Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill

I move that the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement—

💬 SPEAKER: No. I think you’re going to present a legislative statement first.

Oh, you’re absolutely correct, Mr Speaker. I stand corrected. I present a legislative statement on the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill.

💬 SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and it can be found on the parliamentary website.

I move, That the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time.

E te whare e tū ake nei, e te marae e takoto mai nei, tēnā koutou. E ngā mate o te wā haere atu rā. Ki a tātou te hunga ora e hui nei, tēnā koutou. Ki a koutou hoki Ngāti Hinerangi, nau mai haere mai, whakatau mai. Nā koutou tēnei wā, Ngāti Hinerangi, nā reira rau rangatira mā tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[To the House standing here and the courtyard below, I acknowledge you both. To the deceased of this time, farewell. To the living gathered here, greetings. Greetings and welcome, Ngāti Hinerangi. This is your time, Ngāti Hinerangi, greetings to the many chiefs.]

This is a significant day for Ngāti Hinerangi and, indeed, for the Crown, and I’m honoured to move that the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill be enacted into law and for Ngāti Hinerangi to finally receive the benefits of a settlement, which are long overdue.

We’re joined in the House by Ngāti Hinerangi, and they’ve come down in their numbers from Waikato. I extend a welcome to you all, and I thank you for making the journey to witness this, the final reading of your legislation for your settlement. That you are here in such force is a testament to the near-unanimous support that this settlement has received amongst your iwi, and today we can all be very proud of what has been achieved through this bill and celebrate the new beginning that it promises, both for Ngāti Hinerangi and for the Crown.

In May 2019, I was welcomed on to Te Ōhākī Marae in the heart of the rohe of Ngāti Hinerangi, to sign the Ngāti Hinerangi deed of settlement. Some four months on from the signing ceremony, I was very pleased to speak on behalf of Ngāti Hinerangi in support of the first reading of the bill, which, like many others, has been many years in the making. It has been over six years since the agreement in principle was signed, and despite the time it has taken, I’ve never had any doubt that we would get to this point. It has been a long journey and a sometimes difficult journey, but here we are today.

I’d like to reflect on some of the interactions with the Crown following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by representatives of Ngāti Hinerangi in Tauranga in 1840 which form the background and basis of this settlement. In the early 1860s, Ngāti Hinerangi became adherents of the Kīngitanga movement. Ngāti Hinerangi joined forces to fight against the Crown in both the Taranaki and Waikato Wars. Ngāti Hinerangi were also among the forces which fought against the Crown in Tauranga at Gate Pā. The Crown acts of purchasing land such as the Te Puna - Katikati block, an area in which Ngāti Hinerangi had interests, were not investigated properly, and Ngāti Hinerangi received no benefits from the sale and were not able to retain parts of the land.

Further and sustained acts by the Crown continued to alienate Ngāti Hinerangi land, both within the Tauranga Moana and Waikato areas of Ngāti Hinerangi’s tribal rohe, including significant land loss within Matamata itself. This land loss was the major factor that resulted in the cultural and economic marginalisation of Ngāti Hinerangi. As a result of the Crown’s acts and omissions, Ngāti Hinerangi because virtually landless, lost their economy and connection with their environment, and suffered from severe social and economic deprivation. Through this settlement, the Crown seeks to atone for the past injustices that it has inflicted upon Ngāti Hinerangi and to provide opportunities for Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown to move forward.

The Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill seeks to give effect to the Ngāti Hinerangi settlement package, as outlined in the legislative statement. The redress provided in this settlement went through significant changes through negotiations and in response to overlapping claims, and I believe it will go a long way towards Ngāti Hinerangi re-establishing their connection with various parts of their rohe, strengthening the identity of Ngāti Hinerangi as tangata whenua and providing the foundation for a stronger social, cultural, and economic future for the iwi.

I want to make special mention of Ngāti Hinerangi’s overlapping interests process. Ngāti Hinerangi engaged in a process which upheld their mana and demonstrated great leadership and pragmatism, particularly with Tauranga Moana iwi. This approach will provide for a long-lasting, enduring relationship with Tauranga Moana iwi in the post-settlement environment.

I’d like to acknowledge all of the people who have helped realise this settlement between Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown. To those of you who have worked so hard to make today possible, I offer you my most sincere thanks. The late Matuakore Koperu MacMillan, or “Mac”, started the journey for Ngāti Hinerangi to once again be recognised as an independent iwi. The late Annie Uruwharangi Marsh, along with other Ngāti Hinerangi kaumātua and kuia, also over time fought for the recognition of Ngāti Hinerangi, ensuring and strengthening the history of Ngāti Hinerangi. Ngāti Hinerangi was near extinction, and now they are, as their post-settlement governance name depicts, Te Puāwaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust, meaning the blossoming of Ngāti Hinerangi. We thank them for their efforts and keep them in our thoughts today—moe mai rā.

I also wish to acknowledge the Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust negotiators and others who have contributed to this team for their commitment to their people. The negotiations have been long and complex, and I acknowledge the hard work, commitment, and perseverance of all involved to achieve an enduring settlement for Ngāti Hinerangi. I want to also thank the Crown officials for their hard work in supporting and progressing this settlement. I’d like to acknowledge chief Crown negotiator James Willis for leading the Crown team, and my officials at Te Arawhiti and all agencies who worked on this settlement. This is a day on which you and they can all be very proud.

Lastly, I thank you, Ngāti Hinerangi, who have come today to see this bill enacted. I’d also like to acknowledge those who are not able to join us today. Your courage to confront the past and your endless generosity to allow the Crown a second chance is uplifting and inspiring. Your faith in the Crown and our new partnership is justified and will be reciprocated. Thank you.

When the Ngāti Hinerangi deed of settlement was signed in May 2019 at Te Ōhākī Marae, the Ngāti Hinerangi chair, Phil Smith, likened it to a new Treaty between Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown, and in many ways that is true. This settlement signifies a new phase of partnership between the Crown and Ngāti Hinerangi. Today, we are reaffirming our relationship with hope and a vision for the future generations of Ngāti Hinerangi. The Crown is making commitments in this bill that it will honour and which signify a new phase in our Māori-Crown partnership.

I commend the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill to the House. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Ko te pātai kia whakaaetia te motu nei. [The question is that the motion be agreed to.]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Tēnā koutou, Ngāti Hinerangi. Nau mai, haere mai. It’s an honour to rise to speak on the third reading of the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill today and to acknowledge all of you here. I know that this is a long process that goes back to 1840, and the injustices that were experienced, particularly during the 19th century.

