to seek ways to resolve those outstanding issues. I will work with him to ensure that the progress is made in a way that is satisfying and resolving to you.

The reality of Treaty settlement bills is they are a critical part of New Zealand’s history but, more importantly, our future. Having listened to the stories of the past, there is absolutely no way, as a people and as a country, we can move forward together unless those wrongs are righted. So I acknowledge your generosity. I acknowledge your presence in the House today for the second reading. Kia ora, and I look forward to the final completion in the third reading.

E te Māngai o te Whare, tēnā koe. Tēnā tātou, ōku hoa kaimahi. Tēnā koutou Tūwharetoa me ngā hapū katoa kua tae mai ki tēnei Whare Pāremata. Kia ora.

[Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Greetings to my work colleagues. Greetings to Tūwharetoa and the subtribes who grace this House. Good afternoon.]

I’m very, very pleased to be able to stand and make a short contribution to this second reading, particularly to put on record my deep regret, actually, at not having been able to attend the hearings in Taupō with my Māori Affairs Committee, especially after having spoken in the first reading, which I had the honour of doing.

For that reason, I want to focus quite heavily on the submissions themselves. I was able to have a deep look into the submissions, given that I wasn’t able to hear the submissions kanohi kitea [in person] on the day, but I made sure I went back and was able to consider the submissions—both written and on record—to keep being part of the deliberation kōrero at the Māori Affairs Committee. And my goodness, as always, there were issues that we needed, and will continue to need to work through, and there remain unresolved issues.

Firstly, I wanted to pick up on Motutere, actually, I think—is what we will go from here. The raru around the Motutere Scenic Reserve, in particular, jumped out at me because I remembered, far too long ago, as a university student, I was part of a group of six people—and I was the only woman—to paddle from Wanganui Castlecliff Beach back to Auckland. Of course, we crossed the entire Taupō lake as part of that journey—the whole trip took us four weeks—but we camped at Motutere, and at various other points along the lakeside, but, absolutely, at Motutere. It actually provided us with important refuge at that time because it was, I think, Cyclone Drena, a long, long time ago, which was whipping up a frenzy up the whole countryside, actually—up the whole North Island. So Motutere, in particular, jumped out at me. I regret, as we constantly do as a House—certainly as a Māori Affairs Committee, actually—that we weren’t able to resolve the Tūwharetoa request that the bill include the Motutere reserve as cultural redress, or as a mechanism for the reserve to be returned to Tūwharetoa, simply because it falls outside the scope of the amendments to this bill that the committee could recommend.

Now that in itself is part of the reason why the Greens fundamentally understand that we need to review the entire process of Treaty settlements—we’ve been very clear about that. Particularly, scope in legislation has been a bit of a clumsy tool to try and serve any sort of justice. We know and I’m clear that these legislations, unfortunately, don’t address justice entirely. They absolutely can offer, and make do, and make the best of the generations of colonisation and its impact and the injustice that has happened. But, certainly, the fact that that lay outside the scope of this bill, just goes again to indicate how unfit these tools and this process is for seeking any sort of real justice.

I did want to pick up on the submission of the Ngāti Te Rangiita hapū. I wanted to quote, particularly, what they said and what they included in their submission. Talking about the connection and why this is an unsolved issue, it states in their submission: “As Te Kanawa Pitiroi, one of our kaumatua, said recently: ‘It is something that is close to all of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Motutaiko is a focal point for all areas around the lake. No matter where you are around the lake, you can see the Island. You cannot isolate the kōrero of Motutere. Motutere is a very special place. You cannot put a fence around the camping ground and say that’s it.’ ” I wanted to make sure that Hansard would hold on to those words forever, and that we, in our hearts, will be very mindful of the unresolved issues that remain.

Similarly, with the Waiteti Landcorp farm. Again, Tūwharetoa would have liked to have seen this included as cultural redress, or to negotiate a price for purchasing. We have to buy back our own justice. But we, again, were advised that this falls outside the scope.

