Horomia Parekura: Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
Horomia Parekura: Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:666;Page:13738] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Labour—Ikaroa-Rawhiti) 
: 
 Back in 1989 Muriwhenua elder and New Zealand Maori Council member Sir Graham Latimer went to court on behalf of Maori to challenge the Government’s right to sell some land that was subject to historical Treaty of Waitangi claims. It was decided that the land would not be sold although assets on the land such as forests could be sold. The decision was to have the land remain in Crown control because it was realised that the land could potentially form part of a future settlement of grievances under the Treaty of Waitangi. That is also what is happening in this Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill. 
Aside from Sir Graham’s actions in ensuring that the Crown maintained ownership and control of the land he along with others also ensured that the rental of the property to forest owners generated an income that went into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust. The trust accrued the rental income and the interest on it and Maori were able to access that rental income in order to advance Treaty of Waitangi claims. With the Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill we have reached the point where some of the land that would have been sold but for the actions of the Maori Council and Sir Graham is being returned to Maori in the Whanganui area. It is certainly something to celebrate. 
The principle that saw owners of forests pay rental income to the Crown landowners is also being applied to the land under the Kaitoke Prison. The land that the Kaitoke Prison sits on becomes Maori-owned but the buildings remain the property of the Crown. The Crown then rents the land and Maori are to derive a rental income from it. 
The land in question has overlapping iwi interests which caused some interesting debates and discussions. Overlapping interests are one of the key challenges in many Treaty settlements. It is a difficult area with no easy answers. In these situations the Crown has an obligation to negotiate with both iwi in good faith. The Whanganui iwi and Ngati Apa have come to an arrangement and it is an incredible achievement. It is a huge credit to both iwi. In my opinion what counts now is not so much what the past held but what the future holds for these iwi. Their commitment and connection through the debate and in getting to a better place is something that we can all take lessons from. They now have an opportunity to put grievances to one side and focus on a successful future for themselves and the mokopuna of the future generations. That in my opinion is a key objective in the settlement of Treaty claims. It provides the opportunity for Maori to emerge from the shadow of grievance and into the light and dawn of a prosperous future. 
The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations needs to be commended for the effort that he has put into this settlement. I also want to commend myself and other people in the previous Labour Government who worked hard on this settlement; I thought that I had better say that too. But I do commend the Minister and his colleagues for that because people forget to say it. 
Nothing will ever compensate for the fragmentation and the degradation of the land culture and language and the loss of social political and economic opportunities caused by alienation from land. This settlement puts a lot of that right for Ngati Apa and the Whanganui iwi. 
The alienation of the Maori language—which the previous speaker Tau Henare talked about in relation to the select committee’s activities—leads me to the main concern in the report of the Maori Affairs Committee on the bill. A small but significant part of the Maori language for Whanganui people is a simple letter the letter “h”. Nowhere in the Maori language in any Maori dictionary can one find the word “wanga”—that sounds more like Aborigine. It has no meaning no connection and no mana or status of any kind for any tribe not just the Whanganui tribes. It is not a word that exists. Therefore it is with immense satisfaction that the word “Wanganui” has been erased from this legislation and replaced with the real Maori name of Whanganui. 
It strikes me as the ultimate act of arrogance that the language of one people can be taken control of by another ethnic group. I struggle to comprehend how a Pakeha in Whanganui can believe that he has any right to deny Maori the correct use of our language. But certainly as we are all encouraged as New Zealanders by the haka and as mana and aroha are commonly used words we know that there are a lot of better Pakeha who appreciate the word Whanganui and who are certainly supportive of it. 
The iwi of Whanganui have the right to walk through the central business district of Whanganui and see their language written correctly and to hear it pronounced correctly. It is no different from what most cultures would appreciate and expect of other people. Respect is a two-way street but many non-Maori view respect only from within their own cultural bias. The effort that has been put in by these two iwi to consolidate and settle this settlement along with the Minister and Co. is something that needs to be recognised and respected. 
I am thrilled that throughout this bill the meaningless word “Wanganui” has been replaced with “Whanganui”. Over the coming years “Whanganui” will subsume “Wanganui” in all legislation on all Automobile Association signposts and in the consciousness of all people. History will look back at the objection to changing the name Wanganui to Whanganui and see it as what it blatantly is—a redneck attack on the rights of indigenous people to practise their language and culture on their own terms. 
The ancient Whanganui debate reminds me of the furore over the correct pronunciation of Taupo and the outrage and indignation expressed when Joanna Paul opened the news with “Kia ora.” Likewise there was the battle that Naida Glavish a telephone exchange operator had when she was demoted for greeting callers with “Kia ora.” So we should take a collection on every Pakeha who says “kia ora” now but it is an accepted use of language in this country and that is wonderful unification. 
If we are serious about nationhood then the essence of this bill is just that. It can help to leverage that and be serious about recognising and respecting other peoples’ wills and needs. So it is for me with the name Whanganui. A whanga I can picture. Where I come from it has two meanings. One meaning is a noun; the other meaning is a verb but both conjure up a picture in my mind. “Whanga” means a bay and “nui” means something large in which case when I hear whanga and nui combined a picture of a large bay springs to mind. 
I use this example to attempt to explain our connection to our language. It is not there just for fun; it is something that many non-Maori would understand and it is certainly a joy to share that knowledge with them. I find it incredibly ironic as I said that one of the literal translations of “Whanganui” could mean a long wait which is exactly what Whanganui iwi have had to experience to get to the stage where a fraction of their land is about to be returned not as compensation but as the right thing to do to correct historical injustices. 
To finish I acknowledge the work of the Tupoho working party whose members have worked hard. They have had to stand and stare down people and work and develop with them. They undertook a robust ratification programme to ensure that the deed of on-account settlement was well supported by Whanganui iwi. Ka nui nga mihi atu ki a ratou me koutou katoa. I tautokotia atu te kaha rawe i roto i a ratou mai ra no mo to ratou kaha e tae pai atu i tenei wahi. No reira tena tatou. 
[ 
I greatly appreciate them and you all. The good intentions among them have been first class and supported from the outset and as a consequence the matter has arrived at this place in good shape. So acknowledgments to us 
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