Finlayson Christopher: Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFinlayson Christopher: Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 07 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17664. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. I moveThat the Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. Can I begin by acknowledging the gracious and supportive and helpful comments made by my Labour opponents this morning. I particularly acknowledge Louisa Wall and Meka Whaitiri. They were gracious and constructive and that can be contrasted with the ignorant and gross contribution of Mr Peters earlier today comments that will resonate in Ruatāhuna and Ruātoki and places like that—most unfortunate indeed.This bill will enable the settlement of all the remaining historical Treaty claims of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura. Earlier this year the bill was considered by the Māori Affairs Committee. I have said on a number of occasions and this morning I repeat it again that I do appreciate the work that committee did in considering the bill and in considering the issues raised in the submissions. I congratulate the chair and the members on their hard and efficient work. The committee considered 12 submissions from interested groups and individuals. It heard nine submissions and held hearings in Karapiro and Wellington. I am very grateful to those who took the time to make submissions on the bill. They were very positive and very helpful.Every settlement as a previous speaker said is unique in some way. Obviously with the Ngāi Tūhoe legislation the unique feature is the issue of the Ureweras. Here the unique feature is that magnificent mountain in the Waikato Maungatautari. The settlement with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura—and therefore this bill—contains innovative redress relating to Maungatautari. It is at the heart of the rohe of this iwi. It is at the heart of their claim but what they have done is agree to redress over the maunga that accommodates the interests of others as well.I recall the period leading up to the signing of the deed of settlement when there were a number of meetings that I had with various community groups to try to drill down and work out a solution that was acceptable for everyone. The net result of all that work is that the maunga will be vested in the local community as a whole: Te Hapori o Maungatautari. So the bill contains some complex and innovative drafting to provide for vesting an area in a community rather than in a legal person. I want to acknowledge the generosity of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and emphasise that I remain committed to working with them to ensure that the remaining issues concerning the legal status of the pest-proof fence are effectively resolved and I think they will be.The Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 and the Ngati Tuwharetoa Raukawa and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010 provide very important mechanisms for the care and well-being of the Waikato River. The bill before this House is consistent with other Treaty bills in the Waikato in that it provides for the existing manawhakahaere arrangement north of Karapiro to be extended south to the Lake Arapuni sub-catchment and I am very happy that the settlement facilitates those changes.The committee carefully examined the bill. It has incorporated a number of small changes. The changes are technical in nature and they do helpfully clarify aspects of the redress. I very much look forward to the third reading and seeing Ngāti Koroki Kahukura move confidently into the future. As I said in the first debate and I say again now I hope the fact that I am relatively succinct and to the point in the second reading speeches is not a cause of offence to the iwi. What we are trying to do this morning in extended sitting hours is progress three bills through their second reading. The full speeches hopefully in the presence of many members of the iwi will occur at the third reading. I commend the bill to the House.