Whaitiri MekaHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): E Te Māngai o Te Whare tēnā koe. E ngā mema katoa o Te Whare nei tēnā tātou katoa. Labour supports the second reading of Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka / Parihaka Reconciliation Bill. Can I extend a warm welcome to our visitors here from Parihaka.He tū he uri ahau o Te Tai Rāwhiti he mema Māori o te rohe pōtae o Ikaroa Rāwhiti. Anei ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa ngā uri o Parihaka ngā hapū o Parihaka. E ngā reo e ngā mana tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.[I stand I am a descendant of the East Coast a Māori member of the electorate of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. This is my acknowledgement to all of the descendants of Parihaka the sub-tribes of Parihaka. To the spokespeople to the leaders greetings greetings greetings to us all.]Listening to the previous speaker our colleague Dan Bidois who's a member of the Māori Affairs Committee I don't want there to be the impression that all we do in the Māori Affairs Committee is eat. Some may—some may. Some actually come to the Māori Affairs Committee to do justice like we are doing in the second reading of this important bill. Can I acknowledge and join in the chorus of all the former speakers around acknowledging Parihaka's gracefulness their patience and I guess their vision for putting to this Government in 2015—and I want to acknowledge the Kawe Tūtaki the group obviously led by Dame Tariana Turia the Rt Hon Jim Bolger the Hon Mahara Okeroa Amokura Panoho and Ruakere Hond who in 2015 petitioned the Government of the day for a special place not only in this House but in the history of this country and for the significance of Parihaka on this nation.In the early 1970s—maybe the later 1970s or the 1980s when I was at school I learnt about Mahatma Gandhi I learnt about Mother Teresa. So that's the 1970s 1980s; it wasn't till the 1990s that I was fortunate enough to visit Parihaka. At the time the late Te Miringa Hohaia hosted myself and a former member of this House the Hon Parekura Horomia and of course Amokura Panoho—so the three of us all worked for an organisation called the Community Employment Group. I share that story because it completely opened my eyes that we had in this nation our own rangatira pacifists: Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi. As we celebrate this second reading let us hope that the history and the contribution of Te Whiti and Tohu is taught not only in our schools in the Taranaki area but in the schools throughout the motu. What I learnt on those visits to Parihaka with the late Te Miringa was that Parihaka was a thriving community; it had homes it had its own flour mill. They actually had their own currency and it was a haven for people escaping the actions of the Crown of the day in confiscating their land. This is a people for whom it was a safe haven and in celebrating this particular bill—and the Minister outlined both the significance and the aims of the bill and why we are here contributing to the second reading—it would be remiss of me not to share the experience I had in not only visiting Parihaka that first time but several times after of learning of the significance of Parihaka on this nation the thriving strength of the community and the welcome-ness that everyone received when they landed in Parihaka. To see that all removed by the stroke of a pen with the actions of the Crown and their soldiers was an absolutely devastating lesson that I learnt on those many trips to Parihaka. I am pleased in that we are celebrating and acknowledging that this is a bill addressing the reconciliation but it's always important to us to acknowledge the contribution to the fabric of this nation not only of the people of Parihaka but the community of Parihaka. So I stand here proudly with all members. I'm almost giving my third reading speech but in terms of the significance of this bill and every settlement bill—and this is not a settlement; this is a reconciliation bill—you look for its unique point of difference. I commend both those that petitioned the Crown at the time for the introduction of a legacy statement—the legacy statement that allows the people of Parihaka to tell their story in their own language. To tell their story—that should not be missed on any members in this House: the significance of reconciliation where the people who have suffered at the hands of the Crown are able to tell their story in their own words. This is what we see in this bill. I am proud to be a member of the Māori Affairs Committee that doesn't just go there to eat my lunch. I am proud of those who have preceded me—the former ministers officials but more importantly Parihaka—for having the patience and confidence in allowing us to salute you and recognise you. I commend this bill to the House.