Lastly, the Ōnekeneke property where the committee, again, was advised—oh my goodness, no, this was a thing, actually, when we found this out. The whole perpetual lease thing was super dodgy. Again, we are advised that there are ongoing discussions to try and sort through that. I really look forward to all of us being kept to account on the DeBrett’s Land Act 1948 lease. How am I going? OK. I haven’t heard a bell yet. I said I was going to be short, but the submissions are just too important—

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: Four minutes.

Thank you, thank you, Te Māngai. The submissions were just so important. I definitely want to pick up on Rotokawa. I understand deeply all the debates and all the views, actually, of all the hapū who have a valid mamae that the Rotokawa conservation land has not been included as cultural redress in this bill. I also have to thank the people who hosted me at the geothermal field, and, also, allowed me to hear where they are coming from. I want to acknowledge everybody’s connection and the outstanding issues that still remain. We in the Māori Affairs Committee kept the bill intact, which meant that Rotokawa is still not included in this redress.

Again, I understand all of the sides and the connections. I also understand that whenever these overlapping interests happen in this process, it’s also people who are each other’s people—it’s actually whanaunga, it’s neighbours, it’s literally our own whanaunga who are having to deal with these issues. Again, I ask this House and the Crown to stand up and take some responsibility for these processes that have often wedged many of our own whanaunga hapū against each other. I look forward to us playing whatever part we can to smooth ongoing korero, to help that through. But I want to thank everyone for putting their views in front of me about Rotokawa.

So, to wrap up for my contribution today, there are ongoing issues. We can’t leave it there even though the bill will proceed and become an Act. In this House, we need to be very mindful of the trail of further injustice and potential harm that we will need to really pick up and be accountable for. I also look forward to progressing Tūwharetoa’s bill through the House, and more importantly, to support the visions and aspirations for going forward. Kia ora.

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Needless to say, I don’t have the degree of eloquence of some of my predecessors, but I just want to say a few things on this bill. I’ll point out at the start that I’ve never been privileged to sit on the Māori Affairs Committee. I have been along there for the odd kai and it’s almost as good as we have at the Primary Production Committee, but not quite. So that’s a very good part of the Māori Affairs Committee. Thank you, Rino.

I do want to congratulate the then Minister Finlayson and subsequent Minister Little for the work they’ve done on these Treaty settlement bills. I think these bills are, by far, the most rewarding bills that you can put through the Parliament, or in the three terms I’ve been here, I think they are, by far, the most rewarding, and whilst I don’t think they ever will address some of the interesting past we have as a country, they certainly do go a long way to resolving some issues.

My family have been going to Lake Taupō since the late 1890s, which is quite a significant time. The reason I want to raise this is, I think that when you go to that part of New Zealand and when you spend time in that part of New Zealand, you realise what a significant part of the country it is, what an amazing part of the country it is, and when you read the Crown acknowledgments in the course of this bill and the Treaty settlement process that’s taken place in that part of New Zealand, you realise what a significant injustice has been done, I think much greater than some other parts of the country. And I think it’s also a part of the country that has huge significance for all of us, whether it’s—I won’t tell you how long ago, but it’d be a good while ago, when I first went for a swim in the DeBrett’s pool; we used to go there often, as children. I think that’s just what reminds you of that part of the country. It’s a very significant part of New Zealand.

The other thing that I think’s so special about that part of the country—and from a farming perspective, I don’t think a lot of that part of the country would ever have been farmed, but it’s got huge significance from a conservation estate perspective, and I think that Tūwharetoa would probably do as good a job, if not a better job than the Government of managing that estate, and I think that that’s probably been largely demonstrated by them over the years.

The other couple of things I wanted to mention briefly—and I did want to touch on the Landcorp farm issue, but not for the same reason that’s been touched on to date. In my own part of the world, where I live, at the southern end of my electorate—and, of course, the top of the Rangitīkei electorate is well into Ngāti Tūwharetoa territory. And, also, all those overlapping claims, but one, affect a large part of the Rangitīkei electorate, as well.

