Ririnui Mita: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Ririnui Mita: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:640;Page:10495] 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 It is a privilege to take a 5-minute call in what we consider to be an important debate. I congratulate the current Minister and the previous Minister in their role as Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations on the incredible work they have achieved over the last 9 years. Certainly it is a track record that no one in this Chamber can criticise when he or she considers the difficulties that any Minister or any Government faces in dealing with historical claims. It is interesting that in the Committee today we have heard more about the recent findings of the Waitangi Tribunal in relation to the processes of two particular claims than about the position in which those tribes those iwi who have settled over more than 9 years are now in in terms of building a future for the generations that come after them. That without a doubt is the biggest issue we need to talk about. 
We talk a lot about the acceleration of Maori economic development and the opportunities that have emerged for Maori entrepreneurs. Those opportunities have been capitalised on and the settlements that specific iwi have received have grown as a result of the support from this Government and the entrepreneurial skills of iwi. It is easy to criticise but it is very very difficult for anyone in this Chamber—although I have heard it here today and on many previous occasions—to get up and congratulate those who are responsible for accelerating Maori development particularly where Treaty settlements are concerned. 
I heard the previous speaker from the National Party Chris Finlayson boast about the record of the National Party when in Government. Certainly he cannot take any credit for that. Those in the National Government in the early 1990s who pioneered what we call the historical claims have all left this House. They have all left. There are no longer any of those types of people in this House. So if that member thinks he is going to fill the big shoes of Doug Graham Doug Kidd and all those who supported the Treaty settlements in the 1990s he is kidding himself. I heard his contributions the other day at the Maori Affairs Committee. They were not progressive or productive; they were actually driven from a negative base and I think that that is what we will see from that member during the rest of his time in this House short as it may be. 
I want to go back to the issue regarding Maori development. The Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations the Minister of Maori Affairs and myself last week attended a hui in Turakina to sign off the deed of settlement for the NgatiApa claim and to acknowledge the important work that has been done by the local member Tariana Turia to encourage her people to the negotiating table. Her son and her nephews and nieces also contributed to bringing this settlement to this stage. We spoke to her people and heard the excitement the positive attitude the determination and the korero that came from them on that particular day when they looked to the future and said: “We are going to do something. We are going to build a future for our mokopuna.” That is something that no one in this Chamber has a right to trample over and that can be said about many of the claims that have been settled today. 
In respect of the Kaihautu Executive Council for Te Arawa in terms of Te Pumau-tanga o Te Arawa and their settlement although the tribunal has made some scathing remarks about the process towards the settlement of that claim it did not say that the claim should not proceed. I am sure that most members on this side of the Chamber are determined that we will proceed with settling this outstanding claim. There are 27000 Te Arawa people who are looking forward to an opportunity to put the grievances of the past behind them and build a future for themselves. Come what may at least their future their self-determination is in their own hands. Who in this Chamber would deny them that? 
There are issues around the process. We encountered a number of flaws in the process when we came into Government in 1999 and we have worked diligently to overcome those flaws. Of course there is an attitude that one size fits all in terms of claimant groups. Well that is not the case. Different issues and new issues arise every time we deal with a different group. I can say on behalf of those of us on this side of the Chamber to compliment the Minister and previous Ministers that those issues are taken on board and dealt with at the time. Kia ora Madam Chair.