Korako Nuk: Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKorako Nuk: Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 24 May 2016. Volume:714;Page:11231. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]NUK KORAKO (National):Tēnā koe e Te Māngai o Te Whare huri noa i Te Whare nei e mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. Ki te iwi o Ngāti Hau e mihi nei e tangi nei koutou ngā taoka whakahirahira koutou e tumanakohia ake nei koutou e hāpai iwi nei nō reira ko ngā iwi o Ngāti Hau Ngātikotahitaka nau mai nau mai haere mai ki Te Whare Pāremata. Nō reira e mihi atu ki a koutou katoa.[Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker and acknowledgments to you all throughout this House. To the tribe of Ngāti Hau I greet and mourn you. You are treasures of significance have aspirations and support tribes therefore to you the tribes of Ngāti Hau and Ngātikotahitaka welcome draw hither and welcome to the House of Representatives. I acknowledge you all.]To all of you I know the feeling of coming here as a son of Kāi Tahu and to actually be listening to the first reading of your bill. But the really significant thing about this particular one reminds me of when Kāi Tahu were actually doing not the same thing but a little bit of the same process around Aoraki Mauka. So what I see here today is the fact that just like us it was not about us; it was actually about all of New Zealand. I acknowledge you here for that.We have heard so much so far around the bill itself. I would like to concentrate on just one part of it that actually reflects the uniqueness of this actual settlement. The uniqueness of this settlement is in the legal framework for the river because this is what makes this particular settlement groundbreaking. This recognises Te Awa Tupua comprising the entire Whanganui River its tributaries as well and all its physical and metaphysical elements as a legal person—as a legal person—and with all of the corresponding rights duties and liabilities. The establishment of the river as a legal entity then it provides the framework for the recognition of the unbreakable connection between the Whanganui iwi and Te Awa Tupua.The other part of this is to provide human representation for Te Awa Tupua and the position of Te Pou Tupua which will be established and filled by two people nominated by the Whanganui iwi and also the Crown which is a really important part of this kotahitaka within this settlement. The Crown-owned bed of course—the Whanganui River—will be vested in Te Awa Tupua and a $30 million contested fund will be established to support the health and well-being of Te Awa Tupua. This new legal framework is an innovative use of the Western judicial system to manage the river in a way that is distinctly Māori. That is one of the most unique things of any settlement that has ever come before this House. This settlement allows the Whanganui iwi to take back their responsibility for the river which should never have left them following the Treaty of Waitangi.I also want to acknowledge the members of Whanganui iwi who have worked on this settlement but also all of those who have gone before as we have just heard and we acknowledge them. As before for over a century the people here are uri of those who protected and preserved the river itself and the iwi interest in it.I want to acknowledge also one particular person—we have done a lot of acknowledgments here today and sure we have to and we must do. I want to acknowledge the Hon Christopher Finlayson whose personal involvement in this particular settlement reflects the importance of it. That is not to take away the importance of any other settlement but particularly this settlement because this is groundbreaking legislation is an achievement that I think speaks volumes about the value of having such a distinguished and respected legal mind as our Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.To everyone here your time has come. This is the final beginning of your long journey and on that note as the chair of the Māori Affairs Committee we indeed look forward to this bill coming to the select committee so that we may continue its journey or shepherd its journey through to the third reading and the finality of the journey itself which will happen here and it will be enacted in law. So kia ora to you all Ngāti Hau.Ka nunui te mihi ka nunui te aroha e mihi e mihi ai atu ki a koutou katoa.[The appreciation and empathy is massive; well done and congratulations.]I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora.