Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — First Reading 
Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:650;Page:19160] 
Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill 
First Reading 
Debate resumed. 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 One can always rely on New Zealand First to come to the party. Kati ra Tainui waka Tainui tangata whare Kahui o Tainui waka tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou. Tena hoki koutou i tau mai nei i runga i te karanga o te Whare e pa ana ki te kaupapa wa tatou awa ara ko te awa o Tainui. He mihi hoki ki a koutou e noho tonu ki te wa kainga i raro i te taumarumaru o te maunga tapu o Taupiri koutou hoki e are taringa mai e matakitaki mai ki enei korero i puta mai i roto o te Whare e pa ana ki wa tatou awa. Na reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou. 
[ 
So to the canoe people and King movement of Tainui greetings greetings and greetings to you. Acknowledgments to you who have arrived here to the call of the House in respect of the matter relating to our rivers and that in particular the river that belongs to Tainui. I acknowledge those as well who remained at home under the protective mantle of the sacred mountain of Taupiri those of you listening in watching these debates from the House about our rivers. So greetings to you greetings to you and greetings to you 
.] 
Again as I always do in these settlements—but only where it applies—I have to declare a vested interest. That vested interest is as a result of whakapapa. I descend from Hineamaru and included in the Waikato whakapapa is the younger sister of Hineamaru Rongopatutaonga. In that regard I declare a vested interest. I also ought to say that one of the principals representing Tainui in the negotiations is in fact married to a Paraone who happens to be a relative of mine. I take this opportunity to congratulate him on making such a fine choice. A hoi na noa e Tuku he korero noa iho tenei engari horekau i whakakoretake i whakaitingia te kaupapa o te pire nei. Na reira nga mihi ki a koe ki a koutou hoki. 
[ 
Anyway Tuku this is just mere speculation but not meant to belittle nor render the matter relating to this bill as something of no consequence. Congratulations to you Tuku and to all of you as well 
.] 
Negotiations for this particular settlement began in 1995 and were addressed again in 2005 reaching a climax in December 2007. It is a major step towards ensuring the environmentally sustainable management of the Waikato River which has been polluted and degraded over many years. The settlement involves the co-management of the upper Waikato River from Huka Falls to Karapiro. In my discussions with those who were responsible for driving this settlement on behalf of their iwi emphasis was placed on the word “co-management”. It was never their intention to take control of what they rightly believe has always been theirs. One can say it is the highest level of co-management achieved anywhere in New Zealand. Can I suggest that iwi and the rest of New Zealand society will be observing with great interest how this arrangement will pan out. For me I have no difficulty in expecting that it will be a very fruitful and beneficial arrangement between the iwi and other interested parties which will see the health of the Waikato River improved on what it is today. 
The agreement will ensure the river’s clean-up is timely engages all stakeholders and considers iwi interests. A group known as the Guardians Establishment Committee was set up earlier this year to determine a vision and strategy for the river and to implement that strategy. It consists of representatives of Waikato-Tainui other river iwi and regional and national interests in the river. Five iwi will become an integral part of the governance and management framework for the river. The deed of settlement signed in 2008 will create the Waikato River Clean-Up Trust with a maximum of $210 million to spend on river enhancement activities over the next 30 years along with a contestable clean-up fund to which the Crown will contribute $7 million a year for 30 years and the protection of the Waikato River will have significance for all New Zealanders. 
The key elements of this settlement comprise the acknowledgment of the Crown a commitment to co-management—something that is very important to the iwi—recognition of the statement of significance of the Waikato River to Waikato-Tainui legislative recognition of the vision and strategy for the Waikato River the establishment of and the granting of functions and powers to the Guardians of the Waikato River through the settlement legislation the establishment of and the granting of functions and powers to the Waikato River Statutory Board through the settlement legislation co-management arrangements including the establishment of an integrated management plan and the Kiingitanga Accord. 
About 3 weeks ago I attended a local body regional conference in Gisborne. It was a meeting of local bodies that encompass much of the middle of the North Island and some local bodies that have the Waikato River running through their boundaries. In discussion with some of the representatives from those local body authorities although they appreciate having the opportunity for a co-management arrangement for the care and the well-being of the river there was some expression of concern as to how it might impact on existing legislation particularly in terms of the Resource Management Act. I hope that during the select committee process those local bodies that have those sorts of concerns will take the opportunity to make submissions to air their concerns so that the select committee may be able to consider whether in fact their concerns are real or otherwise. 