But I just want to touch on an issue, and I know, and I’m sure Tūwharetoa know, that they’ll be there long after Landcorp. I’m sure they’ll always remember that, because in Flock House, just across the river from where I live, a very similar issue arose in the course of a Ngāti Apa Treaty settlement. Of course, Flock House wasn’t owned by Landcorp; in fact, it was owned by my family for over a hundred years. But it was a piece of land that Ngāti Apa was significantly interested in. In the course of the Treaty settlement process, they weren’t able to settle on it. It came up for sale very soon after, and they pounced on it pretty quickly. I think that we’ve got long memories in this country, and I know that Tūwharetoa will have a long memory. I do think that the comments that were made earlier about this sort of issue are hugely important, because it’s irrelevant, you know. Who owns what is not all that relevant in this country, because as long as we’re here for ever, I don’t think it matters.

So I think it’s very special to be able to be a part of, or observe, these Treaty settlement processes from—I suppose what I’d call a distance; but it is special.

I just want to finish with a couple of other things that my grandmother always used to say about the Tūwharetoa part of New Zealand, or about Taupō. One of her favourite sayings was “When you live by the coast, sonny, you always go inland for your holidays.” And we did. The other thing she always said was “You’d never eat a fish from this far from the sea, my boy.” And I think she was true there, too.

So I want to wish you all the best as this settlement goes through its remaining phases in this House, and I look forward to the time when the whole of the central North Island and, in fact, the Rangitīkei electorate, is completely settled, because I think we’ve seen massive progress as a result of these settlements, and I think it’s very exciting for all New Zealanders. Thank you.

This is a split call.

May I firstly simply acknowledge the iwi of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, who are present. Their mana, their reo—those who are present tonight, but those, also, who are no longer with us, who may have been part of this journey from the outset but have passed on. And simply just acknowledge and say kia ora tātou katoa.

In 2012, I had the opportunity, with a few members of the Pasifika community, to travel from Auckland to the funeral of the late Sir Timi te Heuheu, the husband of a former colleague of the House, Georgina. Though we’d travelled often that route from Auckland to Wellington passing Lake Taupō, this was the first time of actually travelling down to the coastal region there and seeing the beauty of that particular area. I make those remarks in an effort to make a connection to the significance and importance of the presence of people who are here and to the significance of the second reading of this particular bill. I also make a connection that, as I make my way around our regions and meeting up with the growing Pacific population, in Levin, in Gisborne, in Blenheim, and in other parts of New Zealand, I note that of the more than 62 percent of Pacific peoples who are born in Aotearoa New Zealand, in Gisborne almost two-thirds of that Pacific population have heritage into Māoridom. And that, to me, speaks about the future.

I then come back to the bill and I note that in the first part of this bill, it makes reference to an apology for mistakes that have been made in the past by the Crown, and that, to me, appears to have been a negotiated settlement between the representatives of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown. And I think even though there are significant parts of the legislation that will be of value to the present generation in future, for me the apology and the words that will be used in that apology are the significant component of this bill to me—and I’ll tell you why. It is because the experience of Ngāti Tūwharetoa is not isolated. It is an experience that many of mana whenua have also experienced. It is the experience that other indigenous cultures have faced right across the world. It is an experience that Pacific Island nations have also faced. And so I give support that that is so fundamental in moving forward. It is so fundamental that that history is recorded and taught to the next generation, because from where I stand it is important that the mistakes of the past are not repeated: not repeated in Aotearoa New Zealand, not repeated in the Pacific region, not repeated where indigenous cultures are.

I think what is happening in Aotearoa New Zealand with these settlements is almost the shining light and example that certainly I hold up in the Pacific region and certainly I want to acknowledge that this is the example that others look towards. I want to acknowledge Tūwharetoa Māoridom throughout New Zealand for this negotiation.

Finally, I just acknowledge my Māori colleagues on this side, on that side, on all sides of the House, because I think it’s been your determination—your heart—that has enabled all of us who are non-Māori, particularly our Palagi friends, to understand the depth of what this about. I want to acknowledge Rino, and I acknowledge also that though it’s our turn to take the lead in this, there have been other Ministers along the way. This isn’t about acknowledgment though; this is about acknowledging the heart of the work and that is acknowledging the faults that have occurred in the past. Kia kaha, Te Tūwharetoa.

