Whaitiri MekaHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): E Te Māngai o Te Whare tēnā koe. Ngā mema o Te Whare tēnā tātou katoa. Kua tae mai a Hikurangi kua tae mai a Waiapū kua tae mai Ngāti Porou Porourangi nō reira ōku rau rangatira mā kui mā e koro mā pakeke mā ngā mātua ngā tauira mokopuna tamariki tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.[Madam Deputy Speaker I greet you. Members of the House greetings to us all. Hikurangi has arrived Waiapū has arrived and Ngāti Porou and Porourangi have arrived. Consequently my esteemed people elders adults parents students grandchildren and children greetings greetings greetings to us all.]It is indeed a honour for me to rise and say a few words in this third and final reading of the Ngā Rohe Moana o Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou Bill (No 2) and I was reflecting on all the previous speeches around those that have been instrumental in bringing this bill to the House. I too want to acknowledge the late Uncle Api Mahuika. I want to acknowledge the current negotiators that picked up his mantle. I want to acknowledge Ma and Selwyn Parata for bringing this bill and for the work that they have done to bring it here and to honour the patience the resilience and the tenacity of Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou in enduring a 16-year journey—a 16-year journey—that started back in 2003 as a result of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. They took it upon themselves to sign the original deed of settlement in October 2008 under the Labour Government—that's been previously acknowledged—with the Hon Sir Michael Cullen. Of course a month later we had a general election in this country in November 2008 and then all bets were off because the Government of the day wanted to review the Foreshore and Seabed Act. But that didn't stop Ngāti Porou engaging with the National-led Government from 2008 to ensure that the Takutai Moana Bill of 2011 which was passed as a result of the National Government's review was reflected in an amendment to this new deed for Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou. So that was in 2008. The Takutai Moana Act came out in 2011 and it wasn't until August 2017 under the Hon Chris Finlayson that the amended deed was signed. So it's important—particularly as I look at the rangatahi in front of me in the gallery—that that statement of patience of tenacity and of resilience is reflected in how long we have taken to bring this bill to the House. In November 2017 we had another general election and in came the coalition Government. I want to acknowledge that from the time that that amended deed was signed under a National-led Government in August 2017 it has been approximately 21 months to this day when we are now passing this piece of legislation. So it is absolutely right that both sides of the House acknowledge their part in this process but I am particularly proud of the coalition Government—of my Labour colleagues—who took 21 months to make sure that we not only introduce the bill but we pass it. For some it may have been too slow but I'm proud to stand here in support of this bill acknowledging all the players and the actors behind the scenes. It is truly a unique bill. It is truly a unique bill and enough cannot be said of the foresight and the leadership of those who originally brought this idea of protecting Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou and having their customary and commercial rights and everything else they want to do on their foreshore protected in legislation. For me it is important to acknowledge that this bill shows that lore—l-o-r-e—actually trumps law—l-a-w—and I want to acknowledge that in passing this legislation we are simply reaffirming that what we as hapū members and as whānau members know exists today has never ever been extinguished. Our mana whenua and our mana moana have always remained in the hands of hapū. So now today you are witnessing the legislative part of this country catching up with the l-o-r-e—the lore—and I wanted to make sure that I made that point because I don't think I can actually draw on an example where that has ever happened before. It cannot be overestimated the significance not just of this bill but of the reaffirming of the mana motuhake and the rangatiratanga of hapū. So I wanted to just share that thought. The other one that's brought to mind when we're addressing this bill is the boldness. So in 2003 because of the Foreshore and Seabed Act the idea of an iwi e ngā hapū rallying to protect what they knew were instinctively their rights through legislation was bold. It was bold and it was unheard of but today it makes complete sense. So if we are to be bold and do things differently in this House—sometimes the issues that we debate in this House do not make sense; but on this occasion the boldness to protect those hapū on the coastline of Ngāti Porou back then makes absolute sense today. Again I just want to acknowledge the leaders of that time the trust that went behind trusting the protection of Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou.There have been some stories shared in this House about the Hon Parekura Horomia. I want to thank our cousin" the Hon Paul Goldsmith now that we've all heard on the public record his Māori whakapapa. So now we've got another ally on that side of the House when it comes to kaupapa Māori. So I want to acknowledge the Hon Paul Goldsmith and his recognition of his Māori whakapapa because that's absolutely right Paul Goldsmith—big whānau of Goldsmiths up the coast. So when you acknowledged that I said "Welcome cuzzy bro." I look forward to your tautoko when we are bringing kaupapa Māori issues to the House.Like I said I want to acknowledge the late Hon Parekura Horomia. Six years ago in June or actually it was in March or April when he passed and left us. The Hon Willie Jackson there's one thing that you can learn from the great Hon Parekura Horomia and that's about holding the line. So yes Governments come and go but kaupapa remains constant. If there was one thing that Parekura talked about walked and exemplified it was that when it came to kaupapa Māori: hold the line. So the Hon Willie Jackson there's a bit of a lesson in there for all of us. So our whanaunga the Hon Willie Jackson he does great work on behalf of the Māori caucus but it's a message for all of us here in this House when it comes to kaupapa that is near and dear to us.So my final statement is to our tauira that are in front of us. I want to acknowledge Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti for joining us here today. A lot of hands have gone into the making of this bill but it is your hands that will carry on the importance of this bill. This bill enables and enacts the power and the undisturbed rights of our coastline at a hapū level and it is in your hands—not āpōpō ināianei—around how we exercise that right to protect and create opportunities up our coastline. So it's to you our future—kāore e rangatira āpōpō he rangatira ināianei [not a leader tomorrow but a leader today]. So I mihi to you for coming. I wish you all the best as you return home and remind you that this a significant day for Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou. I stand in honour of supporting this bill. Nō reira e te iwi tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.[Therefore to the nation greetings greetings greetings to you all.]Bill read a third time.Waiata"