Quinn Paul: Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Quinn Paul: Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:662;Page:10844] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
E mihi kau ana ki a koe te Kingi Tuheitia ki a koutou o Tainui whanui kia kaha kia maia. Ki a koutou e Shane nga kaituhi nga kaimahi e Koro koutou e mahi atu nga mahi e mohio atu te mamae o te hikoi penei tonu kua tae atu te wa hei oti pai. Kia ora tatau. 
[ 
I acknowledge you King Tuheitia and you of Tainui at large; be strong and steadfast. Acknowledgments to you as well Shane the secretariat officials and Koro all of you who experienced the trials and tribulations of a journey such as this one and now the time to settle it well has arrived. Greetings to us 
.] 
Firstly I will make a few acknowledgments. I start by saying that when the 49th Parliament came together in December 2008 the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill was before it and the new Government had some issues that required in its view to be reviewed. In that regard I acknowledge the spirit and willingness of the Tainui leadership under Lady Raiha and Tuku Morgan in engaging with the incoming Government to consider the changes that the new Government wanted and in doing so bringing through to fruition in December 2009 a revised deed of settlement. So I think it is appropriate to acknowledge the leadership of Waikato and the people of Waikato-Tainui in agreeing to the new Government’s position. 
I also acknowledge the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations the Hon Chris Finlayson. He and his officials carried out the work of the incoming Government to bring together and put the new proposals to Waikato-Tainui and edge a way forward. That required a measured and considered approach particularly in establishing the new co-management arrangements that the Government wanted. I think that speaks highly of the excellent work that the Minister and his officials were able to achieve. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the former Minister Dr Michael Cullen who is amongst us today proudly a recent addition to the Ngati Awa whanau and also the Hon Koro Wetere and of course Tuku Morgan. My final acknowledgement goes to the Maori Affairs Committee. Its spirit of camaraderie manifested itself particularly in this bill. I think it shows great leadership in the work that it does. 
I will very briefly canvass the key purposes that drive this bill. There are about four. The first one is acknowledging te mana o te awa and the place that the Waikato River has for the Waikato people. The second is the mana whakahaere. The third is health and well-being. The final one is the co-management arrangements going forward. With respect to those I say that in 1995 Waikato were at the vanguard of Treaty settlements with respect to raupatu. Today once again they are in the vanguard of a co-management settlement on natural resources which I have no doubt will form the template going forward. In particular in that regard I am aware that my uncle Bill Bird for instance was keenly awaiting the outcome of this with respect to its application to the Rangitaiki River. I am sure it will be duplicated in other areas. 
So with those few words again it gives me great pleasure to be able to stand with humility to acknowledge Waikato-Tainui for its achievements and for joining with the Government and the nation in allowing this settlement to come to fruition. No reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.