Goldsmith Paul; Brownlee GerryNGĀTI TARA TOKANUI CLAIMS SETTLEMENT BILLSecond ReadingHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I present a legislative statement on the Ngāti Tara Tokanui Claims Settlement Bill.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O'Connor): That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House. It can be found on the Parliament website.Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: I move That the Ngāti Tara Tokanui Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. Tihei mauri ora!Te Whare e tū nei tēnā koe te papa i waho nei tēnā koe te mana whenua o tēnei rohe tēnā koutou te hunga mate haere haere haere. Haere ki te whenua o ngā tūpuna. Te hunga ora tēnā tātou katoa. Ka mihi ki ngā māunga kōrero ki ngā awa rangatira ki te whenua taurikura o Ngāti Tara Tokanui e ngā kāwai rangatira tēnā tātou katoa. ['Tis the breath of life!The House that stands greetings the land we are on greetings the protectors of this region greetings to you all the deceased farewell. Farewell to the homeland of your ancestors. To us greetings to you. I acknowledge the many speaking mountains the many formidable rivers and also to the cherished lands of Ngāti Tara Tokanui dear esteemed leaders salutations to you all.]This bill gives effect to the deed of settlement signed by Ngāti Tara Tokanui and the Crown in July 2022. The deed of settlement resolves all the remaining historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāti Tara Tokanui who are an iwi centred around Paeroa in the Hauraki/Coromandel region. The historical claims of Ngāti Tara Tokanui relate to Crown purchases of their land and the operation of the Native Land Court. The cumulative effect of the Crown's actions and omissions had a devastating effect on the economic social and cultural development of Ngāti Tara Tokanui leaving the iwi virtually landless by the 1920s. This bill comprises three parts detailing firstly the historical background; secondly Crown acknowledgments of and apology for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi; and thirdly cultural and commercial redress. I look forward to providing greater details about the redress at the bill's third reading.The pathway towards settlement for Ngāti Tara Tokanui whānau hapū and iwi has been a long one. The Waitangi Tribunal heard the Hauraki claims including the Ngāti Tara Tokanui Wai 714 claim lodged by the late Hone Tewaewae Williams from 1998 to 2002. The tribunal heard 24 hearings and completed its report in 2006. The focus then turned to direct negotiations with the Crown which concluded with the signing of a deed of settlement in July 2022. The first reading of the Ngāti Tara Tokanui Claims Settlement Bill was passed in June last year. I acknowledge that the Ngāti Tara Tokanui has lost many members who were part of the settlement journey but are not alive to see this day. I acknowledge those tīpuna and all iwi members who have participated in this process whether they were collating evidence attending hui being witnesses in the Tribunal supporting leaders and negotiators participating in iwi discussions or voting on whether to support the settlement.For more than 25 years Ngāti Tara Tokanui has pursued acknowledgment of their Treaty claims and redress for current and future generations. I acknowledge the Ngāti Tara Tokanui Trust and your negotiators Amelia Williams and Russell Karu. Your dedication and determination have been vital in achieving this settlement for all. The Ngāti Tara Tokanui Trust will be the post-settlement governance entity that will receive the settlement assets on behalf of Ngāti Tara Tokanui and will represent the iwi in its future dealings with the Crown.On the Crown side I acknowledge the work of chief Crown negotiators Michael Dreaver and the Hon Rick Barker who have been well supported by Te Arawhiti throughout this process. I also acknowledge my predecessors the Hon Chris Finlayson and the Hon Andrew Little who both made significant contributions to this Treaty settlement. This Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore the Crown relationship with iwi by settling historical Treaty grievances. There have been many other Ministers and Crown agencies involved in this settlement and I thank you for your contributions.The bill was referred to the Māori Affairs Committee on 29 June 2023. The committee received and considered 15 submissions on the bill. Based on the submissions and advice received the committee does not recommend making any significant changes to the bill. The committee recommended some minor and technical amendments to ensure consistency with other Hauraki iwi settlement bills. I thank the committee for their diligent work in the consideration of this bill. I'm satisfied with the committee's recommendations as they will ensure the redress agreed in the Ngāti Tara Tokanui deed of settlement can be properly implemented through this bill.I look forward to the final steps towards settlement for Ngāti Tara Tokanui and it will be my great pleasure to host them and all their supporters for the third reading of this bill. I commend this bill to the House. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa. SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.