I do not have too much more to say. Suffice to say that New Zealand First will be supporting this bill to a select committee. Why? Because it is something that the iwi has been responsible in formulating it is something that the iwi has indicated they want but more important it will provide a vehicle for the well-being and the care of New Zealand’s longest river the Waikato River. Na reira e tatou ma ka nui enei korero mo tenei wa huri noa huri noa tena koutou tena koutou kia ora mai ano tatou. 
[ 
That is enough to us for now so greetings to you and to us throughout once again thank you 
.]  
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Assistant Speaker—again. I will begin by saying good afternoon to the brother-in-law. It is a real pleasure for me to have the brother-in-law sitting up there on this momentous occasion—for more than one reason—so I suppose I had better state that there might be a conflict of interest. There might also be a conflict of interest with my—I had better be careful here—auntie first cousin once removed Denese Henare. 
I will concentrate on three issues. One of them is co-management the second is the significance and recognition of the Waikato River and the third is the legislative recognition of that vision and strategy. In relation to the first I say that we must not let New Zealand and the world be scared of co-management. It means nothing more and nothing less than two people being able to get on with each other for a common purpose. Co-management to me means moving forward and not being tied to the old philosophy that Governments and local authorities are the only ones that can do things for local people. Co-management means a unique step for New Zealand; it is a unique step in this country’s history that we have been able to realise that two people can sit alongside each other and do things together rather than in just the old outdated colonial way. It is unique in the world because we can show the world how two peoples who have had their differences can actually move forward together without throwing bombs at each other and without the carnage we see around the world. I say that co-management can work that we have an opportunity to see it work with the introduction of this bill and that I for one congratulate both sides—iwi and the Government—on getting this bill to where it is now. 
In terms of the Waikato River the significance is twofold. It is significant in terms of iwi; the river is their lifeblood. Without the river they are nothing and without them the river is nothing. The river also has significance for people outside the rohe of Waikato—that is for people like me who live in the city because when we turn on our taps we may or may not get some of that water. So it is incumbent on this House and also on iwi that they are in a position to make sure that that water is clean. I am glad that the essence of this bill is about the management and clean-up of the river—and that is not a day too late. The recognition of the significance of the Waikato River is about to be written into legislation and I want to give an example of how the spirituality the recognition and the significance of what is in the river is being recognised around the world. 
Not so long ago along State Highway 1 there was an issue with a taniwha. A lot of people thought “Well let’s not be silly and let’s not recognise the issue for what it is.” But I am of the opinion and of the thought that it would have been better to build a platform and say to people: “This is who lives in this river—this is the significance of this river.” If members think that that is silly then why do Scots people at Loch Ness have such reverence for the Loch Ness monster? Why do they dine out on the fact that that is theirs? It is a part of tourism it is a part of the area’s significance and it is a part of recognising the people’s spirituality. So if they can do it then why the hell cannot we? I think it is all about growing up and recognising that for what it is. 
I turn to the issue of legislative recognition and of the recognition of a vision and a strategy. Some may think that it has never been done before but I am proud of the fact that it has been done before when my brother-in-law and I were part of a Government that recognised Te Aho Matua and put that into legislation so it is not a new step. But I congratulate this Government on taking a bold step in recognising a vision and a strategy that is really a philosophy. Sometimes lawyers and people from the Office of Treaty Settlements may not think we can do those sorts of things but we can. 
This morning we have come from the Te Arawa region in the legislation. We have traversed the boundaries inside Tuhoe and Tuwharetoa we have moved up north to Te Roroa we have come back to Wellington and now we are in the area of Tainui. Later on we will go back to where we started with the Whakarewarewa bill in Arawa. It has been a very very busy day. It will be a long day and I think it is wrong to have so many Treaty bills one after the other. I know that time has conspired against us and conspired against the Government but I think we should take the lesson that that should never be done again; it should never be done again where there are five bills one after the other. I do not think it gives the House time and I do not think it gives the people who come to listen time to take it all in and be part of the proud occasion. 