E te Māngai o tēnei Whare, tēnā koe. Kei te mihi au ki ngā whānau, ki ngā hapū, ki ngā uri o Ngāti Tūwharetoa tae atu ki Ariki, Tā Tumu te Heuheu; e te whanaunga, nau mai i tēnei rā ki te whakarongo ki te pānuitanga tuarua o tēnei pire. Tēnā tātou. Aroha mai mō taku kōrero poto ki a koutou i tēnei wā.

[Mr Assistant Speaker, thank you. I acknowledge the families, the hapū, and the descendants of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, including the paramount chief, Sir Tumu te Heuheu; to my relations, I welcome you today to listen to the second reading of this bill. Greetings one and all. Please excuse the brevity of my speech to you at this time.]

The brevity of my call with designated limited time this afternoon to address Ngāti Tūwharetoa in this House, acknowledging the historical significance and grievous journey and where and what we have arrived at today as agents of the Crown and select committee, falls somewhat short for a reasoned and explanatory overview, which I regret. However, I seek the opportunity at the third reading of this bill.

The purpose of a second reading is to critique and where enabled tweak and adjust the bill for further consideration, and that further consideration has been given due regard before our Māori Affairs Committee, and we will continue to do that as we advance this towards its final passage for the third reading and assent into law.

My fellow Māori Affairs Committee colleagues have addressed this House this afternoon on some of those many perplexing issues which came before us on papers and also at the hearing when we attended up in Taupō. We were perplexed, because as agents of the Crown there are times when we are limited with what we are able to do. We are perplexed because we know the injustices that have been associated with the journey that Ngāti Tūwharetoa people are here today for.

My mind and thoughts turn to many of those whom we know have gone before and looking up at you, my thoughts turn to my kuia Merepaea Pohe, of Tūranga-a-rere o Taihape, and when I travelled with my kuia from Taihape through to Taupō, on many occasions she talked about her memories as a young woman and associations with Uncle Hepi in the te Heuheu whānau.

I now turn to the deed of settlement and the signing of that at Waitetoko Marae on 8 July 2017, and my colleague, who I have the distinct privilege of referring to as my colleague now, the Hon Christopher Finlayson, stated that today marks the new beginning of a new relationship between Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown and that we can never fully compensate Ngāti Tūwharetoa for the wrongs of the past, but today’s settlement contributes to a stronger economic and secure future for the iwi, noting that it was the 84th signing of a deed of settlement by the Crown and an important step and acknowledgment towards completion of Treaty settlements.

I’ve signalled that my time is limited to speak today. I’ll seize the opportunity at the third reading to go into greater detail, but I would like to conclude before commending this second reading to the House: Tā Tumu said, at that signing of the deed of settlement and as was recorded, that the future is now the focus, and in your words, uncle, I believe that this settlement provides a solid foundation for Ngāti Tūwharetoa to set its own course to a strong future. To move forward, we must be precise in our intent and bold yet humble in our actions. Kua mutu taku kōrero i tēnei wā.

[My speech has now ended.]

I commend this bill to the House. Tēnā tatou katoa.

Tēnā koe e te Māngai o te Whare. Te Ariki Nui o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tā Tumu, e ngā mana, e ngā reo, rau rangatira mā, ngā whānau o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. To the paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Sir Tumu, to the various authorities, voices, chiefs, and families of Ngāti Tūwharetoa who are gathered here, greetings, greetings, greetings one and all.]

And what an absolute pleasure it is for me as an uri of Ngāti Tūwharetoa to stand here proudly as one of yours to debate our bill.

I’m actually going to go through the select committee report because I think it’s really important that we understand what this is process is all about. And so, bear with me, but usually when bills are presented back at the second reading there aren’t any amendments. There aren’t any amendments because, essentially, the deed that was signed on 8 July 2017 at Waitetoko Marae is translated into this, which is a piece of legislation. The Crown, as you heard from my colleague Rino Tirikatene, is only bound by the deed.

