Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare Claims Settlement Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare Claims Settlement Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:678;Page:1016] 
Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare Claims Settlement Bill 
In Committee 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 I seek leave that we have one debate. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Leave is sought that there be one debate on Parts 1 and 2 schedules 1 to 6 and clauses 1 and 2. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There appears not. Leave is granted. There will be one debate. 
Parts 1 and 2 schedules 1 to 6 and clauses 1 and 2  
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 There are two Supplementary Order Papers. They have been approved by the iwi. The first one is the technical Supplementary Order Paper 6 required to break up the omnibus structure of the bill into two bills. The second one Supplementary Order Paper 7 is required to correct several minor drafting and technical errors and also to clarify the intent of the provisions of the deed of settlement in respect of the settlement of the historical claims. The jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal is preserved but it is amended to ensure that the tribunal can complete its reporting on the Te Urewera inquiry and make findings but not recommendations on the claims relating to Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare. 
METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 I want to take just a brief call. The Green Party will be supporting this Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare Claims Settlement Bill. My colleague David Clendon was on the Maori Affairs Committee I understand when this bill was being discussed there. We support the bill and we will be supporting the Supplementary Order Papers but I do think it is worthwhile putting on the record for the House that there are still some ongoing issues with this settlement. There are still concerns that some iwi and some hapu are excluded from or do not yet have access to or a seat on the River Forum for example which is responsible for developing the documents on how the rivers are to be cared for and managed in the future. I think that is an issue for those who are excluded from responsibility for decision making over areas over rohe. I note too that there were concerns from the submitters about the extent to which the Rangitaiki River document as incorporated into regional plans is at a lesser status than that in the Waikato River settlement. This one is related to that I understand and there was some disappointment that it will not have the same status as the Waikato River planning documents do.  
One of the major issues for iwi that arises again and again—and we will continue to see it through settlements—is the extent to which they are separated out from the actual decision-making that happens over the environmental issues that are pertinent to them. In this case it is the rivers. They are entitled to be decision makers over what happens. In this legislation in this settlement you can see how layers of bureaucracy have been put between these iwi and hapu and their right to be decision makers over their own rivers. In part that is expressed in the disappointment that their river document will not have the same status as the Waikato one. The regional council will be able to recognise and provide for it but is not required to take it into account in its planning. It is not part of the regional plans as a first step if you like for the decision-making process.  
I just wanted to place it on the record that despite these concerns the Green Party will support the bill. We support the iwi and hapu having further engagement with the River Forum and will continue to fight to have their voices heard at the decision-making table rather than as separated-out layers underneath that. Thank you. 
The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 7 in the name of the Hon Christopher Finlayson be agreed to. 
Amendments agreed to. 
Parts 1 and 2 schedules 1 to 6 and clauses 1 and 2 as amended agreed to. 
The Committee divided the bill into the Ngati Manawa Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngati Whare Claims Settlement Bill pursuant to Supplementary Order Paper6. 
Bill to be reported with amendment presently.