Hereora Dave: Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
Hereora Dave: Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Volume:644;Page:13970] 
DAVE HEREORA (Labour) 
: 
 I take this opportunity to stand in support of the Maori Purposes Bill (No. 2) and I look forward to it coming to the Maori Affairs Committee. I want to assure the previous speaker in terms of the issue raised about increased funding that that along with other issues gives us the opportunity to consider it and make recommendations back to the House. I certainly look forward to that discussion with the members.  
The Maori Purposes Bill (No. 2) is omnibus legislation that amends four existing pieces of legislation relating to issues relative to Maori: the Maniopoto Maori Trust Board Act 1988; the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955; the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975; and Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993. I understand that it is intended that the bill will be broken up into four separate bills after the Committee of the whole House.  
I note that the bill will bring into effect a key condition of the new deed of agreement achieved between the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board and the Crown in relation to Lake Taupo a taonga of Ngati Tuwharetoa. The new deed of agreement clarifies Tuwharetoa’s property rights in Lake Taupo. Under previous agreements Tuwharetoa was granted a share in the revenue of the Crown generated from Lake Taupo and Tuwharetoa’s ownership of the bed of Lake Taupo was also recognised. In 2005 negotiations were commenced to further clarify Tuwharetoa’s property rights in Lake Taupo and in 2007 this resulted in a new deed of agreement between the Crown and Tuwharetoa in relation to the lake.  
The terms of the deed include agreement that the people of New Zealand will continue to have freedom of access to Lake Taupo for non-commercial recreational use. Lake Taupo will be managed in partnership between the Crown and the trust board. The trust board as a landowner will have the right to change commercial operations for use of the lake the Crown will continue to own and manage the trout fishery and the Crown will pay the trust board a capital sum of $9.865 million in settlement of loss of revenue and other financial issues. In the spirit of partnership the Crown will also increase its annual payment to the trust board to $1.5 million to better reflect the trust board’s share of the revenue the Crown generates from Lake Taupo. So although it may seem that the Maori Purposes Bill (No. 2) is simply making a technical amendment to section 10 of the Maori Trust Boards Act it marks a significant step for all Ngati Tuwharetoa.  
On the amendment being made the new annual payment will be triggered. This will put in place a key aspect of the deed further strengthening the relationship between the Crown and Ngati Tuwharetoa. The trust board will have certainty over its rights as owner and a sound financial base from which to manage Lake Taupo for the benefit of Ngati Tuwharetoa and the public of New Zealand.  
I also indicate my support for the increase in membership of the Waitangi Tribunal. Last year the Maori Affairs Committee considered the amendment proposing a closing date of 1 September 2008 for submitting historical Treaty claims to the Waitangi Tribunal. I spoke in support of that amendment at the first reading of last year’s Maori Purposes Bill and I noted that a closing date would give Maori the Crown and the Waitangi Tribunal the certainty of knowing that historical inquiry processes would be completed in a timely fashion. The ability to appoint four extra tribunal members will ensure that the completion of the historical inquiry process is done not only in a timely fashion but also in a comprehensive and expert manner.  
The Minister of Maori Affairs has indicated that this bill will be coming to the Maori Affairs Committee. The amendments are technical in nature and those groups likely to be affected by them have been widely consulted. Many support the proposals. The committee therefore looks forward to receiving this bill considering the public submissions received and reporting it back to the House. Kia ora.