Muller ToddTODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's a great privilege just to conclude the National Party's contribution on the second reading of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Claims Settlement Bill. As is often the way when we have iwi settlement bills in front of the House the level of contribution—both in terms of substantive reflection on the cause for why we find ourselves here and some of the particular challenges that we have had to navigate or at least the claimants have had to navigate—that we have heard as parliamentarians has given us a substantive and eloquent voice and that has occurred yet again this afternoon.I do not intend to navigate the issues that have been traversed in any great detail. Indeed I was going to reflect on the key settlement outcomes that are reflected in the deed but the previous speaker has done that—again very eloquently. But I thought when reflecting on one of the core challenges that have been in front of the select committee with respect to the balance of progressing the Ngāti Kahungunu settlement with the other interests that are in front of the Supreme Court that in the words that were reflected in the departmental report—that is for those listening the summary of all of the submissions the perspectives that have been brought together by the officials for the parliamentarians that sit on that committee to finally reflect on—there are some perspectives that I thought could be relevant to this debate.In particular point 49 of the departmental report explored the balance struck between the Minister's decision to introduce settlement legislation with that of policy relevance. It goes on to say that the Crown's comprehensive settlement policy for large natural groups" sits at the core of this decision. "All such settlements settle multiple Wai claims often with some level of dissent within the group."—and we have heard that traversed very specifically this afternoon—"However Parliament has long supported the policy as the preferred way to settle multiple claims within the large natural groups where there is shared whakapapa and experience of prejudice from the same Crown Treaty breaches." And "the requirement in every settlement to balance the interests of multiple groups with relevant and often conflicting interests is very common—as is particularly the case in this instance."The other area that I thought was quite useful that the departmental report covered was that the basis of appeals to the Supreme Court does not bear upon the essential finding of the Waitangi Tribunal—that the assets are a "disproportionate" remedy for Wai 85 and Wai 429 claims and that the Wairarapa Moana Incorporation structure makes it an inappropriate recipient of resumable assets—with shareholdings rather than the whakapapa determining the level of benefit.The other point acknowledged in the departmental report that I thought was revealing was the statement that the removal of Wai 85 and Wai 429 claims could result in "significant ongoing liability [for the Crown] which undermines the policy of full and final comprehensive settlements." Of course it is noting as the House has already heard that Ngāti Kahungunu have voted twice to settle with the Crown based on the terms now agreed.The report went on to say that ultimately the appeals before the Supreme Court "will not end the matter" and that "the Wai 85 and Wai 429 claimants seeking an indefinite pause to reargue their case in the Tribunal … [would result in a] delay … with costs (not limited to financial) on all parties." I think that gives a sense of the earnest reflection that has gone on both through the Crown's representatives—in this case the Minister but particularly the various MPs on the select committee regardless of political philosophy—to try and get the balance right here in terms of our final recommendation back to the House.As we have heard today the Minister's view—and the select committee's view—is that the balance is in favour of ending further delay and bringing the benefits of comprehensive Treaty of Waitangi settlement redress to all of Ngāti Kahungunu. Certainly the National Party reflects that that is the right landing point.But as I said at the start I think the various contributions from all sides—including our various National Party members—have talked to the complexity and challenges that sat behind that ultimate judgment of balance. Thank you Madam Speaker."