Shanks Katrina: Ngati Makino Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Shanks Katrina: Ngati Makino Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 25 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:4006. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. I would like to acknowledge firstly the presence of the Ngati Makino people who are in the House today. In particular I would like to acknowledge the presence of the very youthful face who is sitting in the front up there in the gallery. She does not know it now. She does not know how important this is but she is here to tell the history of today. In 80 years’ time she will be the only one who will be able to go on to the marae and tell the story of when this Treaty settlement was signed. She does not realise it but she will be the one passing on these stories from generation to generation keeping these stories alive for my children and for my children’s children. 
I would also like to acknowledge those who came on this journey—some might say it has been a fight but we call it a journey—who are no longer with us to witness today who have worked very hard behind the scenes for years and generations for today to actually happen. 
 I do not like bringing politics into these debates because actually I think these debates are about the Treaty and the settlements but I cannot let the Green member’s comments lie. I truly believe in the process that we have got now. I truly believe that the work done by Ministers Finlayson and Turia has been good work. You have waited 20 years to get to this moment today and I do not believe what the Green member was saying was true. I would hate to think that she could hold up Treaty settlements going forward because we have got a robust process that is working swiftly. 
I would like to acknowledge the Ministers and the work they have done which has allowed us to come here today and settle through this bill. I would also like to thank the trust for all the work it has done the true leadership it has shown and the journey it has taken its people on as well. That takes time commitment and belief that you can make a true difference. Thank you for your work. 
Most of all I would like to thank the Ngati Makino people for their graciousness in allowing the Crown to apologise and to remedy some of the wrongs that have been done in the past—and there have been true wrongs in this case. We have heard stories in this House about some of those wrongs of how rights and properties were removed of how land was confiscated and of how you were virtually landless at one stage when only 0.6 percent of the blocks remained in iwi ownership. That is wrong. But it does show you one thing: it does show you the resilience of the Ngati Makino people a resilience that was built up over generations. I acknowledge that today. 
Treaty settlement bills are actually about the future. They are about what we can do moving forward. I would just like to acknowledge some of the parts of the settlement. The trustees of land are to be provided with certain rights and consultations with the New Zealand Conservation Authority. You are getting other rights in relation to Lake Rotoma Scenic Reserve. The bill makes statutory acknowledgments and provisions for the vesting in fee simple in Ngati Makino of cultural redress properties. 
This one is the one I like the most and it is the most fitting component of the settlement process: it is the transfer of Otamarakau School to trustees. What I like most about this transfer is the motto of the school which is “A view to the future”. I cannot think of anything that talks about this settlement and the process any more than having a view to the future. I know this will truly make a difference to the future of your people. It will give you tools to restore mana and identity. It will give you something for your culture to talk about and to be able to have ownership of. 
Treaty settlements are about the future generations. Louisa talked about relationships not being about grievances— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! You must use the member’s full name. 
KATRINA SHANKS 
: Sorry Mr Speaker. They must not be about grievances with the Crown but about how the Crown and iwi can help each other to progress New Zealand our country. I think this is a great beginning. 
I do believe that history has been made today. It is my pleasure to be here. In fact I talked to my children this morning and said I was coming to talk about Treaty settlements. They looked at me not really understanding what I was talking about so I talked about some of the history and some of the stories that we tell and we hear going through this process especially when we go out as a select committee on to the maraes and listen to the stories and hear the discussions. They still looked at me slightly blankly but I have started that story with my children and they will start that story with theirs. So it is my pleasure and an honour to be here to speak on the Ngati Makino Claims Settlement Bill today. Thank you.