Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:650;Page:19119] 
Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill 
Third Reading 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 I move  
That the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill be now read a third time 
. Greetings to the Central North Island Iwi Collective. It is remarkable that today we have arrived at the third reading of this bill which embodies a historic journey and settlement. One of my favourite pieces of modern classical music is by American composer John Adams and it is called  
Short Ride in a Fast Machine 
. By Treaty standards this bill has been a short ride in a fast machine. On this journey I have acknowledged—as I do again today—the iwi of the collective who have done so much to make today a reality. I particularly acknowledge the leadership and the initiative of Te Ariki Dr Tumu te Heuheu. His leadership in helping the Central North Island Iwi Collective to author an innovative response for settling the historical Treaty claims of the iwi in the collective of the central North Island forests land cannot be overestimated. 
I thank each of the iwi of the collective for their leadership their innovation and above all their noble desire to work together and breathe new life into their relationships with one another—new life that is conceived in goodwill and is a shared hope for the future. Therefore I honour each of the iwi in turn: Ngai Tuhoe Ngati Manawa Ngati Tuwharetoa Ngati Whakaue Ngati Whare Raukawa and the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu. I stand firm in my conviction that their children and the generations that follow them will honour their work in this settlement and the bill that we are passing today. 
I also acknowledge the presence of representatives of Ngati Rangitihi who at the moment are not part of the collective but who I am told had a very fruitful and good meeting at the weekend. I am hopeful that Ngati Rangitihi will meet the Christmas deadline for being back within the collective and for being part of this settlement. 
This settlement has been a journey from disunity to unity. The recent journey of the collective iwi to settle the historic claims over the central North Island forests land has not always been a united one. Central North Island forests land constitutes an asset of significant cultural and commercial value to a variety of iwi—iwi however whose collective cultural historical and spiritual interests are complex fluid and overlapping. So the forests land is potentially a source of division amongst the iwi and indeed between the iwi and the Crown. 
Division amongst both the central North Island iwi themselves and the iwi and the Crown reached a low ebb through 2006 and 2007 over the proposed transfer of some of these lands to the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu. In 2006 the New Zealand Maori Council the Federation of Maori Authorities and others raised concerns about this redress through litigation in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. In 2007 the Waitangi Tribunal held an urgent inquiry into the impacts of the Crown’s forests land settlement policy on the  
Te Arawa 
 waka and other central North Island iwi. But out of this disunity came unity. The Crown and the iwi of the collective heard the call of the Tribunal which recommended that the iwi create a forum that would enable these iwi to determine amongst themselves the principles and other guidelines that would help determine how the central North Island forests land should be allocated. 
The key initiative as I said was taken by Dr Tumu te Heuheu. Mark Burton was still the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations at the time. I remember having a discussion with Mark about what we should do in response to the initiative that Tumu was taking. I remember saying to Mark at the time that I thought we had about a 20 percent chance of success in achieving the goal but it was worth it despite the fact that there had previously been I think three failures to achieve such a collective approach. By March I upped that estimate to some 50 percent chance of success and here we are at the end of September with 100 percent chance of success and indeed 100 percent support in the House. 
All historical Treaty claims must be settled on the bedrocks of durability good faith finality and fairness. Such claims must also be settled with a clear end in view. A time will and must come when the Crown and Maori live as partners under the Treaty: not restoring a broken past but moving forward together into a healed future. It is for these reasons that the Government seeks to settle all historical Treaty claims by 2020. That target is realistic but very hard to meet. The current pace will need to be maintained over the next decade. 
The bill before us sets out a settlement that contains two elements that are vital to achieve this end. Each element is embodied in the unique way the collective and the Crown have found themselves playing their own roles. The collective as the claimant group has authored a proposed settlement which it has put before the Crown. The Crown has worked with the collective to develop its proposal by adopting a flexible approach in applying the Crown’s existing policy frameworks. Put differently the Crown has sought to achieve a settlement that although not wholly consistent with existing settlement processes remains fundamentally consistent with its key policy principles of durability good faith finality and fairness. This approach must continue in order for us to settle all such claims by 2020. 
The settlements have provided another lesson about the Treaty settlement process for the future. The Government has recently sought a regional approach to negotiations rather than a large natural grouping approach. That is proceeding in the far north—with again surprisingly high prospects of success which have increased only within the last couple of weeks or so—and of course at the top of the South Island. The Crown is seeking more and more where possible to negotiate with multiple groups in a common geographical area. This settlement shows that such a regional approach can work. 
This settlement will provide significant opportunities for the iwi and the collective. These opportunities have birthed a further opportunity for the Crown and the iwi of the collective to work together to develop those opportunities as Treaty partners in a healed and restored relationship. The development of those opportunities will in time give new economic and social independence to the people of the collective iwi—an economic and social independence denied to past generations that will not be denied to future ones. At its deepest level this settlement is therefore not about restoring mana whenua important as that is; it is about restoring the mana of the parties themselves to this settlement. To this end this settlement—as do all settlements—embodies and echoes the deep principles of tikanga. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata. 
[ 
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people it is people it is people 
.] 
I emphasise that this is a comprehensive settlement of the Crown forests land issue. It is not a comprehensive settlement of all the claims of the iwi within the collective. There is much still to be done in that regard but already out of this process have come other processes. As I indicated in the debate on the third reading of the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill I expect to be able to announce soon the successful conclusion of agreements in principle with Ngati Makino and Waitaha. We are in the process of negotiations with Raukawa and Ngai Tuhoe. 