I can see that the Minister of Maori Affairs will certainly use the fact that five Treaty bills in one day is good for the Government. That is his prerogative and I congratulate the Government on the three that we have passed and the two that have completed their first readings. The National Party will support and has no problem supporting the passage of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatau Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill. 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 This settlement is a very exciting one for the Green Party as it provides a new mechanism for the real co-management of natural resources—in this case the Waikato River. Co-management if it is truly a partnership between iwi and others can demonstrate a major shift in trust between the Treaty partners. What we know is seriously lacking in the management of our natural resources is trust that Maori can and do manage natural resources exceptionally well. We know of hundreds of local examples of that in terms of both marine and terrestrial resources. But today we have a bill that lifts it to another level. 
Just recently as I have been travelling around this country to look at a lot of freshwater issues it has struck me time and again that the kaitiaki who have been looking after our freshwater resources have been local hapu. The Muaupoko people who have been fighting to protect Lake Horowhenua along with Ngati Raukawa have been struggling for decades to protect that beautiful lake. They have been the ones who time and again have stood up and fought to protect that lake against a whole series of other people who have not been there. We should have trust that hapu will protect those natural resources. 
Likewise just recently in the Hokianga when I was at Kokohuia Marae on the Hokianga harbour with Ngati Korokoro Te Pouka and Ngati Wharara we sat around and talked about the impacts that sewage was having on the beautiful Hokianga harbour. Those local hapu were doing their damnedest to protect that beautiful water resource and we should trust them to do their damnedest to protect our resources. That is why a co-management model is the way the Green Party thinks that we should go. It should be a co-management model whereby we stand alongside those people as they try to protect resources. 
This bill sets out a detailed structure with the primary aim of restoring the Waikato River to a healthy state. The structures are designed to be inclusive and to incorporate a range of other iwi councils at all levels the community and the Crown. That kind of iwi collaboration is a model that the Government should take particular note of. Exhibiting trust in iwi does not come naturally all the time to the Government as we know. 
But I also say there is a tremendous challenge for anyone whose goal is to clean up the Waikato River. The Waikato River is in a disgraceful state and that is the truth. The clarity of the water at the Huka Falls is such that one can see an object about 14 metres away. One can see an object 14 metres away through the water in Lake Taupo but by the time one gets to the last 50 kilometres of the Waikato River one can barely see an object one metre away. There the water is so full of sediment and algae and so heavily polluted that the visual clarity is very very low. 
I say to the people of Auckland that they have a particular interest in this bill. They may think that Waikato does not have much to do with Auckland but 10 percent of Auckland’s water comes out of the Waikato River. All the future expansion of the water supply for Auckland—drinking water for the people in Auckland—will come from the Waikato River. I have spent a number of hours with Watercare Services and discussed that very issue. Most of the water will come from the Waikato River. The people of Auckland will be dependent on this co-management model to protect their drinking water and they will be dependent on the iwi on those bodies to actually protect it. So I think that the people of Auckland should pay particular attention to this bill and thank the iwi that are standing up to protect this beautiful river. 
I also say that the challenges for the Waikato River are enormous. We have massive dairy conversions under way in its catchment right now. Hamilton is hopefully preparing to improve its sewerage services so that less nitrogen will end up in the Waikato River but all of that gain will be lost by conversions to dairying. Some of the giant dairy conversions will throw something like 750 tonnes of nitrogen a year into the Waikato River. So although we can say it is good that there are some improvements particularly around the discharge of sewage and hopefully there will be more to come we also know that the benefit of those improvements will be entirely wiped out by the dairy conversions that are under way in that catchment. If we do not put some controls around that process we will not achieve the objectives of this bill. The iwi objectives along with our objectives will not be achieved if we do not put a hold on the massive dairy conversions that are under way. 
We thank Lady Raiha Mahuta Tuku Morgan and everyone who took the time to talk with our spokesperson on Maori issues Metiria Turei who sends her apologies because she cannot be here today. We have a much better understanding of both the process that Tainui have gone through and the value of their success because of the time that was taken to talk to us. We know that this bill will not progress until after the general election but we very much look forward to hearing in more detail in future about the issues regarding the process. 
No doubt concerns about the settlement will be raised as well. The settlement process is one that does not truly honour the Treaty. It is one that takes from some people to give to others. It is one that picks winners and losers and expects everyone to be grateful. 
