Willis NicolaNICOLA WILLIS (National): Tēnā koe. Kia ora e Te Whare. I rise to speak on the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Vesting Bill and wish first to congratulate the members of the select committee that have deliberated on this bill. I've only attended the Māori Affairs Committee on one or two occasions and my last attendance there was very memorable because I had my six-year-old son with me. He was welcomed and greeted with great warmth to that committee. I'm sure that his presence was a little unusual but we were not made to feel unusual at all. And there was also great kai on offer. So my impressions of the Māori Affairs Committee are very positive and I'm sure that good work gets done there.Turning to this bill I just want to start by acknowledging what other speakers have said which is to say what a success Te Puia is and how proud we can be as a country to have an institution like that that celebrates our cultural heritage in such a wonderful way and indeed brings that cultural heritage to the world. More than half a million tourists visit Te Puia every year and they do so because like many of us they are fascinated to learn more about Māori culture Māori arts and the wonderful treasures of weaving and carving and canoe making. And I do want to acknowledge that Te Puia does this without Crown funding. This is an institute that exists independently and it is a very successful business. It is a vibrant business. It's been growing and it's currently investing $22 million in new developments for the future. That is a wonderful success story and one that I think all New Zealanders should feel happy in celebrating.I also just in this contribution want to acknowledge a couple of the great people who've contributed to this bill being here today and I think we do have to remember our history here which is a little uncomfortable. In 1907 this Parliament passed a bill the Tohunga Suppression Act with the goal of actually hiding Māori art and culture and suppressing it. That was explicitly the intent of this Parliament and so it was a great man Sir Apirana Ngata who following that legislation following that movement within our country said No no no. I have a vision that we should be preserving this culture. We should be celebrating it." Sir Apirana Ngata of course had a big role with the Māori Arts and Crafts Act 1926 and in his steps many have followed in the work that has gone on to preserve Māori culture. And I want to acknowledge that today and acknowledge his vision those many years ago and the vision of others in continuing it.I want to acknowledge the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell. I had the opportunity to work with him a little in this Parliament when I was a staff member and I think we all in this House know that he's a very good man. Of course it was he in 2017 who in fact signed the transfer of ownership from Crown to iwi and I want to acknowledge his work—and of course the work of the MP for Waiariki today; let me acknowledge you Tamati Coffey.So in closing I again acknowledge the Māori Affairs Committee. I celebrate Te Puia and acknowledge that things like this happen because good people have a vision and they carry it through. I wish Te Puia every success for the future. Kia ora."