Horomia Parekura: Third Readings 
Horomia Parekura: Third Readings 
[Volume:636;Page:7021] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I move  
That the Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill / Maori Land Amendment Bill the Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Bill the Maori Fisheries Amendment Bill and the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill be now read a third time 
. This legislation implements Labour’s pledge to introduce a closing date for the submission of historical claims to the Waitangi Tribunal. I will say more about that in a moment. 
I would first like to mention the improvements this legislation makes to several Acts that affect Maori and the management of Maori assets. The legislation addresses matters identified as people have worked through the practical application of the provisions of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act the Maori Fisheries Act and the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act. The changes introduced by this legislation will help to ensure that a sound legal framework and infrastructure are in place. That is needed to assist Maori to manage their assets and effectively and efficiently resolve any disputes that may arise. 
Maori are beginning to see the benefits of many years of hard work. There have now been a number of significant Treaty settlements which provide the iwi concerned with a base on which to rebuild their futures. The fisheries settlement allocation processes are being worked through as agreed with iwi and set out under the Maori Fisheries Act. Maori have the people the skills the leadership and the determination to make the best possible use of their resources. I see this vitality and vision throughout New Zealand on many of my regional visits. I see it in iwi organisations I see it in tribal and hapu trusts and incorporations and I see it in local marae committees. I also see it in the variety of new business enterprises that are being developed from Cape Reinga to Rakiura. All those people are working hard to build a better future for their whanau hapu iwi and all of New Zealand. 
It is important that Parliament plays its role by ensuring that the statutory framework is in a good shape to support the endeavours of Maori. That is how Maori purposes bills such as the bill that these bills were divided from make useful contributions. They provide an opportunity to address issues oversights and errors and even to provide the simple updating refinements for which a need inevitably arises from time to time in legislation. 
Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill makes a number of changes to ensure that the Maori Land Court is in a position to deal with a changing environment. This environment includes the expanded jurisdiction introduced by recent legislation such as the Maori Fisheries Act and the Foreshore and Seabed Act. The changes introduced include increasing the maximum number of permanent judges who can be appointed to the Maori Land Court as and when the court’s workload increases. In addition the role of the court in fisheries and aquaculture disputes is clarified. Changes are also made to allow the Chief Judge and the Deputy Chief Judge to better share workloads. Those provisions will help to ensure that the Maori Land Court is well positioned to fulfil its full range of responsibilities. 
There has been criticism from some quarters of the provision to validate decisions made by an acting judge when he sat for a short time beyond the term of his temporary warrant. This is the most practicable way of fixing a mistake made some years ago. The concern of the Government has been for the individuals and whanau affected by the decisions. It is those people who would have to deal with the consequent uncertainty if the decisions are not validated by statute. 
Amendments to the Maori Fisheries Act and the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act will help to ensure that the policy intentions that underpin those Acts are implemented as originally intended. 
I come now to the Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Bill which introduces a closing date for the submission of all historical claims. Labour announced in 2005 that it would introduce a closing date for historical claims. This commitment was made then and is being implemented now in the context of a strong and an ongoing commitment to a fair settlements process. It is important for Maori and all of New Zealand that historical Treaty claims are settled as soon as possible. Setting a closing date for submissions will help to identify how many historical claims remain to be settled. That will in turn help in planning for the settlement process and for the time when the process is completed. 
The settlement of historical claims is of huge significance in New Zealand’s history. I have had the privilege of being present when deeds of settlement have been signed. Those are deeply moving occasions. There is a sense of history being made—of the past touching the present. Settlements are also watersheds for the claimant groups involved and for every New Zealander. It is the time when iwi can turn all their energies and talents towards the future and the opportunities the future offers. It is what makes the years of hard work and hard choices worthwhile. The Government wants to ensure that Maori and all of New Zealand can enjoy the benefits of settling the historical claims. The introduction of a closing date will help to achieve that goal. Contemporary claims relating to events after 21 September 1992 will still be able to be made to the Waitangi Tribunal after the closing date for historical claims. 
Before concluding I would like to thank again the Maori Affairs Committee for its consideration of the Maori Purposes Bill and also to thank the other organisations involved. I thank all the members of the committee and the individuals who made submissions on the bill. I commend my own ministry Te PuniKokiri and other agencies for their hard efforts and support. I commend this legislation to the House.