Gudgeon Bill: Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading 
Gudgeon Bill: Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:608;Page:5653] 
BILL GUDGEON (NZ First) 
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Te mea tuatahi maku me mihi atu ki nga manuhiri Ngati Tama tena koutou i tae mai nei i tenei po ki te whakarongo i nga korero e whakawhitiwhiti ana i roto i tenei Whare. No reira nau mai haere mai haere mai. I welcome the people of Ngati Tama who have come to listen to this bill being discussed in the House tonight. We hope that they will go away with positive thoughts about what is being discussed this evening. 
New Zealand First supports this bill going to the select committee. It settles the claim that Ngati Tama made to the Waitangi Tribunal under section 6 of the Treaty of Waitangi Act. In November 1996 the Crown recognised the mandate of the Ngati Tama Iwi Development Trust to represent Ngati Tama in negotiations. In 1997 the mandated representatives and the Crown entered into terms of negotiation to specify the scope objectives and general procedure for the negotiations. New Zealand First is of the mind that this bill should move forward as quickly as possible to its next stage taking into consideration the time factors and constraints. 
We support this bill having the attention that is necessary for its final conclusion to be expedited. That includes Ngati Tama’s traditional historical and cultural associations with places and sites owned by the Crown within its area of interest. It would be difficult to assess the redress for the loss and prejudice suffered by Ngati Tama as a result of the events on which its historical claims are or could be based. Taking all matters into consideration the settlement is fair in the circumstances. 
New Zealand First supports this bill and looks forward to it having an unhindered pathway to the select committee stage. We recognise that protocols with the Ministry of Fisheries the Department of Conservation and other departments will be or are to be established and we hope that those who will hold that mantle will not only be considerate of iwi but will also encourage a memorandum of understanding with councils so as to further the progress of positive involvement. 
I say to the people of Ngati Tama that we understand their hardships and the historical hurts that have broken their hearts but I think that with their intestinal fortitude they will change the negatives into positives not forgetting those who stood up for them but honouring those people by fulfilling their dreams and making things happen. The Crown’s apology to Ngati Tama covers the wars in Taranaki land confiscation reserve lands and perpetual leases Parihaka and the cumulative impact on Ngati Tama of events that left iwi virtually landless. 
New Zealand First will support this bill going to the select committee and encourages all in the House to support it. That leaves me with only one query: how long will it take before the recipients of the Ngati Tama settlement see the day on which this legislation comes to fruition? New Zealand First is brief in its support for this bill but we have emphasised the points that are important for all of us here tonight and especially for the Ngati Tama recipients of this settlement. Koutou nga uri nga hekenga o nga kawaitanga o Ngati Tama e hari e koa ana te ngakau na te mea kei muri i a matau i tenei po tenei pire. No reira e tautoko ana matou ki nga korero kua puta atu i runga i roto i tenei Whare i tenei po. New Zealand First supports this bill. We are happy that Ngati Tama is here to hear the words that will be spoken for and maybe against the bill. We pray that those members who are here will support this bill going to the select committee so that Ngati Tama’s requests and the points it has negotiated will go further into making its day and towards bringing the mana back to its people.  
No reira ki a koutou tena koutou tena koutou E hari koa ana te ngakau kua tae mai nei matou katoa i roto i tenei o tatou Whare. We greet Ngati Tama. We are happy to be part and parcel of this bill so that it can move ahead without Ngati Tama having to wait as other iwi have for many many years. I am happy that those of us in this House who support this bill are of the same thought which is that our people should be settled so that they can go ahead and do the things they need to do. I am thankful for this opportunity to express the thoughts of New Zealand First. We hope it will not be too long in the future before this legislation comes to fruition for the betterment not only of Ngati Tama but also of the country as a whole.