Ririnui Mita: Treaty of Waitangi (Principles) Bill — First Reading 
Ririnui Mita: Treaty of Waitangi (Principles) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1430] 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 Hoi ano kia ora tatau. Kia ora tatau te ahuatanga o te pire kua takoto nei i runga i te tepu. Mihi ake ana au ki nga ropu torangapu i tu atu ki te whakahe. 
[ 
Indeed greetings to us. Greetings in respect of the circumstances of the bill before us. I acknowledge the parties who have stood to oppose it. 
] 
Let me just start by saying that Rodney Hide’s performance in the first reading of this bill is similar to the way this bill has been written: I do not think he has put a lot of thought into it. The reason I say that is that all Rodney Hide is doing is reiterating what has happened in this country over the past 150 years. 
I read the proposed principles set out in clauses 6 7 8 and 9 and if I had to describe in one word clause 6 “Principle of Article the First” I would say that Rodney Hide supports the notion of conquest because that is what it means. In relation to the second article I would say that Rodney Hide supports the notions of pillage and plunder because that is what clause 7 means. In relation to the third article in clause 8 I would say that Rodney Hide supports the notion of assimilation because that is what it means. In clause 9 “No other principles” Rodney Hide suggests that we deny Maori access to redress. In other words he is telling them what the Treaty of Waitangi means for them and saying that if they do not like it there is no avenue for redress. In a simple statement that is what the bill means to me. That is why I have stood in this House to take a call to oppose it and I want to congratulate all the previous speakers who have done the same. 
I have never believed in nor supported since I have been a member of this House the notion of defining the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in legislation. However I do support reference being made to those principles. I do not believe that the courts should be limited in the way that they interpret the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in their deliberations. That is very important because that allows the Treaty of Waitangi to breathe—to have meaning—and actually speak to us. Once we start to define those principles which is what Rodney Hide suggests in his bill we render the Treaty worthless. One cannot censor the founding document of this nation by limiting its ability to speak to its nation. I hold fast to that belief. 
This is not a new debate in this House. What is different about this particular debate is that the previous one we had last year—and it has been referred to already—had been to remove any reference to the principles of the Treaty that are in legislation. This proposal actually attempts to limit the meaning of the Treaty in terms of those principles. Whatever the case the outcome is still the same: the Treaty is censored it is suppressed and it cannot serve the nation it was supposed to serve. 
As Te Ururoa Flavell said in his contribution to this House over the last two decades the Treaty has been widely accepted as the founding document of our nation. But it has been a challenge to us to give meaning to the Treaty and particularly to the relationship that we have with each other. One cannot say that we are one nation; we are two nations sharing the same country. Mr Hide has stated the obvious in this bill. He has stated that there is one New Zealand—one Aotearoa. Well that is obvious. 
I think the member needs to take advantage of the Treaty education programme that is travelling around the country. It is actually in Tauranga which is a nice place to go. I am told and I am sure that Bob Clarkson can verify this that the programme has been well attended by non-Maori who do want to know what the Treaty means in practical terms. 
Pita Paraone 
: What about the member? Has the member been there? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: I just tell the member that I had a good part to play— 
Pita Paraone 
: No the member whom you were referring to—the member for Tauranga. Has he been to see it? 
Hon MITA RIRINUI 
: Just on that matter I tell the member that I went to the top of Mauao—Mount Maunganui—on Waitangi Day and the member for Tauranga was there. He made a very profound statement: “It’s a beautiful place. I’d love to be buried here.” The kaumatua said: “It will be done by lunchtime.”