Today is a very important weigh station on our journey. This is a historic settlement and indeed I think it is the first time that we have done two settlements in one day in terms of the final stage of legislation. We shall move on to a third final settlement at the conclusion of this bill—the third reading of the Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill—and then on to two first readings of Treaty settlements. So this is an extraordinarily important day indeed. The rest of the journey for the iwi in the collective whose comprehensive claims have not yet been settled begins tomorrow. Thank you very much. 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (National) 
: 
 A e aku koroua aku kuia e nga whaea e nga papa e nga tamariki mokopuna tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
[ 
So to my elders men and women aunties and uncles children grandchildren greetings to you greetings to you and greetings to us all. 
]  
I am very proud once again to be here in this House when such a unique settlement comes to pass. And of course I should raise the issue that my children and my grandchildren—hopefully one day—are likely to benefit from this settlement. But it is not that obviously that makes me proud. It is that the iwi of the central North Island have finally stepped up to the plate and that with great leadership shown on both sides—on the side of the Crown and of the iwi—we come to the third reading of the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill. 
It is a unique settlement and deserves to be recognised as such. It provides a platform for a new approach I think to other Treaty settlements that are iwi-based but may in some certain circumstances span several iwi and that is why the settlement is unique. It spans several iwi in the central North Island in this case. It brings them together over an interest that concerns them all and as Dr Cullen has rightly said it is limited in that respect to the assets under the Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 and in that the historical settlements of each of the iwi involved in the collective are still to be addressed—that is the next part of this big job that faces an incoming Government. 
I take on board the comments that Dr Cullen made about the momentum that has been generated on Treaty settlements in the last wee while. If both sides of the House are committed to an earlier settlement of all historical claims rather than a later one and although we have different dates in mind National certainly appreciates the fact that the momentum that has been generated must be picked up by an incoming Government after the next election. National members certainly give our undertaking that we will do that and we recognise clearly that something that takes so long for both the iwi and the Government to get to deserves to be kept moving at pace. We will certainly do that should we be privileged enough to take the reins of power after the election. 
This settlement addresses only claims that relate as I have said already to the Crown forest licensed land in the central North Island and had its genesis in the Crown Forest Assets Act. It brings together into one collective several iwi or tribes. They are Ngai Tuhoe Ngati Manawa Ngati Tuwharetoa Ngati Whakaue Ngati Whare Raukawa and the affiliate of Te Arawa—the House has just passed their claims settlement bill—and with the option for Ngati Rangitihi to be brought into the collective if that is desired by them and if it can be achieved. The option is certainly there; that is a unique aspect as well. The coming together into one collective is unique; an achievement not to be lightly passed over. Those of us who are involved in matters such as this know how difficult it is for iwi to come together even though there might be whakapapa relationships that span across all of them. This particular group of iwi have endeavoured to reach some kind of accord for some time—over a decade—so it is no mean feat that finally they have come to the table. They have managed to conclude a settlement and as I say with energy on both sides and commitment and a certain passion and real leadership that settlement has been achieved. 
This bill makes provision for the vesting of the central North Island Crown forest land and the transfer of accumulated rentals in that land to an iwi holding company and that company has a huge responsibility facing it. It will enable those assets to be allocated to the iwi named in the settlement in terms of the land claims. The bill sets out the principles and processes by which the allocation of the lands is to be achieved. That is also a unique development and that is set out in schedule 2. It is a tikanga-based resolution process for the central North Island forest lands which as I say is something new in regard to land and is also unique in that not only was the settlement proposed by the iwi but also this resolution process which basically calls upon the iwi themselves to take steps to share or allocate the land according to mana whenua generally speaking. The Government has no role in that and that is to be commended. Quite frankly no one outside of the iwi concerned will have a better appreciation of how land should be allocated other than the iwi itself. 
This legislation presents great opportunity but also great responsibility. We were in the Committee stage on this bill yesterday and some comments were made about the responsibility that will pass to the iwi in making sure that fair processes are employed and that fair outcomes are achieved and that there is a record of the proceedings that will progress the allocation of the lands. In the end we want to ensure that future generations will be satisfied that these things were done well they were done properly and that there will be no need for anybody to question in the future any of the outcomes. I commend this bill. It is a unique and absolutely wonderful development but as I say it will take great leadership to ensure that allocation proceeds on the basis that everyone will accept not just now but into the future. 
The other thing that is unique and I have mentioned it already is that the iwi themselves brought this proposal to the Government. My hope is that in other regions groups of iwi still to settle will see this bill as a basis that might be helpful for them. Indications from colleagues on the other side of the House and particularly from the Hon Mita Ririnui yesterday are that other regions other iwi are already looking to see whether they can come together in similar collectives to settle interests that are common to all of them. If that is the case if this bill has been a springboard for that kind of development in the Treaty settlements process then all the more reason why this claims settlement bill is so significant. For that alone I congratulate the iwi. Even though this is my family sitting in the gallery too often we do not give each other credit where credit is due and I want to do that now and do so now— 
Pita Paraone 
: That’s what true whanaungatanga is. 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU 
: Thank you. It is a wonderful development and if we can keep the momentum going with those new initiatives then I can see very clearly that we can look at a day quite soon when historical grievances can be put behind us. 
