Turei Metiria: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — First Reading 
Turei Metiria: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:650;Page:19244] 
METIRIA TUREI (Green) 
: 
 The Green Party will be supporting the Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill at its first reading knowing that the select committee will not be considering it for some time. On the face of it this looks like very simple and basic legislation but it is actually more complex than that as most settlements are. 
I have some concerns that the Minister has not set out. Some of those concerns were expressed by members of particularly Ngati Wahiao about the process by which this bill came about. I have been sent some information and have been reading documents about concerns around the process by which this legislation this deal was endorsed. I understand that there are some real concerns about the eligibility difference between the iwi who are involved in the transfer of this land concerns about the endorsement hui and also concerns about the postal vote discrepancies. There was concern that some of the owners of the blocks have been excluded from the endorsement process because they are not involved members of Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa. I understand there is a request for the option of a separate registered role for Ngati Whakaue Tuhourangi and Ngati Wahiao so that there can be another go at developing a proper process. 
I do not know the full background behind those concerns but I do know that the Crown very easily accepts poor process when dealing with settlements. I believe and the Green Party believes that the Crown must not just be satisfied that there was a process but that it should also be satisfied that the process itself was transparent fair and just for all of those who are affected by the decisions. I think that it is quite legitimate for the members of the iwi and hapu involved to raise concerns about that and generally speaking the select committee considers those concerns and takes them seriously. It is extremely important that the mana whenua of the land in question in any settlement—this one included—have the fullest confidence that for them the process was a just fair and legitimate one. Of course we know from many of the settlements that we have dealt with in this House and from many that we have looked at as select committee members through the last few years that often the processes involved are very poor. 
It is interesting to note that because the select committee will not be considering this bill for possibly a month or two or three depending on the outcome of the election the Government has time to address the concerns that have been set out. It does have time to go back to those who have raised legitimate concerns to work through the process with them to come back to the select committee when it has its meetings on this bill and to advise us on the outcome of those discussions and how it seeks to remedy the concerns about the process. There is nothing illegitimate about doing that. It makes perfect sense to do that. The Crown has the resources to go and talk with people and in fact that is the whole point of the Treaty settlement process. It is intended to enable the development of much better relationships between the Crown and iwi. That is often forgotten in the furore about land and money but actually in part the process is about strengthening relationships and if the processes by which settlement bills come about are unfair unjust or exclude those who should not be excluded then the relationship between the Crown and iwi is in peril and the whole point of the settlement legislation is put in peril. It cannot be a full and final settlement if the process itself is unfair. 
Having said that I say other concerns will come before the select committee. Those who have negotiated and agreed to this legislation will have worked very hard to bring it to the House at this stage. It is very difficult to work one’s way through a settlement process. I know this is not a settlement bill but it is related to settlements and it is the same process essentially. So their work and their efforts have to be respected and it can take months and months years and years in some cases for this kind of legislation to come before the House. 
So the Green Party will look very carefully at the results of this legislation at the select committee. We will listen carefully to all those who make submissions. We strongly urge the Government to engage with the members of Ngati Wahiao in particular and with all those involved in the settlement to make sure it really is a fair and just process. That is not costly; that is what building honourable Treaty relationships is all about. Kia ora.