te Heuheu Georgina: Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
te Heuheu Georgina: Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
[Volume:650;Page:18935] 
Hon GEORGINA TE HEUHEU (National) 
: 
 I want to make a very brief call on clauses 1 and 2 of the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill. Because there is a lot of interest in seeing this bill pass into law before Parliament rises perhaps the Minister in the chair the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations might indicate when the bill would be endorsed by the Governor-General. 
The discussion still centres on the inclusion in the affiliate of tribes that are coupled. Some representatives of those tribes or hapu do not want to be coupled in the way that they are. We have to remember of course that although some stand in this Chamber and say that Ngati Wahiao do not want to be coupled with Tuhourangi in reality some of Wahiao—presumably a greater number—are already part of the affiliate. Yes the Maori Affairs Committee heard some very passionate pleas for that uncoupling to take place. Again those pleas were from only some of the Wahiao tribe. That does not make the issue any less important but as my colleague has said and as has been obvious we have not supported that uncoupling in this place. 
It is interesting that with the long gestation of the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Bill it is a big big achievement that this settlement has been reached. Hopefully those in the ascendancy have heard sincerely and genuinely the plea of those who worry that they might be subsumed. I hope they at least try to have some appreciation and understanding of the anxiety of the fears that some have that their mana their standing might become subsumed. That should not happen. Yes in the end it is an internal issue for those groups. 
Hopefully this affiliate of Te Arawa iwi and hapu once the bill passes its third reading and goes into law will use the settlement in the way that one would expect such an affiliate to use it: as a springboard for moving forward a springboard for embracing all of those who become part of the settlement—every single person every hapu every tribe. The settlement should become a springboard for moving forward for development for their tamariki for their mokopuna. I suppose that if we all keep that in mind then the promise of the settlement as signified in the title will become a reality and something that not only those groups are proud of but indeed all New Zealanders embrace because it is a good thing for our country. 
I want to go through the groups listed in the meaning of “Affiliate” in clause 11; it is the embodiment of the bill. They include Ngati Ngararanui including Ngati Tamahika and Ngati Tuteaiti; Ngati Kearoa Ngati Tuara; Ngati Tura - Ngati Te Ngakau; Ngati Te Roro o Te Rangi; Ngati Tuteniu; Ngati Uenukukopako; Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao; Ngati Tahu - Ngati Whaoa; Ngati Pikiao excluding Ngati Makino; Ngati Rongomai; and Ngati Tarawhai. This settlement is a big achievement for those affiliate groups. It is a pleasure for me to stand here tonight at the end of the Committee stage which is the stage before the third reading. I understand that the third reading will proceed on Thursday.