The settlement process is one that was begun under the Hon Chris Finlayson and it is being completed by the Hon Andrew Little, and I wish to acknowledge them both. I wish to acknowledge all of you who have come here today. I know it’s a long way from the Matamata and Tauranga rohe. It’s a big and special day.

I also wish to acknowledge all of the kaumātua, the trustees, the negotiators, and Te Arawhiti staff, and I see some young people are here today. I just wanted to make special mention of the fact that this is, ultimately, about taking care of the rangitahi and of the mokopuna and providing for the economic revitalisation and the recognition of your mana.

The intention of the Crown through this settlement is to restore the honour and alleviate the justified sense of grievance felt by generations of Ngāti Hinerangi and to build a meaningful relationship with your iwi going forwards. The Crown has also unreservedly apologised to the hapū and whānau for failing to uphold its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Ngāti Hinerangi settlement will forge a new relationship between the Crown and Ngāti Hinerangi, and it should be a real catalyst for positive change. It includes a total financial redress of $8.1 million plus interest, the cultural revitalisation payment of $200,000, a co-governance arrangement over the upper Waihou and Piako river catchments, and the vesting of 14 cultural redress properties, which includes part of Wairere Falls, which is a secret awa to Ngāti Hinerangi.

I don’t wish to go into more detail that has been traversed before in this House and that was spoken to before by the Hon Andrew Little. But I wish to commend this bill to the House, recognising your mana as a people, and I acknowledge and thank you for coming here today. I hope that this will be a strong part of your story going forwards. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tuatahi i runga i te ara whanaunga tēnei ka mihi atu ki a Ngāti Hinerangi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hauā. Kua kite mai koutou, kia rongo mai ki ngā kōrero o te tokomaha kei te Pāremata nei e pā ana ki a koutou nei take Tiriti. Tērā ka whakaaro ake ki te āpōpō me ā rātou nei noho i ā rātou nei wā ki ā koutou nei mahi nunui kia kimihia, kia whai i tētehi wāhi ki te tutuki i tō take Tiriti.

Nō reira kua pā mai te whakaaro me whakahuatia te whakapāha atu o te Karauna kia kuhu mai i roto i ngā tuihituhinga o ngā pukapuka o Pāremata, ka rongo mai ngā tamariki mokopuna ki tērā whakapāha ki a Ngāti Hinerangi, ka kite mai i te whakapāha i roto i ngā tuhituhinga o Pāremata nō reira ka tīpako tērā i roto i tō ture:

“E whakatakoto ana te Karauna i tēnei whakapāha ki ngā hapū me ngā whānau o Ngāti Hinerangi, ki ō koutou tūpuna me ā koutou mokopuna. E tino pōuri ana te Karauna i tana korenga i whakatinana i ōna herenga ki a Ngāti Hinerangi i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“Ko tōna tikanga kua ahu mai te whanaungatanga i waenga i a Ngāti Hinerangi me te Karauna i ngā mātāpono o te whakawhirinaki taupuhipuhi me te mahi ngātahi i matakitea ai e te Tiriti heoi i mōnehutia kētia taua whanaungatanga i ngā tau tini e ngā mahi a te Karauna.

“Anei te Karauna e kaha whakapāha atu nei i tana kawe i te pakanga ki tō koutou iwi me te raupatutanga o te whenua i muri mai.

“Inā te nui o te whakapāha a te Karauna i aua rautaki muru whenua i kōkiritia ki a Ngāti Hinerangi i te wā o te kōkiritanga i te ngahere me te mōhio ki te tino mamae i pā ki ō koutou tūpuna i te pakanga me te raupatu.

“E whakapāha atu ana te Karauna i tana whakatairanga i te huhua o ngā ture me ngā kaupapa here nā reira i riro ai ngā whenua o Ngāti Hinerangi e toe ana me te kauneke hoki i te hekenga o ngā āhuatanga o te ōhanga me te pāpōuri o Ngāti Hinerangi i roto i tō koutou ake rohe.

“Arā noa te kaha o te pōuri o te Karauna nā āna mahi i whakakore te āheinga o Ngāti Hinerangi ki te uru ki ngā maunga, ki ngā awa, ki ngā waiariki, ki ngā wāhi tapu me ngā mahinga kai i whai ōranga ai tō koutou iwi mō ngā whakatupuranga e whai nei.

“E pōuri ana te Karauna kāore i tika tana urupare ki ngā whakatupuranga o mua atu o Ngāti Hinerangi, i ngana ki te whai i te tika mō tō rātou anō iwi.

“E tūmanako ana te Karauna mā tēnei whakataunga e ū anō ai tōna mana, e hiki anō te wairua whakamau e tiki ana kia rangona e ngā whakatipuranga o Ngāti Hinerangi.

“E anga whakamua ana te Karauna ki te whakapakari i tētehi hononga whai take ki a Ngāti Hinerangi. Ka ahu mai i ngā mātāpono o te mahi ngātahi, o te whakawhirinaki taupuhipuhitanga me te whakaute i Te Tiriti o Waitangi me ōna mātāpono.”

[Firstly, I would like to acknowledge Ngāti Hinerangi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hauā via the kinship ties. You have heard the messages of the many gathered in Parliament with respect of your Treaty claim. Let us think about the future generation and how they will live and reflect upon your great achievement in settling your Treaty claim.

It occurs to me that I should read out the Crown apology so that it may be recorded in the official parliamentary records, and that the children and grandchildren can hear said apology to Ngāti Hinerangi, and see the apology in the official parliamentary record, therefore let me select this excerpt from the legislation:

“The Crown makes the following apology to the hapū and whānau of Ngāti Hinerangi, to your tūpuna and your mokopuna. The Crown is profoundly sorry for having failed to uphold its obligations to Ngāti Hinerangi under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi.

“The relationship between Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown should have been one based upon the principles of mutual respect and partnership, as envisioned in Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi, however for too many years Crown actions tarnished this relationship.

“The Crown unreservedly apologises for bringing war to your people and for the raupatu of land that followed.

“The Crown deeply regrets the scorched earth tactics it employed against Ngāti Hinerangi during the bush campaign and acknowledges the profound distress war and raupatu caused your tūpuna.

“The Crown apologises for its promotion of many laws and policies that facilitated the loss of Ngāti Hinerangi’s remaining lands, which contributed to the economic and social marginalisation of Ngāti Hinerangi within your own rohe.

“The Crown deeply regrets that its actions deprived Ngāti Hinerangi of access to the maunga, awa, waiariki, wāhi tapu and mahinga kai that had sustained your people for many generations.

“The Crown regrets that its response to previous generations of Ngāti Hinerangi who sought justice for their people was inadequate.

