Paraone Pita: Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — First Reading 
Paraone Pita: Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:650;Page:19160] 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 One can always rely on New Zealand First to come to the party. Kati ra Tainui waka Tainui tangata whare Kahui o Tainui waka tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou. Tena hoki koutou i tau mai nei i runga i te karanga o te Whare e pa ana ki te kaupapa wa tatou awa ara ko te awa o Tainui. He mihi hoki ki a koutou e noho tonu ki te wa kainga i raro i te taumarumaru o te maunga tapu o Taupiri koutou hoki e are taringa mai e matakitaki mai ki enei korero i puta mai i roto o te Whare e pa ana ki wa tatou awa. Na reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou. 
[ 
So to the canoe people and King movement of Tainui greetings greetings and greetings to you. Acknowledgments to you who have arrived here to the call of the House in respect of the matter relating to our rivers and that in particular the river that belongs to Tainui. I acknowledge those as well who remained at home under the protective mantle of the sacred mountain of Taupiri those of you listening in watching these debates from the House about our rivers. So greetings to you greetings to you and greetings to you 
.] 
Again as I always do in these settlements—but only where it applies—I have to declare a vested interest. That vested interest is as a result of whakapapa. I descend from Hineamaru and included in the Waikato whakapapa is the younger sister of Hineamaru Rongopatutaonga. In that regard I declare a vested interest. I also ought to say that one of the principals representing Tainui in the negotiations is in fact married to a Paraone who happens to be a relative of mine. I take this opportunity to congratulate him on making such a fine choice. A hoi na noa e Tuku he korero noa iho tenei engari horekau i whakakoretake i whakaitingia te kaupapa o te pire nei. Na reira nga mihi ki a koe ki a koutou hoki. 
[ 
Anyway Tuku this is just mere speculation but not meant to belittle nor render the matter relating to this bill as something of no consequence. Congratulations to you Tuku and to all of you as well 
.] 
Negotiations for this particular settlement began in 1995 and were addressed again in 2005 reaching a climax in December 2007. It is a major step towards ensuring the environmentally sustainable management of the Waikato River which has been polluted and degraded over many years. The settlement involves the co-management of the upper Waikato River from Huka Falls to Karapiro. In my discussions with those who were responsible for driving this settlement on behalf of their iwi emphasis was placed on the word “co-management”. It was never their intention to take control of what they rightly believe has always been theirs. One can say it is the highest level of co-management achieved anywhere in New Zealand. Can I suggest that iwi and the rest of New Zealand society will be observing with great interest how this arrangement will pan out. For me I have no difficulty in expecting that it will be a very fruitful and beneficial arrangement between the iwi and other interested parties which will see the health of the Waikato River improved on what it is today. 
The agreement will ensure the river’s clean-up is timely engages all stakeholders and considers iwi interests. A group known as the Guardians Establishment Committee was set up earlier this year to determine a vision and strategy for the river and to implement that strategy. It consists of representatives of Waikato-Tainui other river iwi and regional and national interests in the river. Five iwi will become an integral part of the governance and management framework for the river. The deed of settlement signed in 2008 will create the Waikato River Clean-Up Trust with a maximum of $210 million to spend on river enhancement activities over the next 30 years along with a contestable clean-up fund to which the Crown will contribute $7 million a year for 30 years and the protection of the Waikato River will have significance for all New Zealanders. 
The key elements of this settlement comprise the acknowledgment of the Crown a commitment to co-management—something that is very important to the iwi—recognition of the statement of significance of the Waikato River to Waikato-Tainui legislative recognition of the vision and strategy for the Waikato River the establishment of and the granting of functions and powers to the Guardians of the Waikato River through the settlement legislation the establishment of and the granting of functions and powers to the Waikato River Statutory Board through the settlement legislation co-management arrangements including the establishment of an integrated management plan and the Kiingitanga Accord. 
About 3 weeks ago I attended a local body regional conference in Gisborne. It was a meeting of local bodies that encompass much of the middle of the North Island and some local bodies that have the Waikato River running through their boundaries. In discussion with some of the representatives from those local body authorities although they appreciate having the opportunity for a co-management arrangement for the care and the well-being of the river there was some expression of concern as to how it might impact on existing legislation particularly in terms of the Resource Management Act. I hope that during the select committee process those local bodies that have those sorts of concerns will take the opportunity to make submissions to air their concerns so that the select committee may be able to consider whether in fact their concerns are real or otherwise. 
I do not have too much more to say. Suffice to say that New Zealand First will be supporting this bill to a select committee. Why? Because it is something that the iwi has been responsible in formulating it is something that the iwi has indicated they want but more important it will provide a vehicle for the well-being and the care of New Zealand’s longest river the Waikato River. Na reira e tatou ma ka nui enei korero mo tenei wa huri noa huri noa tena koutou tena koutou kia ora mai ano tatou. 
[ 
That is enough to us for now so greetings to you and to us throughout once again thank you 
.]