We acknowledge that the Crown and its representatives have breached and continue to breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We support the resolution of and payment of restitution for all outstanding historical and contemporary breaches. We continue to work for a process that truly achieves that. In the meantime we know that many many kuia and kaumatua have worked extremely hard to bring this settlement about and we respect their work. We give our best wishes to all of them. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Just before I call the next speaker I say to members “Tatou tatou—together together.” Courtesy is contagious and we will all prosper if we keep within the spirit of the Standing Orders. There is far too much noise inside the Chamber. Would those who are having conversations that are not necessary in here please show some courtesy to the member who is trying to address the House and go out to the lobbies. 
HONE HARAWIRA (Maori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker huri rauna tena tatou katoa e te Whare. Hei timatanga me mihi atu ki a koutou e Waikato-Tainui i haere tawhiti mai ki roto o Poneke ki te whakarongo ki te whakatakotoranga o tenei kaupapa ki mua i te aroaro o nga mema Paremata i tenei ra tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. A i tenei wa me mihi ano hoki ki a koe e te tuahine e Nanaia i te mea kua kite au i te hari i runga i to kanohi i tenei ra. Kua kite au i te wakatutukitanga o au nei mahi i roto i tenei Paremata. No reira mihi atu ki a koe i tenei ra whakahirahira e pa ana ki a koe i roto i a matou i tenei ra. Huri rauna ki a tatou katoa hakoa ko wai te iti me te rahi tena koutou huri rauna kia ora tatou katoa. 
[ 
Greetings to you Mr Assistant Speaker and to us all throughout the House. As a means of beginning I acknowledge you Waikato-Tainui who travelled from a distance to Wellington to listen to this matter being placed before the members of Parliament today. Greetings to you greetings to you and greetings to you all. I take this opportunity as well to extend a greeting to you fellow member of Parliament Nanaia because I see the happiness on your face today. I see the completion of your work also in this Parliament. Sso I acknowledge you on this great day relating to you and your work in particular amongst us. To all of us throughout whether of a minor or major party greetings to us all. 
] 
Greetings to you Mr Assistant Speaker for coming back to the House. This is the first reading of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill that reached our desk only a couple of hours ago so please excuse me if I do not say too much about the detail. Suffice to say though that the Maori Party recognises that this bill was born out of the denial of guardianship of the Waikato River to its people; anger at the desecration pollution and depletion of the awa; sadness at the use of the river as but a resource to be exploited; and despair at the pollution and depletion of the fisheries. We know there are those within Tainui who may still have doubts about co-ownership and co-management. We know they will look to the deed to see how their rangatiratanga has been recognised and included. We know this settlement will give impetus to others to also take up the challenge of negotiating their role on the river and we know too of the significant relationships that others have to the river and the concerns they will undoubtedly have about this settlement. 
But today is not just about recognising the tragedy of the past and the problems of the present. Today the Maori Party is proud to join with others in the House in acknowledging all of the peoples of Waikato-Tainui. We join in acknowledging te mana o te awa o Waikato—that special authority and prestige of the Waikato River which defines its people and itself through the saying: “Ko ahau ko te awa ko te awa ko ahau.” We join in acknowledging the timing of the signing of the deed of settlement on the second anniversary of the coronation of King Tuheitia; in acknowledging the many people who devoted all of their lives to enable us to reach this point today and in particular the legacy of Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta who with the unwavering support of Te Atairangikaahu led the negotiations for the first major Treaty settlement with the Crown. We join in acknowledging all those who have passed on; so too do we acknowledge those who have taken up the challenge to protect the mana of the river and to guide future generations of its people under the careful direction of Tukoroirangi Morgan and Lady Raiha Mahuta. Today we also celebrate the multi-tribal 21st birthday party for Waikato-Tainui who along with Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Te Roroa all took the initiative in 1987 to lodge claims with the Waitangi Tribunal and which have all appeared on today’s Order Paper thanks in great part to Dr Michael Cullen and all those other members of Parliament who have helped bring these bills to the House today. 
In considering this bill we acknowledge the Crown’s commitment to a 30-year—I hope I have this bit right—$200 million river clean-up programme. Is that correct? We acknowledge the guardians of the river who will be responsible for working with local authorities and iwi to oversee the vision and the strategy for cleaning up the river. We acknowledge the establishment of a board to ensure full participation by Waikato-Tainui in co-management of the river. We acknowledge the co-management arrangements dedicated to restoring and protecting the health and well-being of the awa; and managing the awa through good faith consensus decision-making and a bold partnership between Crown agencies and iwi. We congratulate Tuku and Lady Raiha on the diligent way in which Waikato-Tainui have approached the overall purpose of restoring and protecting the awa. In doing so might I just quote from the Indigenous Declaration on Water which was signed in Kyoto in 2003: “We recognize honor and respect water as sacred and sustains all life. Our traditional knowledge laws and ways of life teach us to be responsible in caring for this sacred gift that connects all life.” 