“The Crown hopes that through this settlement it can restore its honour and alleviate the justifiable sense of grievance felt by generations of Ngāti Hinerangi.

“The Crown looks forward to building a meaningful relationship with Ngāti Hinerangi based on co-operation, mutual trust, and respect for the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.”]

I just briefly wanted to take a moment to ensure that in the records of the Hansard the apology of the Crown was registered for the next generation of Ngāti Hinerangi, who will look back on this moment and the longstanding courage and determination and fortitude of their tūpuna represented here today in the Chamber to seek resolution of a claim that goes back to events in 1860, and the wars that took place certainly within the Waikato and Tauranga Moana. I also wanted to ensure that when they look back on the history books that this is a moment in time that they can point to and hold, to some extent, the Crown accountable to the agreements that have been reached within the settlement.

Can I also underpin that those who will benefit from this particular settlement are outlined in the legislation and, namely, Ngāti Tamapango, Ngāti Tokotoko, Ngāti Te Rīha, Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Whakamaungarangi, Ngāti Tawhaki, Ngāti Rangi, and Ngāti Tahinga. In the legislation it makes it clear, but it does not mean the hapū of Ngāti Tamaterā. That’s a very clear testament in terms of the ambition of Ngāti Hinerangi, who will benefit from all the various component parts of this particular settlement. It’s also an opportunity to ensure that the aspirations that lie ahead for Ngāti Hinerangi can flow through to the marae, the hapū, and the generations represented in those hapū who have been outlined in this particular settlement.

I want to acknowledge all those who have been involved, both on the Crown side and on the iwi side, to get to this point. It’s never perfect. It’s never a perfect process, and it’s not designed often to ensure that unity can be maintained through a very tumultuous road. However, it has been the case that as time passes, and as the commitment towards unity continues to be embraced, which has always been reflected by the negotiators and the kaumātua in this instance, the next generation will be better off for it. Problem is, we may all never get to actually tell that story; it’s going to be the kids of our kids, perhaps, that will tell the story, but we can be optimistic in that ambition.

We can also be optimistic in the knowledge that in having the historical record rectified in the way that a Treaty settlement is able to provide, by having an apology clearly expressed in person by the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, but certainly within a piece of legislation and now the Hansard record, our whole effort to ensure our local schools learn their local histories becomes a part of the living legacy that now Ngāti Hinerangi is a part of contributing to, as you move forward into the future with hope and determination.

So, for my small part—and I am fast-forwarding a number of contributions throughout the House on this particular settlement—I wish you all the very best, as hard as this task has been. I certainly wish your aspirations for the future to be one that continues to build and strengthen the unity of Ngāti Hinerangi and your relationships across borders, because that was something that also came through throughout your journey—the importance of the relationships with Tauranga Moana, with Raukawa, with Ngāti Hauā, with Wairere, with Waikato, because of the history that has impacted so significantly upon yourselves.

Nō reira, he iti taku iti hei tāpiri atu ki ngā kōrero ka whakapuare ki mua i ā koutou nei aroaro; tēnei e mihi ana ki a koutou, e tautoko ana ahau i tēnei pire.

[Therefore, this is my humble contribution to add to the messages disclosed before you; I wish to thank you all again and say that I support this bill.]

Tēnā koutou e te Whare. Mr Speaker, tēnā koe. It’s always a privilege to speak at the conclusion of historic Treaty settlement bills because of the significance of them to the iwi in question—here, of course, Ngāti Hinerangi. And whilst the mechanics, if you like, of these bills often aren’t that different from iwi to iwi, there are always unique facets to them because there’s always been a different set of injustices with different facts and contexts, and that’s certainly true here in relation to this claim. And today, as far as Parliament’s concerned at least, the conclusion of this historic Treaty claim with a settlement.

Can I just acknowledge the Ministers that have been part of this. Of course, originally Minister Chris Finlayson and now Minister Little. Can I acknowledge James Willis, known to a few of us in this House, who was Crown negotiator. Can I also acknowledge iwi, who I think, as Minister Little has said, have turned out in large numbers here today, and that always makes it a very special occasion for, dare I say it, not just you but also for us in this House.

I won’t dwell long here today but I did just want to touch on the history that we see and that the Hon Nanaia Mahuta has in her apology, to some extent, canvassed in her speech in the Parliament. Of course, Ngāti Hinerangi were to become part of the Kīngitanga and then amongst forces, Māori forces against the Crown of the day, the Battle of Pukehinahina, or Gate Pā, and then also the battle of Te Ranga. And we know that between the period of about 1865 and 1868—which is a relatively dark, perhaps the darkest chapter in terms of land confiscations—there were large Crown confiscations from your iwi. Again, I acknowledge that Nanaia Mahuta has set out the apology in this Parliament just now in relation to that.

One thing I thought to say is that later this month I will, as one of the local members of Parliament in Tauranga Moana be going along to a commemoration service at St George’s Anglican Church right there on one of, if not the key site of the battle of Pukehinahina or Gate Pā, and I see the Hon Jan Tinetti nodding. I’m sure I know she’s been in the past, she may well be there as well. And I think it’s a positive thing that in more recent times, in fact really just in the last small number of years, we’ve seen something of a renaissance in acknowledgments and recollection, really, of that history and what was one—or possibly the most significant moment, certainly battle, in Tauranga Moana’s history. More and more children, not just of Māori origin, are learning the stories and the history of that, and I’m sure all members of Parliament join with me in acknowledging what a good thing that is.

So we come today, given that history that’s set out comprehensively—or relatively comprehensively—in the bill, to the redress, the apology for war, for loss of lands, cultural redress, and the financial redress. And I just mark something that is fundamentally always true in Treaty settlements, and it’s certainly true here, and that’s this: that the quantum, the amounts, in question will never, in fact, do full justice in a real sense for what has happened. But I hope and I trust that the acknowledgment and what is here in this bill, soon to be law, will nevertheless bring hope, a finalisation here on these historic claims, and a brighter future for your iwi. And now, of course, it will soon be over to you to invest what there is in the future, in your mokopuna—some of whom are walking in right now—and their mokopuna, and their mokopuna following that. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Ngāti Hinerangi, tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou kua tae mai nei ki tēnei Whare ātaahua rawa atu i tēnei rā, te kaupapa whakahirahira kei mua i a tātou, nō reira tēnā koutou.

[Greetings, Mr Speaker. Greetings, Ngāti Hinerangi. Greetings to you all who have arrived here to this beautiful House today on this auspicious occasion, greetings all.]

