Moriori Claims Settlement Bill

Thank you, Mr Chairman. I’m assuming that I don’t have to repeat the speech—the well-prepared speech—that I’ve just delivered about Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 95. However, it is a correcting SOP for those last minor technical amendments, or minor amendments, of place names in the bill. It has been subject to consultation with the relevant agencies and they have all, naturally, been agreed to by Moriori. These changes will conclude the bill, ready for its third reading.

Thank you, Mr Chairman. Minister, just a brief question: there was some concern and questions raised about the protection of Te Ana a Nunuku, and I know, having been on the committee, that that was outside the scope of this bill. But I just wondered if you would explain briefly, for the benefit of those watching, why it was out of scope in terms of this bill.

Mr Chairman, I actually didn’t hear the beginning of the question. If the member could just repeat that bit again?

Oh, sorry. A number of people questioned whether Te Ana a Nunuku, Nunuku’s Cave, could be protected. And I note, having been on the select committee myself, that that was outside the scope of the bill, but I was just wondering if you could explain, for the benefit of those watching, why it was out of scope.

As I understand it, there is not a designated name registered with the New Zealand Geographic Board for that landmark, and therefore there was no legislative basis on which, without having gone through a completely different process, to do that. What we were left with with the deed set up agreement about a number of places that have place names that are recognised by the New Zealand Geographic Board. It was the desire of Moriori, and the Crown, indeed, to change those, but that place did not have a designated name and, therefore, could not be changed through this process.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Minister, I note that the overlapping interest is a matter that was considered in terms of this—and it will be considered again, no doubt—as the Moriori are one group of inhabitants on the Chatham Islands and Ngāti Mutunga are another group of inhabitants. I’m just wondering if you could explain for the benefit, again, of those watching where things are tracking in terms of how to address the overlapping interests on the Chatham Islands and surrounding islands.

Notwithstanding that as we head towards the third reading of the Moriori Claims Settlement Bill, this is Moriori’s day. We don’t normally talk about other iwi, including those with overlapping interests, on what is Moriori’s day, but to assist the member briefly, the Crown is still negotiating with Ngāti Mutunga. We’ll continue those discussions, and where there are overlapping interests with what is agreed with Ngāti Mutunga and with Moriori, there will be discussions on those overlapping interests with Moriori.

The question is that the Minister’s amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 95 be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

Parts 1 to 3, Schedules 1 to 4, and clauses 1 and 2, as amended, agreed to

Bill to be reported with amendment.

House resumed.

Mr Speaker, the committee has considered the Moriori Claims Settlement Bill and reports it with amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.

Motion agreed to.

Report adopted.

In accordance with a determination of the Business Committee, this bill is set down for third reading forthwith.

Third Reading