Scott Alastair: Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeScott Alastair: Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 02 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9341. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALASTAIR SCOTT (National—Wairarapa): After the relevant speeches from members I feel a bit left out. I am amazed that there are so many people from this Parliament who are connected to the Papawai Marae. I commend again the trustees and the people of Papawai for bringing obviously a fantastic culture to Wairarapa and to the country.I would like to thank my colleagues for their support of this bill. This bill is just one part of many actions policies and changes that this Government has initiated that support and empower Māori. To summarise how this bill achieves that: first we are going to remove the restrictive parts of the legislation so that funds can be distributed in a more fair and effective manner. The tangata whenua of Wairarapa under this bill will have greater autonomy to manage their own affairs. They will have the ability to invest trust money into the educational purposes where they believe is best. This will provide better outcomes for Māori by widening the areas of education where the funding might go. The board has done a great job to date in the management of the trust. In 2014 119 scholarships were awarded worth a total of $59000. The trust gives students the opportunity to live up to their potential. It is not only Wairarapa Māori who are achieving in schools. Since 2008 National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2 achievement for Māori students has risen 32 percent up to a 66 percent pass rate. Young Māori are on the right track to success.Secondly the bill establishes a more robust nomination process for board members. Tangata whenua of Wairarapa will play a role in appointing or electing members to the board keeping the decision within the community. Thirdly the bill helps to facilitate the long-term development of the land. This is essential as it empowers the board to increase the amount of trust money to be distributed to students.I would like to touch on some other initiatives of this Government that also improve outcomes for Māori. The Crown has been working hard over the past 7 years to speed up the Treaty settlement process empowering more Māori to determine for themselves their future using their own assets. We are working hard towards our goals of reaching final and durable settlements with all willing iwi by the end of 2017. So far we have signed 53 deeds of settlement with iwi in the last 7 years compared with 15 in the 9 years before. Of these settlements 36 have had legislation enacted with four settlements currently in the House and two at select committee consideration. We are moving in the right direction and we can already see the benefits that these settlements are bringing to iwi communities regional New Zealand and the country as a whole. It is important we continue to complete the process for the benefit of everyone.Another Government initiative to further develop Māori interests is Te Ture Whenua Maori Act reform. This is planned to be introduced to the House this year. The reform of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act will unlock the economic potential for Māori land while recognising the need to maintain its ownership in the hands of Māori landowners. There has been extensive consultation on this reform and there is overwhelming support from iwi who want to unlock the potential of Māori land for its owners. The Ministry for Primary Industries has estimated the economic benefit could be in the region of $5 billion to $8 billion. The potential benefits for Māori economic development are exciting. This work is a top priority for the Government this year.Thank you again to the House for the support of this bill. This bill is an empowering bill. It will improve the administration of the Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Board by providing greater flexibility in the distribution of funds establishing a better nomination process for boards and making better use of the land being managed. Kia ora.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Māori Affairs Committee.Waiata