Turia Tariana: Ngai Tamanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Turia Tariana: Ngai Tamanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 26 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:4048. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Minister for Whanau Ora) 
 on behalf of the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: I move  
That the Ngai Tamanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time 
. E rau rangatira ma tenei te mi’i ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ra. Tena koutou nga rangatira o Ngai Tamanuhiri katahi ano te Whare Paremata nei kia w’akanui i te pire nei. He honore moku kia tu hei kaikorero mo tenei te panuitanga mutunga o te pire. Tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
[ 
I greet you leaders of a hundredfold in respect of the matter of the day. Salutations to you the leaders of Ngai Tamanuhiri. This Parliament House has at last celebrated this bill which I deem it an honour to speak to in this its final reading. Acknowledgments salutations and congratulations to you all 
.] 
The Ngai Tamanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill will settle finally the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngai Tamanuhiri. The third reading of this bill brings to an end a day of great sadness and loss as the enduring memories of descendants have resonated throughout this Chamber. We have wept with them as we have traversed over the history we share. The loss extends beyond the tribal boundaries to also reflect on the health of our nationhood. The settlement stories have impacted on the rule of law the definition of just and good settlement and the protection of Maori mana motuhake. In all these principles and the failures of the Crown to live up to that ideal it goes to the surface of our capacity to live up to the promise of the Treaty. These settlement bills therefore become a benchmark for all New Zealanders to assess the progress that we have achieved since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. 
Ngai Tamanuhiri’s settlement part stretches back 20 years. Today those in the public gallery and all of us below reflect on those who are not with us those who have worked tirelessly on Ngai Tamanuhiri’s claims and who are not here to witness this day. The rohe that forms the home of Ngai Tamanuhiri extends from Kopututea down the coastline over Wharerata Forest to Paritu and from Paritu the area extends inland towards Lake Waikaremoana. It is a beautiful part of the world an exquisite tribal sanctuary. 
Up until 1865 Ngai Tamanuhiri had full control of their lands and resources. The people were participating successfully in the New Zealand economy and indeed the sun shone brightly for the people of this eastern coast. When war broke out in other regions Ngai Tamanuhiri remained neutral including when fighting came close to home in 1865. Into this peaceful haven then the Crown’s attack on Waerenga a Hika is inexplicable. There was no need to use military force in Turanga. The military forces took part in indiscriminate looting. Those attacks contributed to acute food shortages which in themselves caused loss of life. On top of that the detention of some Ngai Tamanuhiri on Wharekauri inflicted unwarranted hardship on them and their w’anau. It was wrongful it was unwarranted it was unjust it was a breach of natural justice and it was a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Well over a century later in 1992 Eric John Tupai Ruru Tutekawa Wyllie and Peter Gordon lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki Ngai Tamanuhiri and Rongowhakaata referred to as Wai 283. 
The Minister in an earlier speech referred to settlements as going to the very heart of our nation and it is in the process of telling our stories documenting our truths and outlining our experience that we come anywhere close to the prospect of reconciliation. The Crown’s relation with Ngai Tamanuhiri has involved some of the darkest episodes in the country’s history and that sense of grief and loss suffered by and the impact on this iwi remains with us all but more particularly so of course for the iwi who are represented here today. It is a tragic tale of mass executions of land loss and of the extinguishment of customary interests leading to the erosion of Ngai Tamanuhiri’s traditional tribal structures. As a direct consequence Ngai Tamanuhiri have lived with poorer housing lower educational achievements and worse health than any other New Zealanders yet despite this painful history they have made a significant contribution to the wealth and development of the nation and have at all times graciously honoured their Treaty obligations and responsibilities. 
In particular the settlement pays tribute to Ngai Tamanuhiri’s contribution to the defence of the nation. Knowing even as little as we do of the injustices that this iwi have suffered at the hands of the Crown we cannot help but be overwhelmed by the spirit of generosity that they have shown the nation in having faith in working with the Crown on this settlement. 
I want to be very clear for the record that in this settlement today the Crown is deeply sorry that it has failed until now to address the injustices in an appropriate manner. The Crown sincerely apologises for its many failures to respect Ngai Tamanuhiri mana and to protect them from being left virtually landless and economically marginalised. We all hope that this settlement will provide a foundation for this tribe and the Crown to move forward in a spirit of cooperation mutual benefit and trust. 
I move therefore to some of the detail in the deed of settlement signed in March 2011 by the Hon Chris Finlayson with Na Rongowhakaata Raihania and Hope Nga Taare Tupara as trustees of the Tamanuhiri Tutu Poroporo Trust. The settlement facilitates the transfer of Young Nick’s Head National Historic Reserve and endorses the name change to Te Kuri a Paoa. It will enable Ngai Tamanuhiri to purchase Te Wherowhero Lagoon. They will be a 50 percent shareholder in the Wharerata Forest. There is funding for cultural revitalisation and there is a clear commitment to relationship redress with Crown agencies. 
It was pleasing to see a letter from Mayor Meng Foon stating that the council is keen to help advance and support the mana motuhake of Ngai Tamanuhiri recognising that the flow-on benefits will also extend to all of Te Tai Rawhiti. I want to extend those flow-on benefits wider across the land because we all benefit from these settlements both Maori and Pakeha alike. 
The Crown apology in the legislation states that “The Crown seeks to restore its honour and reputation as a Treaty partner and atone for its past failures to uphold” Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As part of the journey moving forward Ngai Tamanuhiri are working with other Turanga iwi to establish a memorial to commemorate members of those iwi who lost their lives at the hands of the Crown. It will provide a sombre reminder to all of Aotearoa of the history that has shaped our sense of selves. 
I want to conclude this today with a w’akatauki that the Waitangi Tribunal used in its report  
Turanga Tangata Turanga Whenua 
: 
“W’akamoea nga maunga kia w’anau ko te pai.”—only good can result when great mountains are joined. How can we as a country come together and bring our shared aspirations for Treaty justice? How do tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti work in the spirit of collaboration to build a strong basis for nationhood? The constitutional review that has taken place is but one opportunity. It is a very important concept for all of us to ponder. Tena tatou katoa.