Sio Hon Aupito WilliamHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): May I firstly simply acknowledge the iwi of Ngāti Tūwharetoa who are present. Their mana their reo—those who are present tonight but those also who are no longer with us who may have been part of this journey from the outset but have passed on. And simply just acknowledge and say kia ora tātou katoa.In 2012 I had the opportunity with a few members of the Pasifika community to travel from Auckland to the funeral of the late Sir Timi te Heuheu the husband of a former colleague of the House Georgina. Though we'd travelled often that route from Auckland to Wellington passing Lake Taupō this was the first time of actually travelling down to the coastal region there and seeing the beauty of that particular area. I make those remarks in an effort to make a connection to the significance and importance of the presence of people who are here and to the significance of the second reading of this particular bill. I also make a connection that as I make my way around our regions and meeting up with the growing Pacific population in Levin in Gisborne in Blenheim and in other parts of New Zealand I note that of the more than 62 percent of Pacific peoples who are born in Aotearoa New Zealand in Gisborne almost two-thirds of that Pacific population have heritage into Māoridom. And that to me speaks about the future.I then come back to the bill and I note that in the first part of this bill it makes reference to an apology for mistakes that have been made in the past by the Crown and that to me appears to have been a negotiated settlement between the representatives of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown. And I think even though there are significant parts of the legislation that will be of value to the present generation in future for me the apology and the words that will be used in that apology are the significant component of this bill to me—and I'll tell you why. It is because the experience of Ngāti Tūwharetoa is not isolated. It is an experience that many of mana whenua have also experienced. It is the experience that other indigenous cultures have faced right across the world. It is an experience that Pacific Island nations have also faced. And so I give support that that is so fundamental in moving forward. It is so fundamental that that history is recorded and taught to the next generation because from where I stand it is important that the mistakes of the past are not repeated: not repeated in Aotearoa New Zealand not repeated in the Pacific region not repeated where indigenous cultures are. I think what is happening in Aotearoa New Zealand with these settlements is almost the shining light and example that certainly I hold up in the Pacific region and certainly I want to acknowledge that this is the example that others look towards. I want to acknowledge Tūwharetoa Māoridom throughout New Zealand for this negotiation.Finally I just acknowledge my Māori colleagues on this side on that side on all sides of the House because I think it's been your determination—your heart—that has enabled all of us who are non-Māori particularly our Palagi friends to understand the depth of what this about. I want to acknowledge Rino and I acknowledge also that though it's our turn to take the lead in this there have been other Ministers along the way. This isn't about acknowledgment though; this is about acknowledging the heart of the work and that is acknowledging the faults that have occurred in the past. Kia kaha Te Tūwharetoa.