Mahuta Nanaia: Ngati Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Mahuta Nanaia: Ngati Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:669;Page:16036] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
: 
 Kurahaupo Waka Ngati Apa iwi tena koutou. Tenei e tapiri atu i aku nei whakaaro ki era kua waihotia ki te whakatau i a koutou i waenganui i a matou i tenei rangi whakahirahira. No reira tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
[ 
Acknowledgments to you the people of Ngati Apa and to the Canoe of Kurahaupo. I add my sentiments to those expressed in welcoming you here amongst us on this great day. So greetings to you all greetings 
.]  
It gives me great pleasure to offer a small contribution on the third reading of the Ngati Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill. Without restating the history that was put by Minister Turia in the House today I will make a number of brief acknowledgments and offer some comment. 
The long history of Ngati Apa working towards their settlement has in some part been addressed and resolved today. As Minister Turia started her speech there was a call probably of a mokopuna in the gallery. There is something very honest and pure about the voice of a young child. It immediately made me reflect on the generational opportunity that is afforded as a result of reaching this particular point in history. 
Many speakers before me have commented on the long progress it has taken to get to this point. That progress has not been without struggle or sacrifice and it has been made with the enduring vision to take a people forward. But there is hope in it and that is what that young voice reminded me of. There is hope for the future because if as a Parliament we continue along the road of ensuring that Treaty settlements continue to be a defining part of what our nation must do to look forward—and I sincerely hope that every party in this House will do this—then we can all celebrate today. 
We cannot be partisan on this point. Every political party in this House has the huge responsibility to continue with the Treaty settlement process so that we have an enduring solution for the future. I have been concerned in past years when political parties have not seen this settlement process as a part of the essential fabric of what our nation will look like and I remain concerned about that. I believe that the voices of those young children like the child whom we heard in the gallery urge every one of us to take the responsibility here at this point in time to say that Treaty settlements must continue like this settlement for Ngati Apa so that their kids and their kids after them have a future an opportunity and a hope that can be realised because it was given to them by their ancestors. 
I will also comment on the aspects leading to this point. The negotiators made a huge effort. It is certainly worth noting that the greatest challenge for many iwi is to have successful succession planning. I say that with all due respect to all tribes; I reflect on only my own. It is a huge ask for people who have carried the baton for so long to say that it is OK and they can give it over. But here we see that another generation has come forward and there has been faith in those negotiators to get their people to this point. All I can say is it is a huge example that many other iwi can look to for some inspiration as to what can be achieved by a younger generation with different skills but with the same heart for progress. 
It also signals that the new generation of leaders is able to see what the challenges ahead are. Once we reach a settlement the hardest task is the post-settlement phase. In this instance it is now for Ngati Apa to look out the window of opportunity and meet the challenges of post-settlement development. It will come with challenges. There will be ups and downs; there will be high points and low points and great successes and great challenges. But that is their experience and if anything can be learnt from the Treaty settlements of other tribes then it should be to share that experience to fast track some of the learning difficulties to make it easier and to make the path a little flatter along the way. 
Minister Turia raised the comment about Labour’s reflection of the Treaty of Waitangi. Well all I can say is that at points in time and history there have been high expectations on both the main political parties I expect but more so on Labour with regard to its relationship with the people—down in Whanganui specifically with the Ratana movement. That progress has been steady. It has not been as fast as people would have liked it to be and I think the historical context has at some points inhibited the level of progress that people would have liked to see. But I can say that without some of the critical things that Labour has done in the past we certainly would not be at this point. I absolutely believe that and it is a point in the historical record. I am looking forward to the new relationship that Labour can have with the future of where Maoridom wants to go and that is certainly my intent while still being a member of this political party. 
I acknowledge the efforts of the advisers for iwi and for the Crown. Terse words have been spoken behind back doors and there have been reflections on the quality of the negotiations at some point. That always happens but without the technical advice and support offered to both iwi and the Crown we could not have had the quality of the settlement that we have today. I know that both Minister Turia and Minister Finlayson are all too well aware of that and so are we. 
The Maori Affairs Committee has had a hard task trying to manage expectations. Once bills get to the select committee if there is still dissent amongst iwi over these types of things the expectation is that the Maori Affairs Committee can all of a sudden change a deed but that is actually not the case. Once a settlement has been negotiated with the Crown and put into legislation before the select committee no substantial change can be made without the express consent of the iwi concerned. The Maori Affairs Committee has a huge challenge and task. At best it may be able to achieve some technical amendments but it can make no amendments of substance although that has not been the situation with this particular settlement. 
Finally I thank the clerks of committee who have brought together the report so that we as parliamentarians who have not sat in on the select committee process can be better informed. Without their hard work and effort we cannot as parliamentarians hope to comment unless they are doing the work that they are there to do. 
Finally it is my pleasure to offer Labour’s continued support of the Treaty settlements in principle and of Ngati Apa in particular. We wish them well for the future. We wish those young voices in the gallery today all the hopes and aspirations and dreams of their forefathers that they can be realised in their time and that they can continue to put out a strong voice of hope for the future of their people in Ngati Apa. No reira tena koutou katoa. Kia ora.