Hodgson Pete: Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Hodgson Pete: Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:613;Page:10246] 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Energy) 
on behalf of the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: 
 I move  
That the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time 
. Today is a special day for the people of Ngati Tama and the Crown. It is a further step in the journey towards reconciliation that will enable new pathways to be forged further enhancing Ngati Tama’s economic social and cultural well-being and that will assist in fostering more effective endurable relationships between Ngati Tama and the Crown based on goodwill and trust. 
This bill will bring to an end the longstanding and significant grievances of Ngati Tama and settle all the iwi’s historical treaty claims. The historical background to the claims makes for sombre reading. It provides an account of New Zealand’s history wherein Ngati Tama was faithful to the spirit of the treaty—seeking to build strong relationships based on mutual respect and trust with its treaty partner—but sadly the Crown did not act like that in return. The bill contains a formal apology to Ngati Tama for breaches of the treaty acknowledged by the Crown. 
Ngati Tama has been in direct negotiations with the Crown since November 1996 when a deed of mandate was recognised. A heads of agreement recording the main components of a settlement was signed in September 1999. A deed of settlement the formal Crown offer to Ngati Tama to settle the claims under the Treaty of Waitangi was then developed by the Crown and Ngati Tama negotiators. The deed was signed on 20 December 2001 after first having been ratified by 97 percent of the people who voted. 
This Government is totally committed to progressing the settlement of valid historical treaty claims. I know there are people who like to criticise the current treaty settlement process. Those people forget that settlement is a two-way process that seeks to restore and in some instances to activate relationships—a process designed to resolve all the historical treaty claims of a group of people. Settlement is the pathway to reconciliation from which each treaty partner can move forward with a shared understanding of the past. 
Over the past decade the Crown has developed and refined a process for settling historical treaty claims. This process is now leading to a steady stream of comprehensive settlements. The Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill is the second bill enacting a settlement this year with the Ngati Ruanui claims settlement legislation being the first. Deeds of settlement have also been signed with Ngati Awa and Ngati Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau and another will be signed shortly with Nga Rauru. 
The Crown has withstood challenges in the Waitangi Tribunal and in the courts over its policy approach to settlements. The Waitangi Tribunal inquired into Ngati Maniapoto’s overlapping interests in this settlement and I am pleased to tell the House that the inquiry found in favour of Ngati Tama’s settlement proceeding. Members should all be assured that the Crown is certain of the validity of the claims settled by this bill and has negotiated with the interests of all citizens in mind. 
It remains for me to acknowledge all of those from Ngati Tama and the Crown who over many long years have worked hard to arrive at this day. Their passion and commitment have greatly helped the process which I know has often seemed daunting and arduous and which has taken its toll. 
I encourage all New Zealanders to read the historical account outlined in the Ngati Tama deed of settlement. It tells a sad history about which some of us have a general awareness but know little of the detail. It is a history all New Zealanders should be familiar with so we can move forward together. 
To the people of Ngati Tama their ancestors their elders their descendants and their negotiating team I on behalf of the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations extend best wishes for the future whatever that may hold. The enhancement of their cultural social and economic development awaits them. I commend this bill to the House.