We congratulate Waikato-Tainui on the vision they have set for themselves as a people for themselves as their awa and for themselves as a community within the wider society. Hoi ano hei whakakapi i taku korero e Tuku e Raiha. I sincerely hope that the vision they have for a river that sustains life and prosperity through the caring and guidance of its whanau will set a benchmark for us all. I know I speak for all of my colleagues in the Maori Party when I say that we urge Waikato-Tainui to keep pushing forward so that other iwi might be guided by their actions and learn from whatever mistakes they have made and undoubtedly will continue to make in the future. We challenge them to bring the best that they have to this task so the whole country might learn from their bold initiatives. We wish them well in all that lies ahead of them. In closing we look forward to continuing this debate when the House returns in 2009. Hoi ano ka nui tera maku e te Kaiwhakawa huri rauna ki te Whare koutou e Waikato Tainui tatou katoa e nohonoho nei tena koutou tena koutou huri atu huri noa kia ora tatou katoa. 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Customs) 
: 
Ka matakitaki iho au ki te riu o Waikato 
Ano nei he kapok au ake maku 
Ki te kapu o taku ringa 
Ka whakamiri noa i tona aratau 
E tia nei he tupu kua hou 
Ke hiwa ake ki te tihi o Pirongia 
Ina he toronga whakaruruhau mona 
Ki toku tauawhiritanga 
Ana! Te ngoto o tona ngawha i ona uma kihai i arikarika 
A Maungatautari a Maungakawa 
Oku puke maunga nga taonga tuku iho. 
Hoki ake nei au ki toku awa koiora me ona pikonga 
He kura tangihia o te matamuri 
E whakawhiti atu ai i te kopu mania o Kirikiriroa 
Me ona mara kai te ngawha whakatupu ake o te whenua momona 
Hei kawe ki Ngaruawahia te huinga o te tangata 
Ata te pae haumako hei okiokinga mo taku upoko 
Hei tirohanga atu ma raro i nga huha o Taupiri 
Kei reira ra kei te orokohanganga o te tangata 
Wahia te tungaroa o te whare te whakaputanga mo te Kingi. 
I look down on the valley of Waikato 
As though to hold it in the hollow of my hand 
And caress its beauty 
Like some tender verdant thing 
I reach out from the top of Pirongia 
As though to cover and protect its substance with my own 
See how it bursts through the full bosoms of Maungatautari and Maungakawa 
Hills of my inheritance 
The river of life each curve more beautiful than the last  
Across the smooth belly of Kirikiriroa 
Its gardens bursting with the fullness of good things. 
Towards the meeting place at Ngaruawahia 
There on the fertile mound I would rest my head and look through the thighs of Taupiri 
There at the place of all creation 
Let the King come forth. 
I preface my remarks with a maioha from Tawhiao with his reflections on his absolute reverence for his territory: its lands mountains sacred places and indeed the Waikato River which was then full of abundance. On reflection I am certainly mindful that his reign followed a period of severe trauma with the confiscation of 1.2 million hectares of land. Yet the hope and vision to see the restoration of what was lost became a powerful symbol of unity and purpose for the Kingitanga movement that has endured to this day. 
It is a privilege to be speaking in this House on the first reading of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill. I pay homage to those who have gone before us who carried the struggle of the raupatu—the unjust and illegal confiscation of Waikato lands and resources—in search of redress. In particular I acknowledge the leadership of Te Atairangikaahu and Te Kotahi Mahuta who like Te Puea before them weathered the brunt of the vision to move the people beyond grievance and towards reconciliation. So too do I acknowledge the former members of the Tainui Maori Trust Board and Nga Marae Topu who lodged the initial Wai 30 claim in 1987. That leadership was put to the test in the public and more private aspects of their lives. Their decisiveness and determination certainly made this path an easier one to follow. There have been ups and downs but just as the proverb says a lot of water has gone under the bridge. Time has played its part. 