As you’ve heard, there are issues that aren’t in here, and they’re not in here because they weren’t in the deed. One of which, actually, is the first amendment that the Māori Affairs Committee report actually recommends, which is to add the 24 Wai claimants that were found throughout this process, because, by right, they should be listed in here. They will acknowledge our tupuna who put in those Wai claims on our behalf, because this piece of legislation is a comprehensive settlement of all those Wai claims. They will have all our whānau names on them. That’s why those 24 that were missing from this bill—that will be added. It has to be in a Supplementary Order Paper, so we will have to have a committee stage debate.

In the select committee report we actually frame it as we must do it, because it would be a breach of the Treaty. Actually, it’s a breach of the Treaty settlement process and it’s also a breach of a comprehensive settlement. But, as we’ve already heard, there are issues to do with overlapping claims. That means this isn’t a comprehensive settlement. You know, there are issues that we will have to pursue into the future to get that. One of those issues is Lake Rotokawa Conservation Area. So there will be another opportunity for us to come back to this House to settle that particular issue that we have highlighted.

But I really want to focus on the three issues raised by Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, the post-settlement governance entity. In these settlement processes, one would have assumed that we, as the Crown who is saying sorry, actually should listen to what some would say is the victim or the group that must be compensated. So you’ve highlighted the Motutere Recreation Reserve, and I guess what I want to highlight from what is written in the select committee report is that Taupō District Council—well, I’m going to say 100 percent, and maybe the Hon Louise Upston can help facilitate this; it says it 100 percent supports the reserve “being included in the bill”, but I presume it means being returned to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. That’s what should be recorded in here—not that it should be part of the bill, but that the reserve should go back to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

So I actually think there is obvious scope post this legislation, given it wasn’t in the deed, for Taupō District Council, if it fundamentally believes that Ngāti Tūwharetoa should have Motutere Recreation Reserve—well, they can do something about it themselves and the people of Taupō can do something about it. And, obviously, through this process, if they have committed to that, then let’s work with them and let’s forge that partnership going forward between Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Taupō District Council. So, to any of the councillors and Mr Trewavas, who I hope is listening out there, this is a bit of a wero to you. I think the intent of your submission, at the heart of it was to return that piece of land to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

I now want to focus on Waiteti Landcorp Farm—and I find this really interesting, actually, because the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS), in their advice, said something really interesting. Essentially, they said it wasn’t part of—sorry, this is now my assessment of what I think OTS should do. They should evaluate the Crown’s policy on how Landcorp farms can be used as Treaty redress, because it seems to me that it doesn’t qualify as a piece of whenua that can go back, but if it is in Landcorp holdings, actually it is a Crown asset. If you want it, not as part of your settlement but if you want to purchase it, actually, why can’t the Crown help facilitate?

So I think you’ve highlighted another policy change—policy challenge—that we in the House now should follow up on with the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, and actually ask the question: so what constitutes qualifying lands for Treaty settlements? As I said before, if Ngāti Tūwharetoa wants that land, then we should do everything in our power to make sure that they get it because, lest we forget, this is about the taking of our lands. So if there are any lands available that can be returned to Ngāti Tūwharetoa, either through the process or through a contract to purchase, then let’s explore that and do everything we can as a Parliament to facilitate that.

The other issue is about the Ōnekeneke property. Again, I think this is about what is qualifying land, but I do note in the select committee report that it says a Supplementary Order Paper will likely be required during the committee of the whole House stage to address this issue. So there’s obvious intent from the select committee that that land should be returned to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. I don’t know how long that process is going to take, and I guess that is going to be an issue that is shepherded through by my colleague the honourable—he is very honourable to me—Rino Tirikatene and the members of the Māori Affairs Committee. I know my colleague Harete Hipango is on that committee. She will vigilantly keep the officials to task, to make sure that if there is any possibility for another Supplementary Order Paper then that will again happen at the committee stage of this piece of legislation progressing through the Parliament.