Can I acknowledge you and the journey that you’ve been on. Just before, I was looking at a newsletter that you put out back in 2015, talking about the start of this journey, but I know that it had been started well before then. Can I acknowledge the part that history plays in this, actually digging into the past and actually fleshing out all of the details—sometimes the uncomfortable stuff as well—that you really have to get your fingers into and try to understand and then pass that around to the whānau to try and build a narrative, to build a story, as you have done with your settlement, as we are confirming here today in this House. So I want to acknowledge the part that your historians have played in this, the Māori Land Court, people from the Department of Conservation, people from Land Information New Zealand, and your own people. This has been an amalgamation of your journey so far and I’m stoked to be here to acknowledge your journey, Te Puāwaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi. Let’s keep saying that, because this is a very momentous occasion and it’s the start of a very special journey for you.

I wanted to acknowledge as well that although the agreement in principle was signed a while back, actually you have been on a journey with this. There’s a lot of conversations that need to be had, and sometimes they can be hōhā. Sometimes actually turning up to those hui after hui, and, I guess with COVID, zui after zui—being able to have those hui and make sure that you’re taking all the whānau on the journey through these really big times—actually, they need to be acknowledged.

I want to also acknowledge you for what it says on your website about how you would like to revitalise the iwi. There were some really strong things on there, and I wrote them down because, actually, I believe that this is the time that we need to be setting that direction, the roadmap ahead for you, so that for the privilege of this House and for people that might be watching at home, they understand what your goals are, the whole reason that you put yourself through this—what this whole Treaty settlement is for.

According to your very good website, it says the revitalisation of Ngāti Hinerangi is to restore the mana, the pride, and your own identity that you have in yourselves, that you’ve become a leader within your own rohe. And I know that that rohe kind of is a little bit the Waikato side, a little bit the Tauranga side on that side, but, you know, you fullas work it out. But actually, can I acknowledge you as well for the role that you’ve played with our whānau from Tauranga Moana in being able to iron out some of those little issues in there as well and making sure that you’re doing it in a tikanga way. You bring honour to the process and to the people involved by doing things like that. So I acknowledge you for that.

Ngāti Hinerangi, I want to maximise your human potential—oh, I like the sound of that—your human potential and expertise developed to assist, grow, and develop your iwi, your hapū, and your whānau. Tēnā koe. You want to ensure that they have a social and socio-economic restoration of your health and wellbeing. I get that. You want some facility restoration in there as well. So being able to do some restoration to marae and do some upgrading in that area as well. I wish you all the best.

You are looking to restore the traditional knowledge systems and the tikanga that you have lost over the years. And we as a Government, we’re supportive of any initiatives to be able to revitalise our reo, revitalise our tikanga in some of the small, remote but hearty parts of Aotearoa. So that’s part of your mission as well, and I acknowledge that.

To raise the educational, the social, the cultural, and the political aspirations of Ngāti Hinerangi as well—awesome. Short-term and future long-term strategies for future development: to assist with the development of some commercial ventures as well, and to establish a centre of knowledge and learning. All of those are incredibly admirable goals and I commend you for putting that stake in the ground and actually for setting the pathway forward for yourselves.

There’ll be a lot of people around the country that don’t know your story, but you have a story to tell and it’s a story of struggle and it’s a story of loss, and it’s a story that, hopefully, when the kids go to school next year and they learn New Zealand history in schools—hopefully, some of the local kids around Matamata will learn about the story of Ngāti Hinerangi, because you can guarantee there will be some that have no idea about what your story entails and the journey that you’ve been on. But you’re here today, and all of the work that you’ve done in getting your settlement to this point, basically, that’s good fodder for a New Zealand history class. That’s good fodder for our kids to be learning in the various schools in Matamata, in the South Waikato, on our side of the Kaimai Ranges as well. Let everybody know what your story is, because it’s a poignant one and it’s one that I’m sure we will hear more of as we unpick what the history of New Zealand really has been, the “warts and all” story. No doubt we’re going to hear more and more of that coming out over time.

Can I just finish by actually sitting down. I just want to finish by absolutely saying that your presence in this House today is incredibly special, because one of the criticisms of this House is that—have a look around you—it’s very monocultural. Actually, we need to have settlements coming through here. We need to be telling our Māori stories within this Chamber, because there are also some members of this Parliament that need to hear those stories. They acknowledge it, but they don’t live in our world. They don’t understand the pain and suffering that we’ve faced. So whilst it might be nice for them to stand and give a lightly once-over kind of contribution, actually your presence in being here today, and for us to be able to take as long as we want—10 minutes—to be able to really draw out some of those stories is really important.

Every member of Parliament needs to hear stories like yours to keep it front and centre, because it’s important. It’s important for our capability as members of Parliament, as windows into the communities that we represent, to be able to continue telling the stories of hurt and loss and make sure that once it’s moved through this House we keep hearing those stories, that we can’t just let these stories be documents for a shelf in a back room somewhere, because they are stories that are meaningful and they are stories of people and of a journey.

So with that said, I acknowledge you all here today. I’m grateful to be here. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe, e te Māngai o te Whare, Ngāti Hinerangi tēnā tātou katoa. I rise on behalf of the Green Party as our tangata Tiriti spokesperson to acknowledge Ngāti Hinerangi in this House today and their epic journey to get to this place today. Perhaps the shortest leg of this journey has been the negotiating of the settlement that brings us here—and that has been over seven years since the mandate was recognised. Seven years of negotiating with the enemy—well done.

From the beginning, though, it has been a journey of profound hardship. At its core, it seems to me, a fight for survival. The Ngāti Hinerangi rohe extends from the eastern Waikato to Tauranga, including part of the Kaimai Range: land rich in many, many senses. And land, clearly, and life worth fighting for—and Ngāti Hinerangi did that, as we would expect any or many nations to defend their place.

Ngāti Hinerangi joined the Kīngitanga movement, after signing Te Tiriti, which, of course, confirmed sovereignty that existed in 1840, and confirmed equal rights under Kāwanatanga. And then slowly the Crown eroded that—or not so slowly if you think in contemporary terms—and pushed Ngāti Hinerangi into a position of joining the Kīngitanga movement and fighting wars to hold to that agreement to keep the lands. In retribution for standing up and fighting for the land, the Crown then turned around and confiscated 290,000 acres of land—treacherous, treacherous actions from the people in this House. That happened between 1865 and 1868—fewer than 30 years after the signing of a document that promoted peaceful relationships. It was truly treacherous, and extraordinary that the spirit of fight and of hope was not lost through that time. And while some land was returned, it was returned to individuals, not hapū—an act that actually helped aid the process of colonisation rather than redressing it.

