Horomia Parekura: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Horomia Parekura: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:674;Page:19991] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Labour—Ikaroa-Rawhiti) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker Robertson. Greetings. I rise to speak on the Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill. I would like to recognise the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations for delaying this bill but I am certainly encouraged that we have got here tonight and that he is showing a bit of fettle and is going to cut through to the end. I recall that in the 9 years Labour was in Government we set up 11 settlements that were very close—they just needed a nod and a pat and they would have been finished. The Minister has hardly done any of it. 
In relation to this bill we are getting to the end and certainly in a bipartisan nature we know how to stick to partnerships and not jump ship like some of the people around here. We certainly are encouraged by those people in the Whanganui area. It really is important to recognise those people the Southern Whanganui Cluster and Tupoho and also the effort that Ngati Apa put in. The Minister has gone; I will talk although he is gone. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: It is not in keeping to mention that someone has left the House. We all have to at some stage or other. I refer the member to Speaker’s ruling 24/8. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Thank you very much for correcting me Mr Assistant Speaker. The Labour Party is supporting this legislation. It resulted from work begun by the previous Labour Government. I will stretch it out a bit because a fair bit of this settlement is on behalf and it is pre the agreement between the parties. It is quite a new situation. If this Minister got his act into gear he could do a whole lot more. 
The bill gives effect to the deed of an on-account settlement that was signed by the Southern Whanganui Cluster / Tupoho working party on behalf of Whanganui iwi. There were tensions and I say again that Ngati Apa needs to be recognised for the efforts they put in to allow and to help this to come to a decent end. These are allocations in advance and there is some peculiarity about allocating the forest because this forest standing alone is held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. That is surprising. One finds these things out and they are dug out as the settlement goes along. Certainly the handing over of the ownership of that to the iwi is a wonderful advance. This half-ownership of the land under the Kaitoke Prison is given to the cluster here and the other half is with Ngati Apa. I suppose again that Ngati Apa’s efforts in relation to helping this bill get to where it is today is something that has been recognised. 
One of the bigger issues in relation to this settlement—and it has some dynamic relevance to some of the behaviour of people who want to become members of this House—is in relation to putting the “h” in “Whanganui” and the unnecessary debates that went on through some factions that really thought to create tensions between the peoples Maori and non-Maori by saying that this was a bastardisation of the language. It was terrible. One person on the radio—one person who went and rolled somebody to become the leader of a party even though he was not a member—seems to be revisiting the nasty notions of scratching that racist itch. It is a wonderful thing it is a wonderful achievement that the Crown and these people have come to agreement in relation to putting the “h” into the spelling of “Whanganui” and that the majority of people accept it. It may incite some redneckness here and there which is something that we can really do without. 
This is a very historic settlement. Apart from the land being settled with those iwi this language bit in here and the recognition of one culture in this country is a real advance for us. Supporting the “h” in “Whanganui” is a real advance for this country. I was surprised when looking at a map of Whanganui today which had all these great names. Some of the areas in Whanganui are Springvale Wembley Park Castlecliff Durie Hill Windsor Park and Polson Park. This ain’t London; this is Whanganui. The great thing is that somebody saw fit in 1860 or 1870 to transfer these great names from where the kings’ and queens’ horses run around in a park. I have actually been to Windsor Park. 
Grant Robertson 
: Have you? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Yes I have been there. I have been to Wembley Park too. I have been to Tolaga Park too. But the point is this: Maori have had to put up with the renaming of a lot of their traditional areas and they have accepted it. They have taken the kids down and picnicked at Wembley Park at Castlecliff at Windsor Park and at Springvale—all of these great British-named places. I see the great Dr Hutchison over there smiling because he knows this is the truth. All I want is credence given to the Whanganui Maori and recognition that through long and at times hardy tribulations they have seen fit to respect the visitors to this country and recognise their names on a whole lot of areas there. 
So historically today we will support putting the “h” into Whanganui and we would recognise that one does not play soccer at Wembley Park and one does not have kings’ and queens’ horses riding around Windsor Park. And what was that other place? 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: Pakaitore. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Pakaitore—that is right. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: That’s a nice English name. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: No it is a great Maori name Pakaitore. Pakaitore—that is right: Pakaitore Windsor Park. Pakaitore sounds better—Pakaitore—because it is of the people it is of the land and it is of their language. That is the issue relevant to putting the “h” into Whanganui. Do not listen to any of this claptrap about saying it is a waste of time and that it should not be done. I want to really recognise this bill and I want to really recognise this legislation because it is taking us well forward—well forward. 
You see the Minister was so belittling of my colleague Grant Robertson as to chastise him for trying to create the differentiation between—what is that bill? 
Grant Robertson 
: Royal Society. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill—that is right. These names smack of our English partners; it smacks of royalty. They are great British names and they are better suited around the city of London or up the top end of the city where Windsor Park is but we can live with that along with Whanganui. I commend this bill to the House and I look forward to Whanganui being painted alongside Windsor Park Wembley Park Springvale and Castlecliff—and the name Pakaitore may stand for ever.