Just finally, I want to acknowledge that in clause 9—“Acknowledgements”—of our bill, we talk about warfare. So there is an acknowledgment that war happened. I just want to read this out: “The Crown acknowledges that the Ngāti Tūwharetoa rangatira Maniapoto and Te Rangitahau, who had whakapapa links to a number of neighbouring iwi and hapū, were caught up in the Crown’s unjustified attack on Ōmarunui in 1866. Te Rangitahau was detained on the Chatham Islands without trial and in harsh conditions for nearly 2 years. These actions were unjust and a breach of te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.” So I just have to let the whānau know, because it’s actually not included in the report back from the select committee.

But I’ve been talking to Dylan and the whānau and I’ve actually written a letter to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations about how we restore the mana of Te Rangitahau. How do we do it? We have a precedent before this Parliament called the Mokomoko (Restoration of Character, Mana, and Reputation) Act. Mokomoko, in that instance, did go through a court process. He was executed. In this instance there wasn’t an execution, but it seems to be that the trauma suffered by the whānau intergenerationally, that they presented through their submission, deserves some form of redress. So I have asked the Minister about how we could do that and there is a possibility through a private bill, with the consent of this Parliament, that we could acknowledge that injustice and actually address the historical trauma that has happened intergenerationally.

So, finally, tēnā katou katoa to my colleagues. I just want to say how proud I am to be a member of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and today is a day when we think about all the people who aren’t here, but it’s also a day that we celebrate the fact that we are. And we are the voice, we are the kaha, we are the future, and we’re doing this for our mokopuna and tamariki to come. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Tēnā koe, e Te Māngai o Te Whare. Tēnei te mihi atu ki ngā whānau whānui o te iwi o Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Nau mai haere mai ki tēnei Whare mō te pānui tuarua o tō pire Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill. Tēnā koe, Tā Tumu te Heuheu, tēnā rā koutou e koro mā, e kui mā, e rau rangatira mā. E mihi hoki ki ngā mokopuna, ko te kahurangi o te iwi o Tūwharetoa. Ko Tongariro te maunga, ko Taupō te moana, ko te Heuheu te tupuna, ko Tūwharetoa te iwi. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Greetings Mr Assistant Speaker. I acknowledge the families from throughout the tribe of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Welcome to this House for the second reading of your bill, the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill. Greetings, Sir Tumu te Heuheu and greetings to our esteemed elders and leaders. I also acknowledge our grandchildren, who are the real fortune of the tribe of Tūwharetoa. I salute Tongariro the mountain, Taupō the lake, te Heuheu the supreme ancestor, and Tūwharetoa the tribe. Greetings, greetings, greetings one and all.]

Words cannot describe how humbled I am when I speak on these Treaty claims bills—and I speak on many of them. Just trying to comprehend the struggles faced to get to this stage many times leaves me speechless. However, taking the call in the second reading of this Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill is no exception to the feelings that I have whenever I get up to speak to these claims bills. I feel privileged to be recorded in your Treaty claims journey through this parliamentary process, and I feel privileged that we are able to help you along the way towards some resolution.

I want to pay respects to the many tupuna and the whānau who started the journey of settlement with the Crown, and there are many, many places throughout your rohe that shows those signs of where it all began, and I pay respect to those people—those people who have now passed away and sit within your whānau in the wairua and the aroha as they oversee this process. I want to acknowledge that their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by us here, by former colleagues that have been part and parcel of your journey, and I just want to say that their efforts will be, I’m sure, for ever etched in the memories of the whānau of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

I want to acknowledge the iwi and Crown negotiators, the advisers, the Office of Treaty Settlements and staff, and both the Ministers: the Hon Chris Finlayson, who laid the groundwork for this and many other Treaty claims bills to get to the House. I also want to acknowledge the Hon Andrew Little, the Minister of Justice, who has picked up the well-honed—and I’m sure you get this—Treaty claims baton that the Hon Chris Finlayson has left behind, and is completing this journey for you.