This is a great day not just for the iwi of the central North Island but for New Zealanders. I am proud to be part of a country that has developed a process that genuinely addresses historical grievances of the indigenous peoples. Today the House will deal with five settlements bills so this is a very neat day particularly for Maori MPs in the House. It is a privilege to be here. It is a great day for the Parliament. It is a day when we can be assured that the honour not only of the iwi but also of the Crown is being restored. As I say I am very privileged to be part of that process. No reira tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
Ki a koutou i tae kaha i tae tahi i te ra nei e mihi kau ana. Ahakoa kua mihitia atu nga mihi e tika ake ano ki te mihi ake ano ki a koutou katoa. E Hori mo nga patopato o te wai o Raukawa e mihi kau ana. Kai a koe e te whanaunga e Hemi kai a koe Bill e mihi kau ana. Ki a koe toku whanaunga ahakoa e noho ake ano koe i roto i te maru o ratou Manawa kaua koe e wareware anake mo to whakapapa o Te Tai Rawhiti tena koe. E Anaru e Rangi e Eru koutou katoa nga kaiwhakahaere ahakoa kare i tae atu ki te Pihopa e mihi kau ana ki a koutou Henare tena koutou. Ki a koutou o Tuhoe e mihi kau ana ki a koutou katoa. Tena koutou. Na te pai hoki e kite ake ano koutou e tu kaha a muri a te take nei. No reira ki a koutou o Ngati Whakaue Ngati Whare e koutou e mihi kau ana. Ki a koe Te Ariki e Tumu tena koe. Tena koe mo to kaha e mahi whakawhitiwhiti a te tino take nei. Ki a koutou te hoa o Rangitihi kia kaha kia maia. E rekareka ana ki te rongo ki te korero o te Takuta nei a Michael mo to koutou nohotahi. Ahakoa nga piki nga heke e rite ake ano tera ki te mahi a tauiwi i a ratau ma. Engari kia kaha kei tae tahi ai tae noho pai ki te taha o wenei e korero atu mo te ahua o te rakau. No reira ki a koutou katoa tena koutou. 
[ 
To those who have travelled from afar to be here congratulations. Although the formalities have been completed it is right that I acknowledge you. Greetings Hori of Ngati Raukawa. To my kin Hemi and you Bill congratulations. Hemi you have lived many years with Ngati Manawa but do not forget you come from the East Coast. Commendations to the leaders Anaru Rangi Eru and Pihopa although he could not attend today. Greetings to you and your group Henare and to the people of Ngai Tuhoe. This bill will prove resilient and effective now and into the future. Congratulations to Ngati Whakaue and Ngati Whare. I extend acknowledgments to the leader Tumu te Heuheu for his strength in the development of this bill. To my friends of Ngati Rangitihi be strong be steadfast. It was good to hear Dr Cullen talking about your stance. Despite the trials and tribulations non-Maori are no different from us they have similar disagreements amongst themselves. Be strong. We hope in time you will stand side by side with others of the collective. So congratulations to you all. 
] 
I stand in support of the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill. The central North Island forestry settlement gives effect to huge steps forward for Maoridom as Dr Cullen has pointed out. Through his able leadership and through the great leadership sitting in the public gallery we have come to a better place for this nation. If we are serious about talking about nationhood then this surely is a great example for other people to watch to ponder over and to take cognisance of as to the way that we can get to a better place even where there are difficult ups and downs. 
I was very pleased to see that the bill passed its first reading with overwhelming support from the House and I say to the other Maori faces in Parliament and to all members of Parliament: “Thank you for the support.” It was also pleasing to see that the majority of the submitters to the Maori Affairs Committee were supportive of the bill. The bill provides for the transfer of approximately $200 million worth of forest land and over $200 million worth of accumulated rentals to the iwi of the central North Island. This is significant for two reasons. First the commercial assets will provide a solid base for the iwi involved to participate in real and sustained economic development in the same way that this Labour-led Government has led and sustained the economy. The fact that we still stand strong as the rest of the world is struggling is certainly testament to Dr Cullen’s ability to keep the books well-balanced and enables the nurturing of Maori to play a more positive and an active part in that economic development. 
Secondly the transfer of those assets has been key to settling the historical Treaty claims of the iwi involved. In giving iwi a platform to develop their economic assets this settlement will benefit the whole country. It is really really important to understand that a lot of these iwi do know how to manage their assets. They understand clearly the fundamentals of the macro and the micro and of the future opportunities that will be available to them in relation to the timber to be exported milled at home or whatever. Dr Cullen mentioned the weigh station. Well when the truck pulls up at the weigh station to weigh those Maori logs those Maori trees it will be a great thing to celebrate. Certainly today that is the reason why we are here—to celebrate the participation of the Central North Island Iwi Collective and its ownership. 
It is pleasing to see that Pakeha New Zealanders are generally supportive of this bill. The collective is to be praised for agreeing to preserve current public access. I remind the members who are here in the House of all the doom and gloom that was preached about what would happen when this great asset was passed over to Maori. The fear that was brought about by scurrilous gossip from other members— 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Ha ha! 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: —such as the one laughing over there was outrageous—outrageous! I say that it is certainly great and it is a privilege and an honour to sit amongst like minds who understand that Maori do know how to manage assets and that they want to create a succession plan that is real for the future generations who are about to come and take part in this development. 
Some of the submitters had concerns; the kaupapa was that they thought that the settlement would not happen. Dr Cullen with the support of the House has certainly brought us to a better place. In negotiating the central North Island settlement I was impressed with the spirit of generosity that iwi displayed towards each other. It is an example that other organisations whether they be Pakeha or other people could take a lesson from on how to get themselves sorted. There is a little bit that still needs to be sorted but it is encouraging to hear that a lot of effort was put in at the weekend. The central North Island collective leadership is to be commended. 
Hon Georgina te Heuheu 
: Who wrote that speech? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: At times speechwriters leave out the true essence of what should be said. What has been created here is a sure partnership between a Crown-led initiative and the first people of this nation—the Maori people; the tangata whenua—and that is something to celebrate. This is a great day for Maoridom to celebrate. This is a great day for the nation to celebrate. This is about looking forward and about not looking over one’s shoulder because then the only thing that happens is that one gets a sore neck. 
