Finlayson Christopher: Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFinlayson Christopher: Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 April 2013. Volume:689;Page:9513. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I want to acknowledge the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara representatives in the gallery. I am told that we can expect a much larger contingent when the third reading of this bill the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Claims Settlement Bill is debated but it is great to have them here. On behalf of the Crown I really enjoyed negotiating with Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara. We signed the agreement in principle as I recall at the very end of 2010. It was what almost could be called a “rocket docket” negotiation because we really cut to the chase. The deed was then signed on the shores of the great Kaipara a year or so later and now we have reached the legislative stage. I am so very pleased that we are at this stage and I very much look forward to the third reading in June.I want to acknowledge also the Māori Affairs Committee. It travelled to south Kaipara to hear public submissions and the strong support of members of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara for the settlement was evident in the submissions and at the hearing. I want to say also that very useful and helpful submissions were received from the Auckland Council and also Te Kawerau-a-Maki an iwi who has shared interests with Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara. The Auckland Council and the Rodney Local Board are a very important part of the post-settlement future for Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara. One of the features of this settlement is a joint management body between the Auckland Council and Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara to manage the Parakai Recreation Reserve. I really do want to thank the members of the Rodney District Council which originally considered this proposal.I particularly want to congratulate and thank the Māori Affairs Committee on its work. The bill had its first reading on 19 September 2012 and the committee reported it back to Parliament on 12 December 1 week shy of 3 months which is very impressive but when one thinks about it not all that surprising given the dedication and the skill of the chair and the hard work that members of the committee have shown on previous settlement bills. Their reward I have to say is going to be a lot more work hopefully in June. There will be—and Mr Tirikatene and I know this—the final signing at the top ofthe South Island inTākaka on Saturday and then a 600-page bill will be introduced to the House incorporating nine settlements and that will be great. But today is Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara’s day. I do not want to detract from that but I simply say to Mr Horomia and the other members of the Māori Affairs Committee team that more work is on its way.The committee recommended amendments to the bill that clarify the intent of the deed of settlement especially in respect of properties at Commercial Road and Rata Street. These properties are part of the historic 10-acre block that Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara gifted to the Crown. Parts of this block were transferred from the Crown to previous councils despite protests from Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara and this settlement will enable several properties that were retained in Crown ownership since that time to be returned.That is all I want to say at this stage. It is a good settlement. I congratulate the negotiators and thank them for their hard work because in the scheme of things it has been a very speedy negotiation. Once again I reiterate my thanks to the select committee and its chair for the good work they did and I very much look forward to the third reading.