We are now moving forward on one of the four recognised outstanding claims linked to the earlier 1995 Waikato Raupatu Claims Settlement Act which I might add was assented to by Queen Elizabeth II in person. In that regard an explicit statement on the river is included in the deed of settlement where the Crown acknowledges that its invasion of the Waikato in 1863 was by land and by the Waikato River which was a double blow to Waikato-Tainui as by the raupatu the Crown assumed authority over both the land and the river. The effect of recognition of this fact is twofold. It reinforces a travesty of our colonial history and it legitimates the purpose and authority of the Kingitanga which has acted as a beacon for the aspirations of “te mana motuhake o te iwi Maori”. It is within this context that the approach taken by the previous and current negotiators can be understood. It gives insight to the significance of the Kiingitanga Accord contained in the bill. 
First there is recognition that the Waikato River is an indivisible entity. Its waters its banks its riverbed its fisheries vegetation and life source are component parts of the whole. That recognition of “mana o te awa” extends from Te Hukahuka near Taupo to Te Puaha o Waikato. That mana is reflected by a korowai that seeks to protect and restore the health and well-being of the river. The aphorism “Ko Waikato te awa ko Te Wherowhero te tangata he piko he taniwha he piko he taniwha” [ 
Waikato is the river Te Wherowhero is the man at every bend a chief 
] holds true to this day and it is expressed in the recognition that all iwi along the reaches of the river have an interest and role to play for the long term. I acknowledge Tuwharetoa Te Arawa the people at Pouakani Raukawa and Maniapoto who alongside the peoples of Waikato have supported this intent and in time hope to see its full fruition. The Guardians of the Waikato River and the vision and strategy deployed by them are key. I hope the Maori Affairs Committee will give some thought to ensuring that the legislative mechanisms are able to achieve consistency across other legislation impinging on the current and future management of the river. 
Second the bill provides for a co-management approach to rekindle the aspirations of Waikato to retain and continue a hands-on relationship in order to clean up the river and its tributaries and to contribute to decision making that impacts on the river. One would hope that the instruments used to strengthen co-management practices will in time see a greater willingness to use existing mechanisms such as sections 33 and 34 of the Resource Management Act. I am mindful that best practice and new technology should aid Waikato to improve the health and well-being of the river. However we should expect further regulatory mechanisms to accelerate that effort and I look forward to the future work of the statutory board. 
The settlement and its legislation will transform New Zealanders’ approach to achieving the goals of sustainability of our waterways alongside Maori. At a practical level back home where it really matters the benefits are intended to be for example greater protection and sustainable management of whitebait and fisheries interests in Te Puaha o Waikato; regeneration and preservation of eel resources in the Waikato catchment; bank stabilisation and flood protection of tributaries and along the Waikato; improved monitoring of water quality the setting of water allocation and ecological flows; support for science and matauranga Maori research to improve land-based practices especially in the agricultural sector; encouragement for marae to become involved in local projects to enhance the health and well-being of the river that will potentially create employment opportunities; and that our young people utilise this action as a learning model to broaden their experience and career choices. These are but some of the practical benefits. 
I expect that the select committee may be tasked with considering issues of mandate. It may also be asked to consider the recognition of interests in the upper catchment that are not captured in this bill or in those of other iwi. I am confident as the local MP of Tainui that the process undertaken to get to this point is robust. The detail of it can be explored at the select committee. As the local MP and the Minister of Local Government I am particularly pleased that both central government and local government are locked into this agreement alongside Waikato-Tainui. Everyone has a part to play. In no way do I underestimate the magnitude of this task. I expect ebbs flows and torrential currents along the way. Our major focus however must be an outcome beyond our generation and for everyone’s benefit. I know that Waikato-Tainui are not going anywhere and that is the extent of their commitment. 
I want to thank Dr Michael Cullen who has shown personal commitment to this and other Treaty settlements to ensure that Maori can walk confidently into the future. I thank both Ministers Horomia and Ririnui for their support and I also thank Maori members across the House for their support. I hope that the bill in both its first and third readings will pass unanimously. 
