Wall Louisa: Mokomoko (Restoration of Character Mana and Reputation) Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWall Louisa: Mokomoko (Restoration of Character Mana and Reputation) Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 22 October 2013. Volume:694;Page:14170. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]LOUISA WALL (Labour—Manurewa): Kia ora Mr Deputy Speaker. E ngā mana e ngā reo rau rangatira mā ngā uri o te rangatira Mokomoko tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.[Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. To the powers voices myriad leaders and the descendants of Mokomoko the chief salutations acknowledgments and greetings to you all.]It is my pleasure to join the House in our collective support of the Mokomoko (Restoration of Character Mana and Reputation) Bill. I want to begin with some words from Mokomoko. I repeat them: “Tangohia te taura i taku kakī kia waiata au i taku waiata.”[Remove the rope from my throat so I may sing my song.]The translation is: “Have the strength to speak up and the truth will not be silenced.” This bill is all about tika me pono. This is about truth and justice for Mokomoko and his uri. This is an opportunity for us as a Parliament to specifically address the historical injustice that was perpetuated on this rangatira of Te Whakatōhea and his uri and for ever more raise him to the esteem that he had and raise him to the esteem that he currently has and will always have in the eyes of not only his whānau but in the eyes of us here in Parliament.I want to tautoko Minister Sharples’ words about the importance of this piece of legislation and the right of this piece of legislation to stand on its own merits. This morning we have been here discussing Treaty settlements but also actually the mana of this particular legislation. I am glad Minister Finlayson is here and he hopefully will be able to ensure that the next passage of this bill means that the whānau will be able to come here to Parliament in the third reading and enjoy I think the intention of this bill which is about restoring the character mana and reputation of Mokomoko.I do want to highlight the process that has led us to this particular point in time. Mokomoko was executed in 1866 for a crime he did not commit. The whānau of Mokomoko from that time on have fought for justice to prevail. They wanted to cleartheir tupuna’s name. They wanted to make sure that the mana of Mokomoko as a rangatira for his community was also addressed. In 1988 via the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Act section 11 there was an acknowledgment that others involved who had been accused of the death of Carl Völkner were also pardoned which led to the Governor-General in 1992 extending a pardon. We are all here because the extension of that pardon did not include the whānau.So what we are trying to do today is make sure that we as a country acknowledge the wrong that was perpetuated. This bill is trying to correct it. Part 2 specifically provides that the character mana and reputation of Mokomoko and his uri are restored by the passing of this bill.I too want to focus on the uniqueness of this bill in that contained within it is Te Reo an official language of our country. It is not a normal thing. This bill in itself is an incredibly unique piece of legislation. I think the uniqueness of that in itself restores the mana of Mokomoko because it is only through this process that actually we have created I think a legacy for the future. It is something that the whānau should feel very proud about because it is through your persistence it is through your insistence that we here are able to help to restore the mana. It is through your guidance and support that we are able to do that.I will not take up much more of the House’s time other than to again acknowledge the generosity of Mokomoko and his uri in enabling us as a country to come to this point in our history. This is all part of our truth and reconciliation history our history of Treaty settlements. I think it provides an amazing platform for the future in terms of how we work together how we acknowledge each other in a respectful way but also how we uphold the mana not only of Mokomoko but of Te Reo and of our mana whenua status. I wish you a safe trip home and expedited travel as this bill goes through this House so that you can feel that all the work you have done to get us to this point is something that you can celebrate in the very near future. Nō reiratēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tatou katoa.