Ngāti Hinerangi were not passive in this process. While this surveying and taking of land happened, the survey pegs were being taken out to stop the Crown and company’s treacheries. And in return for that peaceful and powerful action, what did the Crown do? Attack villages and burn crops and homes to the ground. That is the history of this country. That is the history of the actions of this House. Then, of course, the Crown established a land court that we often hear about as the Native Land Court being a conciliatory negotiating process, but actually, again, in practice individualised land and took it away from Māori and hapū and was entirely inconsistent with tikanga.

So that was the 1800s, and that carried on until the point where Ngāti Hinerangi were virtually landless in both Tauranga Moana and Waikato areas of their own rohe, through the actions of the people in this place. Then you were hopeful enough and resilient enough to enter into negotiations to get to this agreement. I really, really want to pay honour to everybody for that hope and that generosity in the face of that history—in the face of that reality.

In this process, while there may be a temptation in this House historically, particularly, to kind of be a little bit congratulatory about what a special, beautiful moment this is for Parliament and iwi, this is, I think, in terms of the settlement, extraordinary what you have managed to achieve and an indictment on the Crown yet again. When I look at the 14 sites that were previously owned by the Crown that have been returned, totalling 223 hectares—that is less than the average size of a farm in this country—I feel offence at that. And that only 31.38 acres of that are unencumbered fee simple lands. The rest of it is in scenic, historic, or recreation reserve. And I don’t say this to minimise that result from your side, because we know that no settlement between hapū and the Crown has resulted in a fair outcome. This is a testament to your resilience and commitment, but it is an indictment on this place at the same time.

And while the financial settlement has been $8.1 million—for becoming virtually landless in key parts of your rohe you are being given $8.1 million by this Crown, which is less than 0.052 percent of the annual superannuation bill—it just sits a bit uncomfortably to be celebrating the actions of the Crown in the context of this. But to finish my speech, I do want to acknowledge that this negotiation and your entire history has been to fight for a better future, to fight for justice, to fight for your moko, and the rebuilding of your identity and restoration of mana. I have not seen your mana lost in this process, and I want to acknowledge that, and I do hope that this history is told, and known, and felt in this House. Tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. To Ngāti Hinerangi: on this day, the ACT Party supports this claims settlement bill and we commend it to the House. That’s because the ACT Party supports the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process. The Treaty of Waitangi is a great document. It’s an example of independent people, practical people, and problem-solving people coming together to agree on what the future of New Zealand should look like. What happened afterwards was not good, and that’s why a settlement bill like this can only go some way to address the loss of land and the resulting social, cultural, and economic marginalisation of your people.

There were a number of breaches, but what’s interesting to note and what gives me hope, and I hope gives you hope, is that through your actions and your patience, you have shown us how you can build a coalition of people with a common interest—not always aligned, but over time, you’ve built a coalition to identify what’s important enough to seek a settlement and what things you might leave to the storytelling and to the “what might have been”, because the settlement is clearly for a greater good that you aspire to.

So the ACT Party supports this process you’ve been through, and we will acknowledge that it is not easy—because the Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s first constitutional document, which ensures the rights of all New Zealanders and that those rights are protected equally by the law. It establishes a private property right which is the foundation of all investment and development and prosperity and wealth—those rights which give people the confidence to invest in their land, which then makes the land productive and sustains the land for future generations.

Now the Treaty of Waitangi also places significant responsibilities on the Crown to act in good faith, so where that duty of good faith is breached, ACT supports a process for redress. For that reason, the ACT Party commends this bill to the House.

Tēnā koe te Speaker o te Whare. Ngā mana o Ngāti Hinerangi, ngā reo o Ngāti Hinerangi, rau rangatira mā o Ngāti Hinerangi, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[I acknowledge the Speaker of the House. Greetings to the authorities of Ngāti Hinerangi, the voices of Ngāti Hinerangi, and the many chiefs of Ngāti Hinerangi.]

I’m going to follow my colleague the Hon Nanaia Mahuta in focusing on aspects of your settlement that are contained in your settlement legislation. I particularly wanted to focus on the historical account, and I acknowledge my colleague Jan Logie for doing so. Essentially, one of your tūpuna signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and then in 1860 you joined the Kīngitanga, who we formed, ngā iwi o te motu, to negotiate with the Crown, because we were very worried about what was happening to our way of life and what was happening to our whenua.

So you joined the Kīngitanga in the Tararanki wars. We went and fought against the Crown and in doing so, essentially made ourselves a target. And what the Crown did was to stop the supply of fighters. So they went to Tauranga to disrupt you, and we’ve had these two big events, firstly at Pukehinahina—Gate Pā—which we won, and then at Te Ranga, where we didn’t win. And then they actually did try to destroy you. They literally tried to exterminate you, and they also stole your land and, obviously, by stealing your land, they stole your resources and your opportunity for the future.

So I want to acknowledge the 1,300 survivors, or uri, of Ngāti Hinerangi today, and I’m sure there’s more. And I see on your website you encourage people to register. But I want to acknowledge your tūpuna who, through their Wai claims, have held this Government, the Crown, to account for what we did. In the acknowledgements in your Treaty settlement legislation, I think the worst thing we did was implement the scorched earth policy, which was a military tactic—tried to burn you out, tried to burn you, tried to destroy all your assets, and actually we didn’t care about you one bit. If you all died, we didn’t care. We just wanted to get you out of the way so we could take your land. And that’s actually what the settlement legislation represents—your history and your experience of colonisation through our Crown.

I imagine all the tūpuna who died through that process and you who are left today, who stand strong, staunch—couldn’t kill you. Couldn’t take you out. Then I look at what’s written in the settlement legislation. We talk about the sham of the provisions in the Native Lands Act and we talk about failing to account fairly for the value of timber on your land, and all the acknowledgments. It’s very interesting language because it absolutely minimises what the Crown tried to do, which was a form of genocide. That’s what they tried to do—they tried to eradicate you. We tried to eradicate you—parliamentarians, the Government. So the fact that you even exist today is a testament to your tūpuna, who gave you and instilled in you a fighting spirit, and we will never, ever go away. We will forever be the mana whenua of Aotearoa. You will forever be the mana whenua of your Ngāti Hinerangi land.

As part of our truth and reconciliation process, as colleagues have articulated, you have some land back. You have some resources back. But, actually, I think, going forward it’s what type of relationship Ngāti Hinerangi wants to have with the Crown, and within that space there’s a lot of kōrero to be had. What partnership do you want in terms of the public provision of resources that the Government provides to you and what role you want to play within that context? There’s a lot of discussion at the moment about our babies, for example, about where we are, scattered amongst the Public Service, so in terms of a beginning, I think that if the Crown was genuine, then it would look at what those partnerships mean going forward, to empower you to take your mana within the context of what the Crown does—because Jan Logie’s absolutely right; you never lost your mana. No one can take mana from us. They took our land but it doesn’t mean that we don’t retain our mana.