Finally I recognise the tenacity and conviction of the principal negotiators Raiha Mahuta and Tuku Morgan; and their negotiating team led by Denese Henare Shane Solomon and Donna Flavell; and the kaumatua who have walked with them to achieve this outcome. Like the raupatu settlement the real gains of this river settlement will be realised only in hindsight. A great deal has been achieved and there will be more to do! I am proud that a Labour-led Government is prepared to move into new territory through this settlement. 
Can I end with the words of the late Te Kotahi Mahuta. To put them in context in 1999 when Doug Graham gave a speech “Treaty Negotiations in New Zealand” he made the point that the Government did not accept that Maori had an interest in rivers and lakes akin to ownership. To that the late Te Kotahi Mahuta said: “We are not concerned about ownership of the River but rather its present and future health … Everyone seems to have abdicated responsibility for ensuring the health of the River and thus this is the main thrust of the claim. The sole and principal beneficiary of the claim must be the River. … Our principal objective is to clean up the river from the Huka falls down to Port Waikato so that its health might be restored to enable all people to enjoy the fishing recreational and other activities associated with the Waikato River.” 
No reira kati ra koi nei nga whakaaro mo toku awa koiora. Pai Marire. 
[ 
So enough; these then are thoughts relating to my river that lives. Goodness and peace. 
] 
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) 
: 
 I am conscious of the time but I want to emphasise on behalf of the National Party that we will be supporting the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill. The process of reconciliation with Tainui was started by National in the 1990s with Sir Douglas Graham and Sir Robert Mahuta and this led to the very first settlement—the Waikato Raupatu settlement—in May 1995. In that settlement certain claims were excluded and were to be dealt with later and this was one of them. The other two relate to the west coast harbours and to what may loosely be called the Auckland lands beyond the river to the north. 
It is appropriate to acknowledge the huge contribution made to New Zealand by Sir Robert Mahuta. I know from discussions I have had with Sir Douglas Graham how much Sir Douglas enjoyed working with Sir Robert in the 1990s. I also acknowledge the work of Lady Mahuta and Tuku Morgan. I think that Tainui’s consultation with my party has been excellent. They have kept us fully abreast of all developments and I thank them for that. 
It is almost completely unnecessary to emphasise the importance of the Waikato River to Tainui and to the Waikato. This importance is referred to in the deed of settlement and in the legislation and is comprehensively set out in the preamble. Over the years there has been increased pollution and degradation of the river and that has been a cause of great distress to the people of Tainui. That is why looking ahead so much emphasis is placed on co-management to ensure that the river can be restored. Now there is an opportunity for the guardians the local authorities and the Crown to take up the responsibility for ensuring that the river is healthy for future generations. That is good for Tainui good for the region and good for the community. 
The bill proposes the establishment of a statutory body called the Guardians of the Waikato River to restore and protect the health and well-being of the river for future generations and to implement a vision and a strategy to achieve a coordinated approach to the management of the river. The Guardians Establishment Committee was formed in March 2008 to develop the vision and strategy for the river. The committee conducted public consultations on the draft vision and strategy before amending it and recommending it to the Crown and to Waikato-Tainui. 
The bill once enacted will establish the statutory board. The principal functions of the board are to assist and support Waikato-Tainui in the exercise of their mana whakahaere over the river and to support and promote the special relationship of Tainui with the river in order to achieve the implementation of the vision and the strategy and to ensure compliance with it. The board will facilitate the effective co-management of the river through interaction with the Crown local authorities and other interested stakeholders. The board will also evaluate at least every 10 years relevant policies and plans relating to the river and activities in the catchment that affect the river. In the early development of the package all relevant local authorities in the region were consulted in the development of the board. 
This is very interesting legislation and my friend Mr Henare is correct when he calls it unique. This looks to be an innovative settlement and overall a very good one. There are however a few issues that the Maori Affairs Committee will need to look at closely. The first of these relates to the Kiingitanga Accord which is the collateral deed between the Crown and Waikato-Tainui dated 22 August 2008. This accord forms part of the overall settlement and its integration will likely see the introduction of a number of Supplementary Order Papers which means that the House as yet does not know the full details of what will be passed into law. When considering this settlement bill the select committee will also need to pay close attention to the interests of other iwi and hapu within the region to ensure that the interests of all parties are safeguarded. 
National congratulates all interested parties on their achievements to date. As I said we will support this bill. We look forward to hearing submissions and working with other parties at the select committee. 
Bill read a first time.  
Bill referred to the Maori Affairs Committee. 
Waiata