A lot of these people have had sore hearts and sore minds but they will certainly leave this great bastion of politics and governance with a song in their hearts and they will be clear in their minds that they have done a deal. They have done a deal for future generations. They have done a deal that can be counted in this country’s history as being as good as whatever else has been done. Certainly as I drive through those trees down the Napier-Taupo road along the short cut through Reporoa I will look at those trees and think: “Kia ora trees! Kia ora Maori rakau what a great stand!”. I will be roaming through Maori tree country and that is a great privilege for any New Zealand citizen. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: And you wish Ngati Porou had some forests like that. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I wish I had shares in those forests but I cannot whakapapa to these iwi! I say that these iwi need to be commended and the members need to be respected for the support that they have given to this settlement. 
I wish these iwi well like members do. This sure is a great example on the journey to our being serious about nationhood and not being glib about it and just doing other things. Kia ora tatou. 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) 
: 
 E nga iwi Ngai Tuhoe Ngati Manawa Ngati Tuwharetoa Ngati Whakaue Ngati Whare Raukawa e Te Arawa iwi hapu he mihi nunui ki te iwi whanui me nga rangatira e hui tahi nei tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa.  
[ 
To the people of Ngai Tuhoe Ngati Manawa Ngati Tuwharetoa Ngati Whakaue Ngati Whare Raukawa and the people and hapu of Te Arawa a huge greeting to you and leaders at large gathered here greetings to you greetings to you and greetings to you all 
.] 
I rise on behalf of the leader of the National Party John Key to recognise the significance of the passage of this Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill today. In my almost 18 years in politics I am continually surprised by the ability of New Zealanders to solve problems that other nations may find much more divisive and difficult. But here we have shown in this legislation a capacity to respond to our better lights both the Crown and iwi and to resolve what has been a very longstanding issue. I acknowledge the contributions along with those of others made by the central North Island collective and also by particularly Dr Cullen on behalf of the Government. A nation does these things when it is ready and Dr Cullen and no doubt the Prime Minister saw that we were ready for this settlement and took the appropriate steps. For that they should be commended because this opportunity could have slipped by the nation the iwi and the current Government. 
I also think we should acknowledge the shadows that are cast over this event. I do not mean that in a negative sense but we do stand in the shadow of people who some 15 years ago set off down the path of large Treaty settlements at a time when Maoridom was unsure whether the process could succeed and certainly when Pakeha New Zealanders were unsure whether it was something they even wanted to do. I think that we should acknowledge today those leaders who showed the courage that has lent momentum and also lent some courage to those who have brought this settlement together: Sir Tipene O’Regan and Ngai Tahu and Sir Robert Mahuta and Tainui who made what in retrospect were very brave decisions to settle for a great deal less than the size of their grievances. I acknowledge also the Crown led by the Rt Hon Jim Bolger and Sir Douglas Graham for taking part in that process. We should remind ourselves that 15 years ago this path looked a great deal less certain a great deal rockier than it does today. Those leaders smoothed the path and today we are fortunate to be able to follow in their footsteps to such a positive outcome in respect of this legislation. 
The other point I want to make on behalf of the National Party is that we fully understand the momentum that has been built up. Dr Cullen referred to the other negotiations that are flowing out from these negotiations and our leader John Key and the National Party if we are elected to Government would certainly continue with those negotiations in the same spirit and I think with the degree of political commitment from the leadership that has been shown by the Labour Government in working so successfully on settlements in the last 12 months or so. 
The final point I want to make is this. I think of this as the end of the beginning. We have here people who have decided to lay the foundations for the future rather than to stand by and reflect only on the past. In that sense the destiny of 100000 people from the central North Island collective and the Crown are intertwined because our job now is to together ensure that the aspirational and material benefits of this settlement flow through to those 100000 people. Many of them of course will not benefit initially. Whether they can realise their expectations and aspirations as Maori and as New Zealand citizens will depend on whether they can get a decent education whether they can get a job that is fulfilling and whether they can get the health services they deserve when they need them. It is such a positive refreshment of that sense of mission to have settled these historical grievances and then for these iwi and the Crown to renew the commitment to ensure that the benefits that we all imagine can flow from this kind of settlement actually do flow through to every one of the 100000 people who are covered by the settlement. 
I finish by congratulating the iwi in particular. Family differences are among the most difficult issues to manage and the leadership of the central North Island iwi has shown to the rest of New Zealand admirable courage restraint and dignity in bringing this settlement together on the Maori side. I also acknowledge the contribution of all those who worked on behalf of the Crown—which is therefore the whole country—to seize a historic opportunity and see the settlement go through. Tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 Tena ano koe Mr Assistant Speaker tena ano hoki koutou e hui tahi nei i waenganui i a tatou nga mema Paremata i haere mai ki te tautoko te kaupapa i mua i a tatou i tenei wa. 
[ 
Greetings once again to you Mr Assistant Speaker and to you collectively gathered here among the members of Parliament in support of the matter before us at present. 
] 
I am pleased to rise on behalf of New Zealand First to express our support for the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill which a number of speakers before me have described as unique. People have talked about the unique terms of the way in which this settlement has been reached and I concur. 
But for me there is one other feature that is unique when comparing this settlement with other settlements. As other settlements have worked their way through the process of first reading select committee hearings second reading the Committee stage and then the third reading New Zealand First has been very consistent about one particular issue. The fact is that in all settlements prior to this one reference has been made to the fact that the settlement the apology has been given as a consequence of breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles. Herein lies the uniqueness of this settlement. There is no reference to the principles. There is no reference to breaches of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. 
How often have we in New Zealand First been derided because of our consistency in questioning the undefined references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi? How often have we been reminded of that by members of this House who said that settlements cannot be made unless reference is made to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi? Yet here we are today all in support of this particular bill this particular settlement albeit without references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. I will tell members why they are not referred to here. It is because the iwi themselves did not see any need for the inclusion of undefined references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. I remind members of this House that we in New Zealand First do not want to be reminded by them of our stance in relation to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi again. 