So like everybody else here today, I join in saying sorry. We can say we’re sorry—we’re parliamentarians, and there’s quite a few Māori in the House now, and we can say we’re sorry and that we find what we did abhorrent and disgusting. And this is trying to rectify all that history of colonisation in our country. So I hope that there’s a sense of satisfaction today. It’s always bitter-sweet, because you think of all the whānau that aren’t here, those that started this journey on your behalf. But the reality is you are here, you’ll never go away, and our focus now needs to be on our tamariki, on our mokopuna and what opportunities we want to provide them.

Just like Tāmati, I went on to your website, and one of the first things it does after encouraging you to register, is ask who needs help during the lockdown because of what’s happened with COVID, and, actually, that’s the beauty of us as a collective people. We will āwhi and manaaki and tautoko each other because we love each other and we have a sense of responsibility to make sure that our needs are met.

So I say to you, kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui, and know that there are, I believe, opportunities for you to continue, as I said before, to develop the relationship you want with the Crown and to enable us to create that space that you want to happen going forward, because that’s what we can do as parliamentarians—help create the next phase for Ngāti Hinerangi.

So, safe travels home, and it’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be here today to speak to your settlement legislation. Nō reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. Kia ora.

This is a split call. I call Nicola Willis—five minutes.

Tēnā koutou, Ngāti Hinerangi. Rau rangatira mā ko aku mihi atu ki a koutou, nau mai, haere mai. Kua tae mai ahakoa te roa o te wā o te hīkoi kia tae ki tēnei wā, kua tae mai.

[Greetings, Ngāti Hinerangi. Greetings and welcome to the many chiefs of Ngāti Hinerangi. Although it has been a long journey, you have finally arrived here.]

Greetings, Ngāti Hinerangi. Rangatira, kaumātua, all—a warm welcome. We have arrived here at last, even though it has taken a long time—too long—for the journey to make it here. We have arrived, and today is a momentous day. For Ngāti Hinerangi, too long forgotten and ignored, today your identity, rights, interests, and mana are rightly acknowledged—never again to be ignored. Today, Parliament makes law a deed of settlement that acknowledges and apologises for acts and omissions by the Crown, that provides for cultural redress, and that provides for financial and commercial redress.

I want to focus on the law that we are signing today, and the apology it contains, that will now be set out in our statutes and our law books forever more, because, in this law, we set out the Crown’s failures to uphold its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. We outline the Crown’s responsibility for the outbreak of war in Tauranga in 1864, for the terrible injustice of the raupatu that followed, for the scorched earth tactics of the 1867 bush campaign, for the ongoing promotion of laws and policies that facilitated and speeded the loss of the remaining lands of Ngāti Hinerangi, and that contributed to the economic and social marginalisation of your people, that deprived Ngāti Hinerangi of access to the maunga, the awa, the Waiariki, the wāhi tapu, the mahinga kai that had sustained your people for generations. Today, the Crown acknowledges this history and says to the hapū and whānau of Ngāti Hinerangi, to your tūpuna and mokopuna, “Sorry.” The Crown has again and again fallen short of principles of mutual respect and partnership promised by the Treaty of Waitangi, and it did not respond adequately to past generations who sought to obtain justice for your people. We honour those people today. We honour their perseverance and their commitment to seeing justice be done. Today, the Crown seeks to restore its honour and, in some way, alleviate the justifiable sense of grievance felt by generations of Ngāti Hinerangi, but today we also look to the future, and from here forward may the Crown and Ngāti Hinerangi go forward in a spirit of cooperation, of mutual trust, of respect for the promises of the Treaty of Waitangi. May potential be unlocked and may a sustainable future be forged.

In closing, I want to acknowledge the leadership of those who made today possible. The Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust, today is a vindication of the struggle that you have had and of the commitment you have shown. I want to honour former Minister Finlayson, who signed the terms of negotiation back in February 2014 and the first agreement in principle back in 2015. I want to acknowledge Minister Little, who signed the deed of settlement that we put into law today, and his officials. And I finally want to put into the Hansard an acknowledgment of the chief Crown negotiator of this settlement, my dad, James Willis. I have negotiated with him on many occasions, and not all negotiations have ended in settlement! I asked dad for his reflections on the settlement process, and he said that this was an example to all other iwi engaged in Treaty settlements about how to resolve overlapping claims and issues with neighbouring iwi. And he said that Ngāti Hinerangi are lovely people, good people, who have shown great patience and resilience. “Far too long forgotten and ignored, they have shown perseverance and struggle. Forgotten and ignored once, but never again.”—and I will leave you with his words. Kia ora.

Ka tangohia taku pōtae. Ngāti Hinerangi, tēna koutou.

[Allow me to remove my hat. Greetings to Ngāti Hinerangi.]

Unlike everybody else in this House—they get 10 minutes. As you can see, I get five. So I’m going to try and get this out as quickly as possible. The Greens talked about being the spokesperson for Treaty claims. Because there’s only two of us, we’re the spokesperson for everything. And so, as you can see, the commitment of Te Paati Māori, tēnei rā. We are in 100 percent attendance of this reading today.

Weraiti maunga tū mai. Ngā wai tapu ko Wairere, ko Waiteariki e kore e mimiti. Te awa Waihou e rere rā, e rere rā. Te rohe o Kōperu whenua, Kōperu tangata e ngunguru nei i au au aue hā. Ngāti Tamapango, Ngāti Whakamaungārangi, Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Tokotoko, Ngāti Te Riha, Ngāti Tangata, Ngāti Tāwhaki, me Ngāti Rangi ngā hapū, whītiki, maranga mai. Ngāti Hinerangi iwi, maranga mai rā.

Kei te mihi atu rā ki te hunga kua riro tītapu ki te pō. Ngā pākeke i roto i ō rātou wā, te hunga i haere ki te pakanga, e rere ana te toto ki runga i ō koutou whenua, rātou i tū Māori nei i runga i tō rātou mana motuhake me te tino rangatiratanga, te taonga tuku iho, kei te tangi, kei te tangi, kei te tangi.

Ka hoki mai rā ki a koutou ngā maramara o ngā tua iho kua tae mai nei i tēnei rā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou.

[Stand tall, Weraiti mountain. I acknowledge the sacred waters of Wairere and Waiteariki that never diminish, and the river Waihou that flows continuously. Indeed it is the region of Kōperu lands and Kōperu people that rumble here. Rise Ngāti Tamapango, Ngāti Whakamaungārangi, Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Tokotoko, Ngāti Te Riha, Ngāti Tangata, Ngāti Tāwhaki, and Ngāti Rangi subtribes. Rise Ngāti Hinerangi people.

