Mahuta Nanaia: Maori Fisheries Bill Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (No 2) / Maori Land Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
Mahuta Nanaia: Maori Fisheries Bill Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (No 2) / Maori Land Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
[Volume:620;Page:15774] 
NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Tainui) 
: 
 A e kore e mutunga mihi ki a ratoumakuahuri ki tua o te arai heke iho mai ki a tatou e huihui mai neiiteneirangi a tenatatoukatou. 
[ 
The acknowledgments to those who have passed on and indeed to us gathered here today will never end so greetings to us all. 
] 
I rise to speak to the third reading and the passing of the Maori Fisheries Bill. This legislation puts to rest over 10 years of dispute and consultation amongst iwi and Maori. It is probably the most significant legislation to be passed into law in the last 100 years and it heralds a new way forward. Not all Maori will be happy with the outcome but then not all Maori supported the settlement. None the less all Maori should benefit from the business and activity of fishing that this legislation will effect. 
A moment of history was reached in 1992 but most certainly events leading to that point should be a poignant memory for all New Zealanders who saw the beginning of a real desire to just get on with it. Much of the debate today is academic. The fisheries settlement was about real people real fish real benefits going back to iwi and going forward. 
I acknowledge here today the Hon Koro Wetere the Hon Doug Kidd and the Hon Doug Graham. They have many stories to tell tonight and I am sure we will hear a lot of them. I also acknowledge the original negotiators some of whom have been mentioned. Those who are here today include Sir Tipene O’Regan and Sir Graham Latimer. I also acknowledge those who not here today—significantly the late Hon Matiu Rata and the late Robert Mahuta my father. Their efforts have not been in vain and their vision is as it was when it was achieved timeless: to see a strong economic platform for Maori advancement and development. 
One of the more contentious issues in the legislation was the provision for the disaggregation of iwi and their quota. That matter was raised by submitters and after a great deal of consideration the committee agreed to such measures. However it should be noted that it will be a challenge in an already fractious political environment for Maori and iwi organisations to retain and maintain collective fisheries interests in larger groupings. I anticipate that much effort will go into retaining collective interests and accountability standards will certainly go up to meet the needs of tribal members and that is how it should be. The select committee process in particular was a genuine attempt to work through the issues of iwi recognition accountability of corporate entities and mandated iwi organisations back to tribal members and intergenerational retention of property rights all of which are contained within the legislation. 
Particular thanks should go to the Ministry of Fisheries’ advisers led by Terry Lynch to the clerk of the committee to Parliamentary Counsel Office to Briar Gordon whose work was invaluable and to our independent adviser Tim Castle who helped the committee get its head around the issues presented in the legislation. There was constructive debate across and along the table about some of the real contentious issues but the desire really just to see Maori get on with it and do things for themselves was genuine. I particularly acknowledge members of the Opposition because without their constructive input and support we would not have reached a number of the conclusions that we came to—namely Phil Heatley Georgina te Heuheu and Pita Paraone. The genuine attempt to get to something just to kick it off could not have been achieved without that type of support. I also acknowledge Larry Baldock. 
I am sure that the ebb and flow of the tide will present many challenges to Te Ohu Kai Moana in its new revamped form its fisheries companies and the iwi fisheries companies. And so we have it—a waka ready to be launched so the new net can go fishing. In time I look forward to when the safety ropes can be taken off. 
He iti anotakumotenei kaupapa kei muai a tatouiteneiwa no reira tenatatou katoa. 
[ 
This is just my little contribution towards the bill before us today so greetings to all of us 
.]  
Maori Fisheries Bill read a third time.