We know and the respective iwi know that this is only a small hurdle a small bridge to cross in the whole process surrounding this settlement. They know that in future they will have to deal with the issue of mana whenua. During the select committee process we heard one or two submissions that queried the right of other iwi in terms of mana whenua. I think therein lies the challenge for the leadership of the respective iwi that this settlement refers to. 
Once again before I sit down I commend the leadership the representatives and the negotiators of the respective iwi that this bill applies to. I wish them all the best and I remind them as I always have with previous settlements that the leadership should always look behind itself from time to time to ensure that the people whom it purports to lead are still there. 
Na reira e koutou ma nga waka nga reo nga mana tenei te mihi atu ki a koutou ko te tumanako kia pai ta koutou haere kia hakatinana te kaupapa o tenei pire. Just by way of explanation I have wished the people of the respective iwi all the best for the future and I hope as they progress that it will be an easy path for them and for the benefit of their people. Na reira tena koutou kia ora mai ano tatou. 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
: 
 Tena koe Madam Assistant Speaker ki a tatou kua tae mai ki roto i te Whare Paremata i tenei ata. He kitenga kanohi ka hoki nga mahara ki te hunga kua ngaro atu i te tirohanga kanohi. Kai konei ratou a-wairua nei ko ta tatau ko te tuku i te roimata kia rere ka mutu waiho ratau kia moe. 
Ko tenei ra mo taua te hunga ora e nga iwi kua tae mai ki roto i te Whare Paremata tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. E ki ana te korero mai i Maketu ki Tongariro mai i Nga Kuri a Wharei ki Tihirau kai aku rangatira tae atu ki a koutou Ngati Raukawa ko koutou ko tatou tenei kua u mai ki te Whare Paremata i tenei ata nau mai hoki mai. Nau mai hoki mai ki te kaupapa na tatau tonu i kokiri ki tenei rangi. Te ra ka whakamanahia te pire nei e tenei Paremata. Me mihi me whakanui i te ahuatanga o nga mahi nui kua oti nei i nga tau engari ka pataia te patai ko wai ka mohio i te timatanga o tenei tau ka eke nga wawata ki tenei taumata. He mea pai he mea whakanui tera ahuatanga kia kite mai ai te puawaitanga i tenei rangi. Koina pea te hua o te pukumahi o te heke o te werawera o te tautohetohe o te mahitahi o te aronga ngatahi o te korero o te wananga o te whakatau whakamutunga.  
Koinei te mihi whanui ki a tatau katoa koutou o te kainga o te takiwa o te Waiariki nga taha katoa o te Whare tena tatau katoa. E ai ki te korero koinei te whakataunga nui whakaharahara nei i waenganui i te Karauna me taua te Maori. Ki ta te pukapuka a  
Mana 
 he ahua orite tenei kirimana ki te Tiriti o Waitangi. Hoi ano tera korero tera. Kaore au i konei i te panuitanga tuatahi me ki na tetahi mate au i to ki wahi ke engari e ai ki ta etahi i haruru te whenua. I tenei rangi kai te harikoa te ngakau kai konei au mo tenei wa. He tika tonu te korero a te Minita a te Takuta Maikara Karana he tere tonu te waka nei engari kua u ki uta. E te Whare me mihi ra ki a koe.  
Kai taku Ariki e Tumu mo te ahuatanga ko tenei i arahi nei i tenei kaupapa. I puta tauna karanga kia eke nga iwi katoa ki runga i o marae o Ngati Tuwharetoa. I korerohia i wanangahia te take nei. Ae ranei me noho totara wahi rua ae ranei me noho i raro i te korowai kotahi. I puta te korero te whakatau me te pukumahi ana koinei tatau e hui nei i tenei rangi. Ka mihi ano hoki ki te Minita nana tonu tenei huarahi hou i whakarite nga Minita ranei kai te korero au ki te ahuatanga ki a koe te Takuta ki a koe e Mita ki a koutou katoa a Parekura a Shane e arahi nei i tenei kaupapa. He huarahi hou he ara hou engari ara noa ake ona painga. Ki taku titiro kua aro mai nga iwi Maori ki tenei huarahi na runga i te mea e hia ke nei nga kereme kua whakatakotohia ki roto i tenei Whare Paremata. Kua ahua toremi tenei Whare i te ahuatanga o nga kereme kua tau mai ki roto i a ia.  
Ko tetahi take nui e hoa ma i puta i te wa i noho nei te komiti whaiti ko tera e pa ana ki te mana korero o tena iwi o tena iwi. Ehara i te mea e tika ana ma matou tena e wetewete ana kua puta mai te korero a etahi atu o nga mema mo tenei take. Hoi ano e orite ana te whakaaro kaua e mutu te ahuatanga o te korero. Kaua e aukati te ahuatanga o te korero i te mea he wa tona ka ara ake nga nawe i roto i te ngakau o nga tamariki mokopuna pea. Ka hoki nga mahara ki te hui i tu ki roto o Waitetoko o roto Ngati Tuwharetoa i te tau pea kua hipa. I tera wa i te ahua awangawanga nga iwi ana mai i tera wa na nga mahi pai na te kaha o te korero ana kua puta te kotahitanga e korerohia ake nei. Ko te mea pai o roto i tenei whiriwhiringa e te Minita a kua puta te korero rangatira ki te rangatira. he tohu pai tera i te mea i nga tau kua hipa koinei tetahi o nga nawe kua puta kua tonoa me ki nga mea tuawha tuarima ranei ki mua i te aroaro o nga rangatira korero ai. Ko tenei huarahi i whakaritea mai ai katahi tona pai. Hoi ra he aha te kai o te rangatira he korero me mau tonu tatau ki tera ahuatanga.  