I acknowledge the many that have departed to the night. The elders of their particular era; the ones who went to war, who shed blood on your lands, those who stood as Māori for their autonomy, their sovereignty and their heritage, I grieve, I grieve, I indeed grieve.

I now send my greetings to you all, the descendants of those previous ancestors that have arrived here today.]

I don’t stand here as a parliamentarian, or as the Crown, to apologise. I stand here as a fellow target, as my sister has put it. We have all endured the disrespect and the smoothing of the pillows of a dying race as history has etched. They took our lands. They took our foreshore. They continue to take our babies. But one thing we can never allow them to do is take our hearts, our minds, and our spirits.

I acknowledge you all today for being the pillars of strength for your iwi and for your mokopuna. Although the total due is only worth 1 percent—in this process, never ever should we settle for full and final settlements. Our mokopuna must continue to fight for the other 99 percent. We must overhaul the Treaty claims process and end the fiscal envelope. Would that have made an impact on the final sum? Absolutely. We must insert relativity clauses into the Treaty settlement to ensure all iwi have parity with Ngāi Tahu and with Waikato-Tainui kia mana ōrite [and be equitable with them].

We must make all Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding on the Crown. I acknowledge the mahi, the barriers, and the difficulties that this process puts our people through. It’s a divide and conquer. I see you’ve gone through a tikanga process with Tauranga Moana.

Kei te mihi atu rā ki a koutou. Kei te mihi atu anō hoki ki a Tauranga Moana. Engari ka aroha tātou e noho tahi nei. Ka haramai a Tauiwi me ā rātou ture ka wehewehe tātou.

[I thank you all. I wish to also acknowledge Tauranga Moana. But I also pity us sitting here. Strangers came along with their laws and we were divided.]

So I acknowledge the hard work you’ve put into this particular bill. I’d also acknowledge the first time I heard about this was by a PhD student, Awanuiarangi, Morehu McDonald—was the first time I ever heard about the Hinerangi claim. So e hika mā [friends] I’ve got 15 seconds left and I know a lot of these fullas didn’t use up all their seconds—I wish I could steal some, like they stole our things! But anyway, my heart goes out to you. God bless you all. Safe travels home. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora tātou.

Tēnā koe, Madam Speaker. E mihi ana ki ngā rangi, e mihi ana ki te whenua, e mihi ana ki te whānau o Te Puawaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Ki a koe pāpā Dave Thompson, Raukawa mā, Rāwiri, ngā kuia, ngā kaumātua, ngā māreikura, ngā whatukura o te motu, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

[Greetings, Madam Speaker. I acknowledge the heavens, I acknowledge the land and the families of Te Puawaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi, I acknowledge you all. To you elder Dave Thompson, to all of Raukawa, to Rāwiri, to the esteemed elders, the noble women, and the noble men of the land, greetings, greetings, greetings to one and all.]

Greetings to all of you. As many of my colleagues have explained today, we’ve worked hard to make this place a warmer, more welcoming place to all of our whānau, no matter where you come from. I stand here as a mokopuna of Ngapera Pine, nō [from] Mōkai Pātea, Ngāti Whitikaupeka.

I’m standing here as that mokopuna from a small iwi, an iwi that has had a challenge in being recognised as an iwi, and I look to the comments from Whaea Dianna and the statement that says, “We were almost extinct. We didn’t know we were Ngāti Hinerangi.” And therein lies the challenge and the complexities of the information that I read today that dates back to 1840, when, while a broader member of your whānau signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it didn’t come to your iwi, and that’s where the problems started. So today I acknowledge those challenges.

I also acknowledge today that we have failed our whānau Ngāti Hinerangi, and I turn to you and acknowledge that we have failed you. We have failed you and we apologise.

I want to acknowledge, though, the way forward. Today is the start, once again, to reignite the flame of your whānau, so that you can determine for your own rights the way forward for your tamariki mokopuna, the way forward for your whenua, the way forward for your mātauranga, the way that you share your stories, and the way that you set up your iwi moving forward. Today we acknowledge that you are Ngāti Hinerangi, that you determine your future, and that you determine the future of our rangatahi, of our tamariki mokopuna—what they do.

Something that’s very, very important to me—and again, I go back to the words of Whaea Dianna, and she states, “It means the world because through this settlement we have a chance to build a sustainable future for our iwi and, of course, our many generations to come. It means [for us] we’ll soon be in a position to start thinking about proactive initiatives to enhance the lives of our people and of our wider community.” And there it is—albeit $8.1 million, but it’s a start to your financial sustainability. It’s a backbone for you to enable you and your whānau to determine your future.

By no means can a dollar figure ever, ever recognise the hurt, the grievance that you have endured, the time that it has taken to get here today. Nor will it acknowledge, ever, the apology that we are making, but it does enable an opportunity to reset a way forward. It gives financial security—a backbone, as I said, to you and your whānau—so that you can have those meaningful conversations, those discussions. Aspirations are no longer aspirations any more. Ngāti Hinerangi, your future will be determined by you.

In closing, I acknowledge you here today. I thank you for your patience. I apologise once again, on behalf of all of us as parliamentarians, and I encourage you to reset a way forward with the Crown, to use this pūtea to set you up for the future, to rebuild your marae, to rebuild your culture, to share your stories, and to enable a bit of a better future for your tamariki mokopuna.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, e mihi ana tēnā koutou katoa.

[Therefore, thank you once, twice, thrice.]

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a great privilege to stand here and be the last National Party speaker today on the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill. It is a very personal moment for me, too, for I feel very, very humbled to be given the opportunity to share some thoughts on this very special occasion. My grandfather was the mayor of Te Aroha—that’s where I was born. His name was Henry Skidmore. His passion was that Thompson’s track, appropriately owned by the Government, should be where the second tunnel should be to connect the peoples of the Hauraki-Waikato with the peoples of Bay of Plenty. He didn’t know of your connection and your history.

My parents bought a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puna. It was part of the confiscation. Gold kiwifruit grows there and our family have been on that land for 50 years. But none of us had any idea of your connection to Tauranga Moana. My great-great-grandfather was a member of the 65th Foot. I have his medal. He fought against your tūpuna in the battle of Gate Pā and Te Ranga. Te Ranga is five minutes’ walk from where Michelle and our family live in Pyes Pa, right next door to the Aquinas College, where our kids go to school. Te Ranga is adjacent, right across the road—that is where the battle took place.

