Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill

Members, the House is in committee on the Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill. I’ll remind members they are able to participate remotely. If you are on Zoom and want to take a call please type “call” into the chat. You should also use the chat if you want to raise a point of order. We come to Part 1.

Mr Chairman, I seek leave for all questions to be taken as one.

CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Leave has been requested for all sections to be taken as one. There’s no objection? There is none.

Parts 1 to 3, Schedules 1 to 4, and clauses 1 and 2

Thank you, Mr Chairman. What is before the House for the purposes of this committee is Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 139, which is in my name. It is there to make some technical and minor amendments for the Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill. The proposed amendments are incorporated into the following clauses in the bill: clause 56, clause 89(3) and 89(10), clause 90(6), and in Schedule 3.

These changes come about as a result of land surveying, and the SOP proposes to make the following changes. Firstly, updating the definition of Part Matata property in relation to the joint advisory committee. Secondly, updating the definitions of—quotes—“Waimangu Volcanic Valley” and “reserve”—end quotes—in relation to the vesting of Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Thirdly, updating the descriptions and interests of 12 cultural redress properties. The SOP also corrects a technical error, and, in this respect, the SOP proposes to change the territorial authority reference for one cultural redress property. The changes made by the SOP are consistent with the standard technical approach for Treaty settlement bills. All relevant parties have agreed to the surveys, which is the basis for the proposed changes in the SOP. And, really, that is what the SOP is about. For those looking on—because I know there will be members of Ngāti Rangitihi who are watching remotely—this is a technical process to make sure that the bill is absolutely perfect in every respect so that when we get to the third reading, and, most importantly, to the end of it and the bill finally gets its Royal assent, then the bill is good to go. It has the force of law and there is no need to correct any aspect of it. So on that basis, I look forward to any questions, but, hopefully, we can get through this period very quickly.

I just support what the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Andrew Little, just said. These are proposed minor amendments that are non-contentious, that are necessary, and they are supported by the National Party. Thank you, Mr Chair.

The question is that the Minister’s amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 139 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is that Parts 1 to 3, Schedules 1 to 4, and clauses 1 and 2 as amended stand part.

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.

Madam Speaker, the committee has considered the Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill and reports it with amendment.

ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): The question is 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