As I said in an interview on the radio recently to do with Treaty claims bills—I said to the interviewer that the kinaki of a settlement process is actually not in the paperwork but it’s in the process of the hearings: of hearing the stories, of hearing those who are happy with the claims process, those who aren’t happy, those who have had an opportunity to input in the directions and have their voices heard. And that, to me, is the most precious part of a Treaty claims process, because once we hear those voices, as a committee, we can then go away and do our deliberations within the select committee process.

I know that your claims—and my colleagues in the House have traversed the many parts of your bill in their contributions here today, and I know that there were some key issues that have been hotly debated in the submissions process and within the Māori Affairs Committee itself: areas that my colleague Louisa Wall covered over in the reserves, business sites, farmlands—all of those areas have been hotly debated and will no doubt carry on through as we head towards the conclusion and the Royal assent of this bill.

My kōrero will be short, because the sooner we can get to the end of this stage the sooner we can get to the committee of the whole House and into the third reading. So, I just want to end my kōrero by saying that the parliamentary process cannot resolve everything—as you are well aware. I have seen over time a lot of kōrero happen post - Royal assent, between hapū and whānau, between the iwi, between iwi and businesses, between iwi and local government, and between iwi and central government to iron out some of those creases and to reaffirm the relationships that they have had with the iwi. So I have seen that, and I am very confident that this will continue with Ngāti Tūwharetoa as well.

So, as I close my kōrero today, I just want to finish with a whakataukī, because I believe that this whakataukī epitomises the successes so far and into the future of all of those who have had some contribution in the Ngāti Tūwharetoa bill—your bill. It goes like this, and you will most probably be familiar with it: ehara taku toa he takitahi, he toa takitini [my strength is not from my individual effort, but rather from the efforts of many].

It was the success of a collective—a strong collective; a Ngāti Tūwharetoa collective. Tēnā koutou katoa. Kia ora.

Tēnā koe. Nō te tihi o Tauhara Maunga ka titiro ki ngā wai o Ōnekeneke e hihi ana ki te kōpua kānapanapa o Tamamutu. Ko te Heuheu te tangata, ko Taupō te moana, ko Kurapoto te whare tupuna, ko Kuiwai te wharekai, ko Ngāti Hinerau, Ngāti Hineure ngā hapū, ko Hinerēhua Ngāmotu tōku kuia, ko Waiarangi Coffey tōku māmā, ko Tāmati Coffey tōku ingoa. Ko au tētehi o te uri o Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Ko au te māngai hoki mō te rohe o te Waiariki e mihi atu nei ki a koutou, te whanaunga kua huihui mai nei i tēnei rā, nei rā te mihi, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora koutou katoa.

[Greetings. From the peak of Tauhara mountain I look to the waters of Ōnekeneke, made famous by the fierce Tamamutu. te Heuheu is the ancestor, Taupō is the lake, Kurapoto is the ancestral house, Kuiwai is the ancestral dining hall, Ngāti Hinerau and Ngāti Hineure are the subtribes, Hinerēhua Ngāmotu is my grandmother, Waiarangi Coffey is my mother, and my name is Tāmati Coffey. I am a descendant of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. I am also the representative of Waiariki and I acknowledge you, my relations, who have gathered here today; greetings, greetings, greetings one and all.]

I am stoked to be able to stand here and contribute to what is the second reading of this, the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill. It’s with regret that I wasn’t here for the first reading of the bill and my whānau, Te Ariki. I apologise for that. I guarantee you, though, I will be here for the third reading, and I am proud to be standing here for the second reading of this particular bill.

As I stand here, I think about my kuia, Hinerēhua, who would be very proud right now to see me stand here on behalf of our iwi and contributing to this very historic process. I bet, when she passed away in 2005, she never thought that her moko would be standing here representing her iwi, our iwi, and also, partly, the Government too.

