Finlayson Christopher: Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFinlayson Christopher: Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 31 July 2013. Volume:692;Page:12191. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):I moveThat the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Māori Affairs Committee to consider the bill. Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki-makau-rau is the collective name taken by 13 iwi and hapū of Tāmaki or Auckland a body often referred to as the Tāmaki Collective. Representatives of the collective signed a deed with the Crown on 8 September 2012 for collective redress for their shared interests in Tāmaki-makau-rau. This bill gives effect to the deed.The deed and this bill are the product of almost 4 years of very intensive negotiation between the Crown and the iwi and hapū of Auckland. In early 2009 I approached Sir Douglas Graham to advise the Crown on Treaty settlement negotiations in the Tāmaki Kaipara and Hauraki regions. These were areas where for good reason negotiations had effectively stalled. In 2007 the Waitangi Tribunal described the Auckland area as having highly complex interrelationships between groups with customary interests that are multiple and multilayered. The tribunal set a challenge for iwi and the Crown to find a way that recognised the legitimate interests of individual iwi while also recognising those layers of interest. Sir Douglas Graham proposed that the Crown deliver redress collectively such as the volcanic cones—the maunga—of Tāmaki where many iwi and hapū held customary interests. Cabinet agreed and in July 2009 Sir Douglas presented the proposal to the various iwi and hapū of Tāmaki.The subsequent agreement by the iwi and hapū to the concept of collective redress was a very significant breakthrough for negotiations. First it allowed iwi to work together to secure the transfer of 14 of Auckland’s iconic volcanic cones to the Tāmaki Collective. The adage “strength in numbers” certainly applies here. These maunga will be held as reserves for the common benefit of the Tāmaki Collective and the people of Auckland. Public access and third-party interests over them will be protected. In this the iwi and hapū of the Tāmaki Collective have recognised not only their customary interests but the interests of all people living in Auckland. The maunga were formerly fortified pā and villages with their occupants having command over most of the Tāmaki isthmus. Today they are regularly used as places to visit and play on to have picnics and even for getting married. For Māori and non-Māori alike they will remain a defining part of the Auckland landscape.Second the collective has given both the Crown and Auckland Council a representative body of tribal interests to engage with. At the heart of the settlement is the establishment of a co-governance body called the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority or Maunga Authority. This authority is made up equally of representatives of the Tāmaki Collective and Auckland Council. Although Auckland Council will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the volcanic cones the authority will oversee their governance. In effect a partnership is going to be formed between Māori and the council in an arrangement that will enhance the future management and protection of these very very important landmarks. The collective will also have a relationship agreement with the Minister of Conservation and the Director-General of Conservation on issues across the Auckland Conservancy. Three seats on the Auckland Conservation Board are reserved for the collective.Other collective redress includes the vesting of four motu islands to the Tāmaki Collective: Rangitoto Motutapu Motuihe and Tiritiri Mātangi. This is for a 1-month period after which they will be vested back to the Crown for the benefit of all New Zealanders. Three areas on Rangitoto including the summit and sites at Islington Bay will remain in the ownership of the collective as scenic reserves. The Department of Conservation will continue to manage the summit of Rangitoto. The collective will also be involved with the Department of Conservation in the development of a management plan for the islands.Very significantly this bill does not settle any historical claims or provide financial redress. Rather members of the collective will individually reach their own deeds of settlement with the Crown. The deed and bill nevertheless provide the members of the Tāmaki Collective with a right of first refusal for 172 years over Crown-owned land and certain Crown entity - owned lands that become surplus in that period. This is a very important shared benefit and is likely to provide significant long-term benefits.I am very pleased to say that the legislation for two iwi Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei and Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara has been passed recently by this House. I am confident that settlements are within sight for other collective members including Marutūāhu iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Te Kawerau-a-Maki and Ngāti Tamaoho. We are also committed to reaching settlements with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua Ngāti Te Ata and Te Akitai.The negotiations that led to this deed were far-reaching and robust. First and most important I want to acknowledge all the leaders of the 13 iwi and hapū of the collective. Their vision and their willingness to work together and with the Crown have enabled this ambitious redress package to proceed. In particular I acknowledge the astute leadership and vision of the chairperson of the collective PaulMajurey. This settlement would not have been possible without agreement and active cooperation from Auckland Council and I want to acknowledge the vision of His Worship Auckland Mayor Len Brown and other councillors who have worked very very hard in support of this proposal. I think this bill delivers an innovative structure through which Auckland Council can engage with the iwi and hapū of Tāmaki. It is an exciting time for Auckland.I must also pay tribute to the city leaders who preceded the Auckland Council: again Mr Brown for Manukau; John Banks for Auckland City; Andrew Williams for North Shore; and of course Sir Bob Harvey in Waitakere. I also want to thank my fellow Ministers whose departments have been involved in negotiations—in particular the previous Minister of Conservation the Hon Kate Wilkinson. I also acknowledge the hard-working officials in the Office of Treaty Settlements and the chief Crown negotiator Michael Dreaver—ever-optimistic ever-energetic.To conclude this bill gives effect to an innovative and groundbreaking deed of redress. The package is a robust one and will serve well not only the iwi and hapū of Auckland but also the public of Auckland and the Auckland Council. I commend the bill to the House.