Finlayson ChristopherTARANAKI IWI CLAIMS SETTLEMENT BILLSecond ReadingHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I move That the Taranaki Iwi Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. This bill gives effect to the deed of settlement between the Crown and Taranaki iwi which was signed in a very emotional ceremony at Pukeiti gardens in September 2015. It provides financial commercial and cultural redress and acknowledges the losses suffered by Taranaki iwi arising from very serious breaches by the Crown of its Treaty obligations. Can I acknowledge the work of the Taranaki iwi negotiators as I stare at Mahara Okeroa. Can I acknowledge my ministerial colleagues local government and other agencies that have contributed to this bill.I also want to thank the chair and members of the Māori Affairs Committee for their very good work during the consideration of the bill and the exploration of the issues raised in submissions. The bill was referred to the committee on 25 March. Seven submissions were received from interested groups and individuals and the committee heard from four submitters at hearings in New Plymouth on 2 June 2016. The committee reported the bill back to the House just a couple of weeks ago and recommended it be passed with a number of minor technical amendments. These include amendments to clarify the vesting of cultural redress sites to clarify the right of first refusal provisions and to update the legal descriptions of redress sites.Can I say it is a testament to the hard work of the negotiators that the Taranaki Regional Council fully supports representation of the iwi of Taranaki on the two council standing committees. Taranaki iwi also have the support of their neighbours for the progress of the bill and for joint redress including the vesting of Ngā Motu with Te Atiawa. The matter of iwi representation on the Taranaki Regional Council standing committees also arose last week at the Committee stage of the Ngāruahine Claims Settlement Bill. I mention it because it is relevant to both this and the other Taranaki settlement bill going through the House today which contain the same provisions in relation to these committees. At the Committee stage of the Ngāruahine debate New Zealand First proposed a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to remove iwi representation on these two standing committees of the Taranaki Regional Council. I then explained to the Committee why it was appropriate to have iwi representation on these committees just as for example some other members of the current committees are appointed from external bodies including from Federated Farmers who are in effect an unelected member. After my explanation New Zealand First withdrew its SOP and as far as I can tell—and I acknowledge that I am not a psychic—this could be one of the reasons New Zealand First has raised an eleventh-hour objection to this bill. It is simply unclear but I very much look forward to hearing the explanation because I think it is about representation. But I do say to those members the clauses in the Taranaki Iwi Claims Settlement Bill dealing with this issue are exactly the same as in the Te Atiawa Claims Settlement Bill which of course they voted through a few minutes ago. So it is all confusing and I very much look forward to hearing what I am sure will be a splendid explanation from Pita Paraone or Mr Peters—well from Mr Paraone.The Taranaki Report: Kaupapa Tuatahi was the Waitangi Tribunal report about which mention has been made already this morning. It was released in 1996. It is well worth a read including by people who write to me as someone has this morning—I will not mention his name because I do not want to embarrass him. He could be a New Zealand First branch chair. He wrote I read with real disgust your further attempts to impose Māori on the rest of the population without the population's consent." and then he commented along those lines—a very helpful contribution to the debate! But I do think it would be useful for people to look at the events underlying the Taranaki iwi claims because they are some of the most severe in this country. I very much look forward to people like my correspondent learning more about Treaty settlements and in particular the history of Taranaki iwi and what they have suffered and the history of what happened at Parihaka—and it was not all that long ago. I look forward to the continued benefit of Treaty settlements for our regional economies and Māori communities. These settlements once they receive the Royal assent will bring over $200 million into the great Taranaki province.Throughout negotiations Taranaki iwi have signalled the importance of addressing the issue of Parihaka. The Crown's actions at Parihaka were some of the worst examples of colonial repression in New Zealand and judging from the contributions made by various members around the Chamber this morning I think people know that pretty well around here. The Crown has to address the harm its actions caused the residents of Parihaka both past and present. The Crown is working to restore its relationship with Parihaka to re-establish trust with the community and I think both sides are working very carefully and are not rushing things because this is a very very important issue. As a first step in May this year I signed a compact of trust with Parihaka. We are now on the road to reconciliation with the community and it is a journey that is long overdue. Ngāti Maru has now signed terms of negotiations and is ready to negotiate. That is the last iwi of Taranaki that will be involved in negotiations and that now means that the Crown and all the iwi of Taranaki can look to the issue of the maunga. All iwi have connections to Taranaki maunga and I look forward to beginning those negotiations in the near future with all the iwi of Taranaki to recognise the importance of the maunga.This second reading brings us closer to the concluding stages of the settlement process for Taranaki iwi and seeks to recognise what is important to the people of the iwi and to provide redress for the historical breaches. I very much look forward to hosting the iwi of Taranaki here in Wellington for a joint third reading of the Taranaki iwi Te Atiawa and Ngāruahine claims settlement bills in the very very near future. I commend this bill to the House."