Me mihi ano hoki ki a koe Matiu korua ko Wira na korua ano hoki tenei kaupapa i whakatinana. Koinei au e ki nei ko te ara hou e korerohia ake nei ko korua tenei i rongo nei i te riri i rongo nei i te humarie i rongo nei i te ngakau mahaki i rongo nei i te ahuatanga o te hiahia o nga iwi kia anga whakamua nga take nei. Me mihi ra ki a korua ka tika. Ko te mea pai mo tenei momo ahuatanga e ai ki ta te nuinga kotahi tonu te korero na te iwi tonu i whakatau na te iwi tonu i tautohetohe nga take na te iwi tonu i whakariterite te huarahi whainga. Koinei te mihi atu ki a koutou o te kainga nga iwi o roto i te pire a me ki tenei kotahitanga i raro i te marumaru o Tumu te Heuheu.  
He kupu whakamutunga taku ki a koutou o Ngati Rangitihi i korerohia ta koutou take i roto i te Whare nei engari e tika ana te korero a te Minita kai a koutou i tenei wa. Kai a koutou te tikanga i tenei wa. No reira e te iwi e nga iwi kua tae mai i tenei ahiahi kia kaha kia maia nga ra kai mua i te aroaro kia eke tenei o nga waka nei ki uta kia eke panuku kia eke tangaroa. He wa tona kaore e kore ka eke mai ano ra nga wehewehenga i waenganui i a tatau engari i te rangi nei kua puta te korero a te Minita Maori me whakanui me ngahau ka tika. Ko taku ko ta matou o te Pati Maori he tautoko he tautoko he tautoko. Tena koutou katoa. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Greetings Madam Assistant Speaker and to all present in our House. When we see faces the memories flood back of those who have passed on. Their spirits are present and we lament their loss. Rest in peace.  
This is a day for the living. Greetings to the tribes here in the House. To the people of Te Arawa Mataatua and Raukawa welcome back to the House of Parliament. Welcome back for this matter we have progressed to this stage on this day the bill passes into law. It is a time to celebrate the work done over the years. However the question must be asked: who would have thought at the beginning of this year we would make such progress? It is good and today we celebrate the fruits of the labour the sweat the debates the unity the single-minded focus and the discussions leading to final settlement. 
I acknowledge you all—those from home and the wider Bay of Plenty those from all sides of the House. I have heard it said that this is the largest settlement between the Crown and Maori.  
Mana 
 magazine likens this settlement to the Treaty of Waitangi. I leave it for others to comment on that. I was not here at the first reading due to a bereavement. According to reports the very ground shook. Today my heart is glad I am here to witness this. The Hon Dr Michael Cullen was correct when he said that this has been a swift process; however the canoe has made land. I acknowledge the House.  
I acknowledge the paramount chief Tumu for your leadership. You called other tribes to meet in your Ngati Tuwharetoa domain where this matter was discussed and a decision made over whether to work independently or as a collective. The decision was made to work together; that is why we are here today. I congratulate the Minister who led this new approach; indeed congratulations to the Ministers the Hon Dr Michael Cullen the Hon Mita Ririnui the Hon Parekura Horomia and the Hon Shane Jones. This is a new approach with many benefits. Tribes have supported this new path; witness the many settlements that have come through the House recently. The House has been inundated with the number of legislative settlements.  
A major point of debate in the select committee was the question of the mandate of each iwi.  
It is not appropriate for us MPs to make the decisions; another member has spoken on this issue. The common theme is that discussions do not stop. Do not obstruct the free flow of discussion; if that occurs grievances will in time come forth in the coming generations. I recall the hui at Waitetoko in Ngati Tuwharetoa last year when some tribes voiced their concerns. Since then because of discussions unity has prevailed. The positive aspect of this new path set by the Minister is that the discussions are between people of high standing. This has been a sore point in the past; minor officials have been sent to discuss important matters with tribal leaders. So this is a positive change. Lest we forget the food of chiefs is discourse.  
I commend the efforts of Matiu Te Pou and Wira Gardiner whose efforts made this possible; I refer here to the new path spoken of earlier. You felt the ire as well as the goodwill and glad hearts of the people and the desire of the tribes to progress matters. I commend you. People say the advantage of this path is that the process is clear; there is but one statement endorsed by the tribe; the proposed details of the settlement are debated and the people decide what path to follow. For this I commend the home people and the tribes concerned under the shelter of Tumu te Heuheu.  
A final word to Ngati Rangitihi. Your issues were discussed by the House but the Minister is correct it is over to you now to make a decision. So to all the tribes here this afternoon be strong be steadfast that this canoe makes landfall. The time will come when differences separate us but today the Minister of Maori Affairs has said we should celebrate and be happy. I and the Maori Party are in support. Thank you. 
] 
JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I stand on behalf of United Future to support and celebrate the passage of the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill. This bill now takes the record for being the largest settlement to date so congratulations are due to both the Crown and iwi who have done a remarkable job in pulling this together. We applaud the wisdom of collective strength that has secured this outcome and we are very pleased to see that legislatively the door has been kept ajar for those who were unable at this stage to determine whether this was the best outcome for them. Obviously there is an encouragement for them to reconsider their position. 
We are pleased to see that the intention of this bill includes the status quo to remain regarding public access to central North Island forests land. It is interesting that today we will probably be debating the third reading of the Walking Access Bill which has a relationship to this as well. 
The Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill will see the forest land cease to be Crown forest land and vests in CNI Iwi Holdings Ltd the new company that was previously owned by the Crown. 
We note there were 66 information or endorsement hui and that the allocation model incorporated in the bill was the result of unanimous agreement. This has been extremely well negotiated and it is a fantastic outcome. We are very happy to support this bill. 
