Ririnui Mita: Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Ririnui Mita: Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:635;Page:6524] 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
 on behalf of the 
Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: I move  
That the Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time 
. Otira kei te Kaihautu na runga i tena tono e tika ana kia huri atu ki a Ngati Mutunga kua tae a-tinana mai mai i te marumaru o to ratou maunga titohea a Taranaki. Hei aha? Hei whakarongo hei tautoko i tenei ta ratou pire mo to ratou kereme. No reira e mihi ana ki a ratau mihi ana ki te Whare. E whakaaro ano hoki ki a ratou kua wheturangihia o ratou mate huhua kua tomo atu kua ngaro atu ki tua o te arai. No reira Ngati Mutunga tena koutou nau mai haere mai. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Indeed Mr Assistant Speaker in taking that call it is apt that I turn to acknowledge the presence of Ngati Mutunga having come here from the shadow of their barren mountain of Taranaki. And for what purpose? To listen and to support this bill of theirs about their claim. And so I greet them and the House. I also acknowledge those who have passed away theirs and ours who have entered the void and are lost beyond the veil. And so greetings to you collectively Ngati Mutunga welcome welcome. 
] 
I took a brief opportunity to acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of Ngati Mutunga representatives who have come from Taranaki to listen to this the third reading of their settlement bill. In so doing I also acknowledge the many Ngati Mutunga kuia and koroua who are no longer with them or with us and the contributions they made to bring this very very important settlement legislation to this point. I welcome Ngati Mutunga representatives here today. 
I also want to acknowledge the significance of the settlement legislation to Ngati Mutunga. This bill brings to an end the longstanding and significant grievances of Ngati Mutunga and settles all of its Taranaki-based historical Treaty claims. The historical wrongs committed by the Crown that are acknowledged in this legislation contributed to the loss of Ngati Mutunga land and resources and to the collapse of its social structures. The Crown’s breaches of the Treaty have had a devastating effect on the welfare social and economic development of Ngati Mutunga. What happened to the people of Ngati Mutunga was at the most serious end of the scale of the Crown’s breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi . 
The historically based Treaty claims of Ngati Mutunga relate mainly to the confiscation by the Crown of all of Ngati Mutunga’s land following the wars in Taranaki. The effect of this on Ngati Mutunga was severe. When members of Ngati Mutunga iwi joined the peaceful settlement at Parihaka they were arrested imprisoned and endured harsh conditions including forced labour. I encourage all New Zealanders to read the historical account outlined in the Ngati Mutunga deed of settlement. Stories such as those relating to Ngati Mutunga are a tragic and shameful part of our history but remembering them is essential in order to understand the relationship between Maori and other New Zealanders and the contribution Maori have made to the development of this country. 
We must know and understand our history if we do not wish to repeat it. We must also seek to reconcile the damage caused to the Crown’s relationship with Ngati Mutunga. This Government has set itself the goal of building a strong sense of national identity. This bill furthers that goal. The additional effort this Government has put into settling Treaty claims is now showing results. This is the second claims settlement bill to pass through this House this year and a third bill is set for introduction later this year. 
Ngati Mutunga began negotiations with the Crown in 1996. The heads of agreement setting out the basis for settling Ngati Mutunga’s Taranaki-based historical Treaty of Waitangi claims was signed on 24 September 1999. After signing the heads of agreement Ngati Mutunga decided to suspend negotiations temporarily while it considered the best way forward for the iwi. In November 2002 Ngati Mutunga re-engaged with the Crown to continue negotiations. A draft deed of settlement containing the Crown’s proposed settlement offer to Ngati Mutunga was prepared and the approval of the iwi was sought. Forty-eight percent of eligible Ngati Mutunga voters voted on whether to accept the Crown offer and 94 percent agreed to accept it. On 31 July 2005 the deed of settlement was signed. 
The passage of the settlement bill represents the final steps of a long and arduous journey for Ngati Mutunga to have its claims properly heard accepted and addressed. I acknowledge that it has been a difficult journey for Ngati Mutunga to make. I commend the current membership of Ngati Mutunga and the Ngati Mutunga negotiators for negotiating in the utmost good faith and for demonstrating that they were willing to cooperate and even to compromise in order to reach an agreement. 
I am pleased to acknowledge all of those from Ngati Mutunga who have worked hard to make this day possible. I particularly want to acknowledge Bill Tuuta who led Ngati Mutunga to the heads of agreements stage but sadly passed away before negotiations resumed. I also wish to acknowledge those who undertook these negotiations at great personal cost to themselves to achieve this important milestone for their iwi. I acknowledge too the kaumatua and kuia who provided leadership and inspiration to the Ngati Mutunga negotiators and to their wider iwi. 
Like everyone else in this House I wish all the best for Ngati Mutunga its elders its descendants the negotiating team and the trustees of Ngati Mutunga’s governance entity. Te Runanga o Ngati Mutunga—that is who they are—will soon begin the task of managing the settlement assets. I am certain that they will do so with the judgment tenacity skills and commitment that they showed throughout the settlement process. I am also certain that with the benefit of Ngati Mutunga’s leadership and the revitalisation of its mana and identity future generations will receive a strong enduring legacy because of the decisions made here today. I commend this bill to the House and thank Ngati Mutunga. Kia ora.