My grandmother was a very staunch woman. She died in 2005, and it was three days after the death of my koro, who passed just three days earlier. The joke amongst our whānau was that she couldn’t live with my koro but she also couldn’t live without him as well. And so three days was the time that it took for her to pass away—they were both very sick. And as I stand here today I honour her as well.

This is a very comprehensive bill, and, as has been spoken about by my colleagues, they have nit-picked through every part of the bill, so there’s not much left for me to say, to be honest, although I was pleased to be at the signing of the deed last year on 8 July at Waitetoko. It was a beautiful day. It’s always a beautiful day when whānau come together. Usually they only come together for tangi, and every now and then a birthday if you can make the time, but last year at Waitetoko it was a significant event. Everybody was there: the Crown, but also the iwi, the hapū, as well. I remember it fondly.

My whanaunga and my colleague over here Louisa put it very well: that, actually, in the select committee report that came through, there was the identification that there were quite a few—24—Wai claims that were to be included as part of that process, and I’m very happy that that is going to be included in it. What’s not going to be included are some of the sore points, though, which haven’t managed to be sorted out—namely, Lake Rotokawa Conservation Area; namely, Motutere Recreation Reserve and Waiteti Landcorp farm—although I am proud to stand here today and say that only a couple of hours ago I was able to accompany a couple of our whānau to the Minister’s office on behalf of Te Pae o Waimihia, and deliver a letter—hand delivered to the Minister—about the particular take to do with Rotokawa.

And I feel as though that’s my job, actually—being here in the House is to be able to connect our whānau, our hapū, our iwi, with the Government. And today we did that. I would probably use the opportunity to signal to other rōpū that have been affected by that process—by those issues being taken out of the settlement—to actually understand that the door is open, and, just like that opportunity was created earlier today, the opportunity can be created once again.

I was very pleased, just last week, to be down at our Ariki’s office in Tūrangi. And while I’m talking about our Ariki, I’ve had a message from our whānau just correcting a record. My colleague over here, Su’a, talked fondly before about a visit that he made, and he met up with Timi te Heuheu and made that reference. It wasn’t, in fact, our current Ariki, Tumu te Heuheu, and I can understand the confusion in there. But I just wanted to correct that on behalf of the record: one, he is still here with us, and the other one has since passed away. So I want to just acknowledge that correction.

As I say, I was pleased to be down at our Ariki’s office in Tūrangi just last week to see the action was getting under way with the iwi’s action plan around wellness and well-being, and I look forward to seeing the development of that and seeing that come through as part of this whole journey that our iwi are on at the moment. I was also humbled and pleased to hear that they were starting to have the conversations around what to do around the Tongariro National Park situation. Now, the deed recognised the significance of the park to Tūwharetoa as a taonga tapu [sacred treasure], and records that Ngāti Tūwharetoa will be able to negotiate that cultural redress over the park along with other iwi and hapū with interests in the park within one year of the deed being signed. That is something that we can all look forward to. It is indeed a taonga tapu and I look forward to watching that as that progresses through the House. In terms of financial and commercial redress, Ngāti Tūwharetoa have indeed received a share of the Crown forest land in the central North Island, valued at $203 million, as part of the Central North Island Iwi Collective settlement back in 2008. Ngāti Tūwharetoa will also receive an additional financial redress of $25 million, and of this an on-account payment of $2 million will be made to Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa as soon as practicable after the deed is signed.

This is a pleasant moment, although it’s not the big one. Consider this the penultimate conversation before we go in for the big one which is yet to come. I look forward to that moment. I look forward to seeing our whānau fill up this gallery and participate in that moment, which is our moment, which is a historic moment, and I hope that my whānau can be down here to share in that occasion, as well. So I absolutely commend this bill to the House. To my whānau up there—we’re nearly there. Kia kaha. Kia ora rā.

Bill read a second time.

Members, this bill is set down for committee stage next sitting day.

Otirā, e tika ana kia tuku mihi atu ki a koutou kia whakapiri taku mihi ki a koutou Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Kei a koutou te wā he waiata.

[It is only right that I acknowledge one and all and add my thanks to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The floor is yours to sing.]

Waiata