Little Andrew; Rurawhe AdrianThird ReadingHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I move that the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement—SPEAKER: No. I think you're going to present a legislative statement first. Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Oh you're absolutely correct Mr Speaker. I stand corrected. I present a legislative statement on the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill. SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and it can be found on the parliamentary website. Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I move That the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time. E te whare e tū ake nei e te marae e takoto mai nei tēnā koutou. E ngā mate o te wā haere atu rā. Ki a tātou te hunga ora e hui nei tēnā koutou. Ki a koutou hoki Ngāti Hinerangi nau mai haere mai whakatau mai. Nā koutou tēnei wā Ngāti Hinerangi nā reira rau rangatira mā tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.[To the House standing here and the courtyard below I acknowledge you both. To the deceased of this time farewell. To the living gathered here greetings. Greetings and welcome Ngāti Hinerangi. This is your time Ngāti Hinerangi greetings to the many chiefs.]This is a significant day for Ngāti Hinerangi and indeed for the Crown and I'm honoured to move that the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill be enacted into law and for Ngāti Hinerangi to finally receive the benefits of a settlement which are long overdue. We're joined in the House by Ngāti Hinerangi and they've come down in their numbers from Waikato. I extend a welcome to you all and I thank you for making the journey to witness this the final reading of your legislation for your settlement. That you are here in such force is a testament to the near-unanimous support that this settlement has received amongst your iwi and today we can all be very proud of what has been achieved through this bill and celebrate the new beginning that it promises both for Ngāti Hinerangi and for the Crown. In May 2019 I was welcomed on to Te Ōhākī Marae in the heart of the rohe of Ngāti Hinerangi to sign the Ngāti Hinerangi deed of settlement. Some four months on from the signing ceremony I was very pleased to speak on behalf of Ngāti Hinerangi in support of the first reading of the bill which like many others has been many years in the making. It has been over six years since the agreement in principle was signed and despite the time it has taken I've never had any doubt that we would get to this point. It has been a long journey and a sometimes difficult journey but here we are today. I'd like to reflect on some of the interactions with the Crown following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by representatives of Ngāti Hinerangi in Tauranga in 1840 which form the background and basis of this settlement. In the early 1860s Ngāti Hinerangi became adherents of the Kīngitanga movement. Ngāti Hinerangi joined forces to fight against the Crown in both the Taranaki and Waikato Wars. Ngāti Hinerangi were also among the forces which fought against the Crown in Tauranga at Gate Pā. The Crown acts of purchasing land such as the Te Puna - Katikati block an area in which Ngāti Hinerangi had interests were not investigated properly and Ngāti Hinerangi received no benefits from the sale and were not able to retain parts of the land. Further and sustained acts by the Crown continued to alienate Ngāti Hinerangi land both within the Tauranga Moana and Waikato areas of Ngāti Hinerangi's tribal rohe including significant land loss within Matamata itself. This land loss was the major factor that resulted in the cultural and economic marginalisation of Ngāti Hinerangi. As a result of the Crown's acts and omissions Ngāti Hinerangi because virtually landless lost their economy and connection with their environment and suffered from severe social and economic deprivation. Through this settlement the Crown seeks to atone for the past injustices that it has inflicted upon Ngāti Hinerangi and to provide opportunities for Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown to move forward. The Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill seeks to give effect to the Ngāti Hinerangi settlement package as outlined in the legislative statement. The redress provided in this settlement went through significant changes through negotiations and in response to overlapping claims and I believe it will go a long way towards Ngāti Hinerangi re-establishing their connection with various parts of their rohe strengthening the identity of Ngāti Hinerangi as tangata whenua and providing the foundation for a stronger social cultural and economic future for the iwi. I want to make special mention of Ngāti Hinerangi's overlapping interests process. Ngāti Hinerangi engaged in a process which upheld their mana and demonstrated great leadership and pragmatism particularly with Tauranga Moana iwi. This approach will provide for a long-lasting enduring relationship with Tauranga Moana iwi in the post-settlement environment. I'd like to acknowledge all of the people who have helped realise this settlement between Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown. To those of you who have worked so hard to make today possible I offer you my most sincere thanks. The late Matuakore Koperu MacMillan or Mac" started the journey for Ngāti Hinerangi to once again be recognised as an independent iwi. The late Annie Uruwharangi Marsh along with other Ngāti Hinerangi kaumātua and kuia also over time fought for the recognition of Ngāti Hinerangi ensuring and strengthening the history of Ngāti Hinerangi. Ngāti Hinerangi was near extinction and now they are as their post-settlement governance name depicts Te Puāwaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust meaning the blossoming of Ngāti Hinerangi. We thank them for their efforts and keep them in our thoughts today—moe mai rā. I also wish to acknowledge the Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust negotiators and others who have contributed to this team for their commitment to their people. The negotiations have been long and complex and I acknowledge the hard work commitment and perseverance of all involved to achieve an enduring settlement for Ngāti Hinerangi. I want to also thank the Crown officials for their hard work in supporting and progressing this settlement. I'd like to acknowledge chief Crown negotiator James Willis for leading the Crown team and my officials at Te Arawhiti and all agencies who worked on this settlement. This is a day on which you and they can all be very proud. Lastly I thank you Ngāti Hinerangi who have come today to see this bill enacted. I'd also like to acknowledge those who are not able to join us today. Your courage to confront the past and your endless generosity to allow the Crown a second chance is uplifting and inspiring. Your faith in the Crown and our new partnership is justified and will be reciprocated. Thank you. When the Ngāti Hinerangi deed of settlement was signed in May 2019 at Te Ōhākī Marae the Ngāti Hinerangi chair Phil Smith likened it to a new Treaty between Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown and in many ways that is true. This settlement signifies a new phase of partnership between the Crown and Ngāti Hinerangi. Today we are reaffirming our relationship with hope and a vision for the future generations of Ngāti Hinerangi. The Crown is making commitments in this bill that it will honour and which signify a new phase in our Māori-Crown partnership. I commend the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill to the House. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ko te pātai kia whakaaetia te motu nei. [The question is that the motion be agreed to.]"