Paraone Pita: Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Paraone Pita: Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:623;Page:18859] 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 I want to respond to one or two things that have been said by recent or previous speakers and to reassure this House and those members who think that we are just exercising the luxury of opposing this bill because we know that it will go through Parliament that that is not our reason for opposing it. From the outset our concern has been about two issues regarding this bill. If those two issues were taken from the bill they would not affect the settlement in any way. One issue is the reference to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Why is it included if there is no clear definition of those principles? We suggest to this Committee that the exclusion of that reference would not prevent this settlement from enduring which is what it is all about. 
More important I take issue over what we in New Zealand First and in particular the Maori members are concerned about in regard to the establishment or recognition of two new hapu based clearly on a geographic location of people instead of on the traditional concept of hapu recognition within Maoridom. This bill will open the situation up for other iwi who want to establish themselves in urban centres particularly in Tamaki-makau-rau and Poneke to be able to do something. If we pass this bill as it is in no way will the Crown be able to deny them that opportunity and that right. It does not surprise me that the member from the National Party should question the New Zealand First approach given that the National Party has ignored the advice of its sole Maori member whereas our party has a very strong Maori influence within it. 
The previous speaker said that we need to heal the past. We in New Zealand First say that with the inclusion of references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and the recognition of two hapu—Ngati Awa ki Tamaki-makau-rau and Ngati Awa ki Poneke—we will not heal the past because we will in fact be making sure that we repeat the mistakes of the past. In that regard we have real concerns that this settlement will not be as enduring as people would like us to believe it will be. 
From the beginning of this term of Parliament we have insisted that the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi be defined or explained—from 27 July 2002 which was the day of the last election to this point in time. In spite of the numerous requests made by the Rt Hon Winston Peters and other members within New Zealand First to the Government to define those principles it has been silent on that matter. 
In conclusion we say this bill must be based on issues that will be enduring not only for the Crown but more important for Ngati Awa. The fact that New Zealand First is taking the position of opposing the bill is not because we have any disregard for Ngati Awa or for the intent of the bill but because we have concerns that although the solution to this matter lies in the hands of the Minister and this Government they will not exercise that opportunity. If the reference to the principles of the treaty was excluded the bill would not lose any of its relevance in terms of the concerns that Ngati Awa have.