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) 
: 
 Can I too in opening offer my congratulations and best wishes to the iwi of the central North Island collective to Tumu te Heuheu for the outstanding work that he has done and to the work of Wira Gardiner as Crown facilitator. I offer my congratulations to the Minister and his team on the contribution they have made. As other National members have said we support the third reading of this important legislation. My colleague Mrs te Heuheu summarised the bill in the course of her speech and I am not going to repeat that material here. Mr English reaffirmed the National Party’s commitment to this important work which was started by the Bolger Government in the 1990s and so ably assisted by Sir Tipene O’Regan and Sir Robert Mahuta. 
A number of features of this bill are particularly interesting but none more so than Subpart 2 of Part 1 which deals with allocation principles. I am particularly interested in schedule 2 which I sincerely believe and hope will provide a very useful model for the future because I have seen far too much litigation in the Treaty settlements area over the years. I go back to the fisheries litigation that started almost immediately after the 1992 settlement. It went on for about a decade. It consumed resources. It went to the Privy Council on a number of occasions and was resolved only a couple of years ago. I had grave fears that this particular issue was on the verge of going down that path and I am just so pleased that it has not and that today we are all supporting the third reading of this bill. 
That is why schedule 2 is so very important because it sets out a very tight timetable and has a number of particularly interesting features. As I said I believe it could well be a model for future dispute resolution: keeping people away from courts and enabling them to resolve disputes on allocation on the basis set out in this bill. I strongly support measures where iwi acknowledge their commitment to a resolution process that for example promotes the mana and integrity of iwi and recognises the desirability of post-settlement collaboration. 
There is no doubt that the timetable set out in schedule 2 is very tight indeed because the parties have to identify their mana whenua interests by 1 October 2009. That particular process is to start on 1 July 2009 then there is to be negotiation through to June 2010 and hopefully the allocation agreement will be finalised by 30 June 2011. Very detailed processes set out that in the event of negotiation failing to achieve a result there will be a mediation. If that does not work there will be an adjudication. 
It may seem strange coming from one of the National Party’s justice team but I really believe it is important that lawyers are not entitled to be present or be heard unless all parties agree. Frankly I think that that is a welcome development in this area because I often think that lawyers in litigation can be a cause of discord. I am delighted that lawyers will not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses because I do not think that helps these sorts of issues at all. I have seen attempts at cross-examination in the Waitangi Tribunal and inevitably it is a process that although well suited to High Court litigation is not suited to this sort of exercise. I for one heartily endorse what is set out in schedule 2 and I will be keeping a very close eye on it because I believe it will work extremely well. As I said litigation is expensive it is time consuming it is draining and there is so much truth in the old saying that it is in the public interest that there be an end to litigation. 
I congratulate all iwi here today on this settlement. This was one that was inspired by iwi driven by iwi and achieved by iwi. May other iwi in other parts of the country look at this development and adapt it to their needs as they seek to resolve their grievances with the Crown over the next few years. As Mr English said the National Party will actively support any and every endeavour to resolve these differences because there is no task more important to the future of our country than this one. I congratulate all concerned. I think this is a great day for New Zealand and I am proud to be a member of Parliament able to speak on the third reading of the Central North Island Forests Land Collective Settlement Bill. 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Assistant Speaker. I say “well done” to the central North Island collective. This settlement process is absolutely unique to Maori. I want to echo Bill English who said that we may have our differences and there may be differences along the road but—in my eloquent way of putting what Bill English said into the words of South Auckland—“At least we don’t go around blowing each other up.” That has to be a good thing—it is certainly a good thing for those who might be blown up. The uniqueness is that the settlement process belonged to Maori and as colleagues in this House have said maybe we are looking at a model that will stand us in good stead for the future—who knows? 
I have one concern but that concern is not particularly for the central North Island collective; it is for future Governments whoever they may be. The concern is that the settlement process has taken us back to a time prior to the individualisation of Maori land. That is not the concern of the central North Island collective; its concern was to settle the package and it has done that. My concern is specifically for those who out of the native land process the Native Land Court and the Maori Land Court process have parcels of land—or think they might have—and that maybe their rights have somehow been taken away. I think we need to start looking at that in the future; as I said it is not a big concern of the central North Island collective. 
I will be brief at least in my response to the speech of the Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia. I recognised in the speech of the Minister and in his voice that there might be an election on the horizon. He talked about scurrilous rumours and rumour-mongering and said this was a great day and a beautiful day—well it is outside. But I wonder whether I am letting him off the hook in terms of Labour members seeing this as an opportunity to pat themselves on the back because in 7 weeks’ time we will be going to the polls. I suppose if I were in Labour’s position I would be doing the same thing. So I congratulate the Minister of Maori Affairs but I tell him not to overwork it. He should pat himself on the back but he should not overwork it. 
I am concerned in this respect: we are in urgency at the end of a parliamentary session. In fact we are at the end of the 48th Parliament and we are trying to nut out these bills and rush through these third readings. It would have been all right if there were one or two bills—I could handle that—but if we look at the Order Paper we see that we are working our way through a number of issues. So although I congratulate the Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister for his erstwhile work we should not have let it come to being part of an urgency motion. 
I finish by mentioning the Treaty of Waitangi and the Treaty principles as my tuakana from New Zealand First has mentioned. He mentioned that there were no Treaty principles in the bill but I say that they do not have to be in the bill or even in settlements to be there. 
Pita Paraone 
: That’s what I’ve been saying. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Well actually the member did not really say it in that way. I do not want to get into a big argument with New Zealand First; suffice it to say that the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi are worked out over time—they are worked out through the law courts they are worked out through bills in Parliament and they are worked out through how we live. Maybe one day we will all be getting around on our little mobility scooters thinking that the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi are what make this country tick. I think it is wrong to say that the reason they are not in there is that iwi did not want them in there. We all in one way or another take the Treaty principles to heart and we operate with them on a daily basis. 
