Burton Mark: Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Burton Mark: Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:625;Page:20685] 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 I move  
That the NgatiTuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time 
. I stand to acknowledge the significance of this day for the people of NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty and especially for those who have travelled here to join us in the House for this very important occasion. Sadly some of those who began the long task of settling these claims are no longer with us and I take this opportunity to acknowledge them and their contribution. 
The passage of this bill will make a significant contribution towards the goal of promoting harmony between the peoples of this country in two ways. Firstly it will provide tangible and intangible redress to NgatiTuwharetoa in the settlement of their claims allowing them to rebuild their economic base and shift the focus from addressing grievances to developing and building the future. Secondly it will restore the honour of the Crown. All New Zealanders want a Government that is fair to its citizens—one that recognises when Governments have made mistakes in the past. Making amends is at the heart of being fair. This bill brings to an end the longstanding and significant grievances of NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty and settles all their historical treaty claims. Those grievances are at the serious end of the scale. 
NgatiTuwharetoa were faithful to the spirit of the treaty partnership and sought to build strong relationships with the Crown. But the Crown did not treat them fairly in return. This bill contains a formal apology to NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty for the breaches of the treaty acknowledged by the Crown. 
NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty began direct negotiations with the Crown back in 1998. The main components of the settlement package were agreed in February 2001 and a deed of settlement was initialled by negotiators in October 2002. A significant majority of iwi participated in a postal ballot to confirm their support for the settlement. Accordingly representatives of the Crown and NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty signed a deed of settlement at Parliament on 6 June 2003. The passage of this settlement bill is the final hurdle to enable the Crown to transfer the settlement redress to NgatiTuwharetoa. 
The historical treaty claims of NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty relate mainly to the confiscation of land in the bay in the 1860s and to the damaging effect the confiscation had on their welfare economy and long-term development. The claims also relate to the loss of control of and access to geothermal energy and to the pollution of the Tarawera River. NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty are based around Kawerau and Matata. NgatiTuwharetoa are of the Arawa waka and are descended from the ancestor Tuwharetoa who lived in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. 
The NgatiTuwharetoa people located in the Bay of Plenty are distinct from the whanaunga around Taupo Moana. Although many descendants of Tuwharetoa migrated south and settled around the Taupo area others stayed in the Kawerau and Matata areas and have their own separate and distinct identity. NgatiTuwharetoa in the Bay of Plenty have also been closely interlinked and have a shared history with their neighbours Ngati Awa. They share an interest in some of the same sites around the Eastern Bay of Plenty. 
It can be difficult for the Crown to negotiate separate settlements in such circumstances but in this instance it was clearly the right thing to do. In 1999 shortly after negotiations began the Waitangi Tribunal confirmed that Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau as they were then known were entitled to stand alone in any settlement with their distinct lineage and identity properly acknowledged. 
This is the second claims settlement bill to be passed through the House this year and it will probably not be the last. The additional effort this Government has put into settling treaty claims is paying off. This year is likely to see at least three claims settlement bills passed—more than ever before in a single year. I want to acknowledge the support of many members around the House in making that possible. 
This legislation will move NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty beyond the stage of lodging historical claims at the Waitangi Tribunal or in the courts. In this sense they will join Waikato-Tainui with respect to their raupatu claims as well as NgaiTahu NgatiTurangituku Pouakani Te Uri o Hau NgatiRuanui Ngati Tama and Ngati Awa. These groups have all been through the negotiation process and have agreed that they can no longer lodge further historical claims. At the same time others have been exercising their rights as Maori to register historical claims. There are hundreds of registered historical claims now. 
The Waitangi Tribunal has already produced significant bodies of research at a general level as well as examining the detail in its district inquiries. I do not believe that 20 years after historical claims were first lodged there are many remaining issues still to be brought to the Crown’s notice through the Waitangi Tribunal. The time is coming soon when we must all increasingly shift our focus from the gathering together and presenting of historical grievances to resolving them in either a tribunal inquiry or by direct negotiations. As NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty know lodging a claim is only the beginning of the process and long years of work have been put in by the Waitangi Tribunal the Office of Treaty Settlements and especially NgatiTuwharetoa themselves to reach the end of the settlement process we are all achieving today. It is important that hearings and negotiations be resourced sufficiently to proceed apace but not constrained by any artificial deadlines. Settlements should be done once and done right. 
I am pleased to acknowledge all those in NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty and the Crown who have worked towards making this day possible. In particular I acknowledge BevAdlam the chief negotiator for the settlement. Bev’s leadership and determination over past years has steered the claim through some challenging times. I would particularly like to acknowledge the dedication and goodwill that Bev has demonstrated to ensure that this bill has proceeded smoothly and is able to proceed today through the House. I also acknowledge my predecessor the Hon Margaret Wilson for her fortitude and leadership in seeking the resolution of NgatiTuwharetoa’s claims. I acknowledge my colleagues the Minister of Maori Affairs the Minister of Conservation the Minister of Finance the Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotitations and all the Crown officials who contributed to this settlement. It is also appropriate to acknowledge the contributions of the first Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the first Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations to the early stage of the negotiations. 
I encourage all New Zealanders to read the historical account outlined in the NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty deed of settlement. Stories such as these are scars on our collective history but remembering them is vital to understanding the relationship between the tangata whenua of this country and those whose ancestors arrived here later. We must know our history if we are to truly learn from its lessons. Only then are we able to build our nation’s future together on the foundation of those lessons. I wish all the best for the future to NgatiTuwharetoa Bay of Plenty. They will shortly begin the critical task of managing their settlement assets. I am confident that they will do so with the judgment tenacity and commitment they have showed throughout the settlement process. I look forward to witnessing their future endeavours. Kia ora tatou. I commend this bill to the House.