And here I am, as the National Party MP for Bay of Plenty, and up until recently I had no idea of your iwi’s connection to Tauranga Moana, your 160 years of pain and anguish—and for me to get the opportunity, as National Party last speaker, to stand here in front of you with my history and my family’s connection to what was your land is deeply humbling. And it talks to the better angels of this place that here you are, you have journeyed from the Waikato, journeyed through 15 years of Treaty settlement, and the last National speaker you hear is someone with connections—deep connections—to your battle, but on the other side yet did not know.

So when Tāmati Coffey said earlier that it is right that this House not only apologises but embraces the history of this country because it is who we are, it has formed who we are, and we can’t step back from it; we need to embrace it and accept it as part of the uniqueness of living in this country. But part of the reason we can is because of you and your negotiators and your community and your willingness to sit down with the Crown and negotiate an outcome which is forward-looking, as opposed to what it could have been. So we stand shoulder to shoulder with all other parties and with Andrew Little. Chris Finlayson was our Minister, who began that process. It is not partisan in this House; we are, to the best of our abilities, the people’s representatives, and we collectively stand in front of you today with humility, firstly apologising on behalf of the Crown and outlining the small redress for Ngāti Hinerangi.

But I, too, want to add my small, insignificant voice to this day, in saying that for me, being able to stand here and be part of this critical day of your iwi’s journey is very powerful for me, and I hope that you will take my words and gratitude and apology. We are a remarkable country and your forbearance and your patience and your ultimate love of whenua and mokopuna is why this House can stand here today, united in acknowledging this claim’s settlement. Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, thank you. Tēnā koutou e Ngāti Hinerangi, tēnā koutou katoa. E ngā kuia, kaumātua, tēnā koutou, me ngā tamariki mokopuna tēnā koutou katoa.

[Greetings Ngāti Hinerangi. Greetings to the matriarchs and the patriarchs, greetings also to the children and grandchildren.]

I feel the weight of the pōuri of this debate on my shoulders as I rise to stand. I thank the member Mr Muller for his contribution about how this affects not only the Crown, not only Ngāti Hinerangi, but so many communities throughout New Zealand, those locally affected and those watching out there today to see how these discussions between the Crown and iwi go for us as a nation as we find our feet in a new era of relationship under the Treaty of Waitangi.

It’s an emotional day. It’s a day of pride and a day of promise, and a day where the apology of the Crown to Ngāti Hinerangi echoes around this Chamber in the halls of Parliament and around the country.

Before I speak about this bill in particular and about the laws that we are passing today, I want to just touch on how emotional and poignant it is to be speaking on this as the last speaker. For me as a young Māori woman with two young Māori kids, I look to these kinds of discussions and to the leadership shown by negotiators in the Treaty process as something that forges a new relationship between Crown and iwi Māori. And to be standing here speaking with you, Ngāti Hinerangi, who have forged a new way to discuss overlapping claims issues, not just with the Crown but with your neighbours as well, is something really powerful and which should be celebrated here today.

I want to thank the negotiators and the trustees of Ngāti Hinerangi for the work and the leadership in this space. Not only have you brought together your iwi, the whānau who make it up, the hapū who make it up, the marae in coming to a negotiated settlement which is robust and which is meaningful and which addresses not only what was lost but what can be gained by moving forward, you’ve also dealt with the people around you by bringing the community on board around you, and that kind of leadership is something to be really celebrated.

I also acknowledge all of the officials, all of the people who have made this work, the people who have worked on your side of the fence and the people who have worked on the Crown side as well. The work that goes into these Crown and Treaty settlements is so important not just in these situations but for all New Zealanders.

I also want to make a special mihi to the young people and the children who have joined us today. This is about your future. This is about where we go as a people in the face of this trauma which has been going on for almost 100 years, how we as a generation of young Māori move on from that, how we draw a line in the sand in that, and not forgetting those lessons that we have learnt but how we recover from that pain. You hear it in the Chamber today, that pain, that trauma, that people have lived with. But let today be a moment of healing for Ngāti Hinerangi as a whole and a moment that we can acknowledge for many generations to come as the first day of what Ngāti Hinerangi’s future looks like.

I think it’s those children in the gallery which make this so real—seeing the babies in question time, seeing the kids here today who have come all this way and have sat through a bunch of boring speeches. This is exactly—it is real. This is for you. This is about making a future where you can stand tall in your rangatiratanga, in your māoritanga, and in your identity as Ngāti Hinerangi.

I want to touch briefly on something which the previous speakers haven’t really touched on, which is the Wairere Falls scenic reserve. That site is a tapu site for Ngāti Hinerangi and an important site for all New Zealanders. In its central location, it’s somewhere where so many people enjoy. And the benefit to that site of having your kaitiakitanga, of having an overlay where you must be consulted about preserving its natural and cultural significance and its values, is so important not just locally but to everyone. The ability for you to decide how those sites are given meaning and how we tell the stories of that river, of those falls, is so important. I thank you, and I hope you hear the gratitude from the parliamentarians here, in your role as kaitiaki and protectors of that for generations to come.

Finally, I want to thank you as well, as an iwi between Ngāti Hauā, Raukawa, Tauranga Moana, and Hauraki, for finding a way that other iwi can look to to see the leadership required in negotiating these difficult situations of overlapping claims. This is a Crown process which we as Māori did not create. It is not in tikanga Māori that we have to negotiate overlapping claims in the way that we do under the modern settings, and it is something that we need to find a way through as Māori, to be able to show Parliament and the Crown how we want to do this in future in a way which enhances our mana and does not diminish the mana of our neighbours. You have done that. Congratulations and thank you. Thank you for showing leadership in the negotiation with those around you and with everyone within your iwi. That’s something you can be so proud of today.

In conclusion, I just want to acknowledge all of you who have come today for this journey. It’s a heavy day, but it’s something that all of you, I hope, will remember with fondness for the rest of your lives. Photos from today will adorn the walls, I hope, of what will become your debating chamber—the room of Ngāti Hinerangi’s discussions for the future of its iwi, whether that’s a boardroom, whether that’s your marae. It’s something to be remembered, and the faces of those who have negotiated it to this point I hope will adorn those walls. I just want to say that as you travel home, please remember this as the moment of healing, as a moment where it was the beginning of something really new and special that we celebrated with you all today. Tēnā koutou katoa.

Bill read a third time.

Waiata

Haka

Nō reira, e tika ana kia tuku mihi atu ki a koutou Ngāti Hinerangi. Nō reira tēnā rā tātou katoa.

[It is only right for me to acknowledge you, Ngāti Hinerangi. Greetings to you all.]