No reira e te Whare e te Kaihautu o te Whare kei a koutou e aku rangatira tena koutou a tena koutou kia ora mai tatou katoa. 
[ 
So to the House the Assistant Speaker of the House and to you my chiefs greetings to you greetings to you and to all of us 
.]  
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
Tena ano koe kai te Kaihautu te ahua nei kei a au te korero whakamutunga mo tenei kaupapa kai waenganui i a tatau. He paku korero noa iho taku i tenei wa. A kua korerohia nga korero mai i tena ropu i tena ropu i tena ropu a me tenei Kawanatanga i te ahuatanga o tenei pire e pa nei ki te ngahere o te tuawhenua. No reira tu tonu nga mihi ki nga matawaka kua tatu mai a te arikinui e Tumu me nga karangaranga hapu kei waenganui i a tatou i tenei ra Te Arawa Mataatua Tainui tenei ra te mihi atu ki a koutou tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. A te wa ka mihi ano au ki enei o oku whanaunga hara mai ra i Te Tai Tokerau.  
No reira e te Kaihautu me pehea rawa nga korero maku. Otira taku he tu ki te tautoko i nga mihi me nga kupu o taku hoa rangatira te Minita Maori a Parekura Horomia te tino Honore. Nana i tu ake ki te mihi ki te tautoko i a ratou katoa i arahi mai ra i te kaupapa mo tenei pire mai ra i te hau kainga a tatu iho nei ki Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara ki te Whare Paremata a ki te Ana o nga Raiona. No reira na runga i tena me ki ra kua oti katoa ra nga korero kua oti katoa. Kore e tu tenei ki te whakahe ki tena ki tena ki tena e tu ana ki te whakamihi atu ki nga whakaaro katoa kua whakaatuhia i tenei ra. No reira kua mihingia nga mihi ki nga Minita o mua ki tena Pirimia nana i arahi nga kereme o Ngai Tahu me Tainui i tona wa a nga Minita katoa i raro i a ia. No reira tautoko i nga mihi ki a ratou.  
Otira hoki noa atu taku mihi ki tena o wa tatau Minita Maori rangatira mai ra i Ngapuhi i a Matiu Rata. I te tau 1975 nana te kaupapa i whakato i roto i te Whare nei na ka puta taua pire hei whakawhiriwhirihia i nga kereme raupatu whenua. Nana ano i whakatu i tena Taraipiunara o Waitangi. Me ki ra te korero nana te kaupapa i timata. Ki te kore taua ture e kore tatou i huihui ai i tenei ra.  
Me te mihi ano ki te Minita mai ra i a Tainui i a Maniapoto a ko Koro Wetere te Honore. Nana i whakawhanuihia i te mana o te Taraipiunara o Waitangi i ahei ratou ki te hoki whakamuri ki te tau 1840 koi ra te timatanga o nga mahi tukino a te Karauna ki a ngai tatau huri noa te motu. No reira tika ana kia mihingia atu nga Minita o mua engari kaua tatau e wareware na wai i timata he aha hoki te kaupapa i timatahia ai?  
No reira na runga i tena huri atu au ki nga matawaka. Na ratau tonu te kaupapa o tenei ra e tika ana kia mihingia atu ratau. No reira me penei ra te ki waiho tena nga korero i ana korero me era me era me era. Taku kei te mihi atu ki te whakaiti i mua ki a koutou no reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.  
E te Kaihautu he inoi taku nei ki a koe waiho taku korero kia ahua mana tonu. Kaua e huri atu ki tera reo kia ahua rite tonu ki te remana. Ka ahua kawa hoki. No reira na runga i tena kia tau te rangimarie ki a koe e te Kaihautu. Tena koe huri noa kia ora tatau katoa. 
[ 
Greetings once again to you Madam Assistant Speaker. It appears that I have the last word in this matter. I will be brief. We have heard from each of the collectives involved and this Government in respect of this bill and matters relating to the central North Island forests land. I restate the acknowledgments to the iwi collectives present here to the paramount chief Tumu and the many hapu from Te Arawa Mataatua and Tainui. At the appropriate time I will acknowledge my kin who have come from North Auckland. 
So what can I add? I stand to support the acknowledgments of the Minister of Maori Affairs the Hon Parekura Horomia. He endorsed all you who have led the work that brings this legislation to Parliament here in Wellington to the lion’s den. We can say that all that needed to be spoken has been spoken. I agree with all that has been said today. Acknowledgments have been made to Ministers past and present and to the Prime Minister who settled the claims of Ngai Tahu and Tainui and I support those acknowledgments. 
I also acknowledge the former Minister of Maori Affairs from Ngapuhi Matiu Rata.  
In 1975 he began this process through the House that established the Waitangi Tribunal. He was the instigator of all this. Had it not been for his efforts we would not be here today. 
I acknowledge the former Minister from Tainui and Ngati Maniapoto the Hon Koro Wetere. He extended the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal allowing it to look into claims from 1840 the year when the attacks of the Crown against us in these isles commenced. So it is right to acknowledge past Ministers but we must never forget who started it and why it was started.  
Because of that I turn to the different iwi collectives before us. This matter belongs to them; it is appropriate that we acknowledge them. So the accolades must be accorded to each of them. Let each relate its own story. My part is merely to stand in humility to acknowledge and congratulate you. Greetings to you all.  
Madam Assistant Speaker I seek that my address not be interpreted so that its tenor and flavour is not lost and does not become distasteful like a lemon. So let peace and good tidings prevail upon you Madam Assistant Speaker. My thanks to you and to all of us throughout. 
]  
Bill read a third time. 
Waiata; karanga