Whaitiri Meka: Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWhaitiri Meka: Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 02 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9333. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Labour will support this bill to select committee. Can I just make the point that as the current elected member for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti—where this bill sits—it is an opportune time I guess for us to ensure across the House that we understand the bill so we can get cross-party support for what you are clearly attempting to do here Mr Scott. I would have welcomed the opportunity but like I said it will go to the Māori Affairs Committee and we will hear from those most affected. I stand in support of this particular bill and like I said I look forward to it coming to the select committee.If I look at the main provisions of the bill—the member outlined a few of the provisions and there are a couple that I want to just go on record about in anticipation of it coming to select committee. He has read out the one around application of trust moneys and the proposed changes as outlined are to provide scholarships for post-primary education of children who whakapapa in relation to the tangata whenua Wairarapa. It also provides for provision of books and clothing and other equipment for holders of scholarships. It also makes grants through governing bodies of any schools at which any such scholarships are tenable. Section 12(3)(d) replaced by clause 9 talks about “the establishment furnishing maintenance and management of a school or schools in the Wairarapa district for children including provision for residential accommodation.”We have had many Māori boarding schools in our recent history that have closed sadly for lack of involvement both from the Churches and the Government. One thing I am hoping is that this is not being set up to also add to the declining number of Māori boarding schools. So I just want to go on record to say that this bill with that particular clause gives me some concern but we will definitely address it through the select committee. The member mentioned the members of the board. He talked about reducing it from 10 to eight. Like any proposed changes in Māori land legislation for me it is important that we define what the problem is—a problem definition—and that we ensure that we have consulted everybody and again no doubt that will come out at the select committee to ensure that when we are proposing changes those most affected are being consulted and then involved in the new provisions.I go over to the provisions in the bill that talk about alienation of land. Can I just make the point that this side of the House when it comes to protecting Māori whenua will scrutinise this bill to the utmost to ensure that there is no Māori land loss through these proposed changes. I want to just put the questions around the bill when it talks about “the Board may sell the Clareville land”. I understand there are three packages of whenua. We are going to protect the Papawai and Kaikōkirikiri whenua but the proposal is—this is according to the bill—“The Board may sell the Clareville land … by public auction or by private contract and on the terms and conditions that the Board thinks fit …”. So I am getting a sense that we are protecting the Māori corpus land but the general land in terms of the Clareville land might be subjected to potentially more changes. I guess the cautionary note there is that we ask the question why that particular parcel of land is being treated differently to the Papawai and Kaikōkirikiri whenua.So those are some points in terms of the bill that has been presented in the House today. Also when we talk about investment of trust funds again we talk about decisions over the leasing arrangements of the Kaikōkirikiri whenua the Papawai whenua and the Clareville whenua. I suppose I just want to ensure that the trust that we are establishing under this bill understands the importance of making critical land decisions that do not alienate the original intent of the land being put aside for educational purposes and that we do not see it either put up for sale or traded for any other purpose. Like I said we stand in support of this bill going to select committee. If members of the board are in the gallery I welcome them too.Also to end I say that I look forward to further scrutiny of this particular bill when it comes to the Māori Affairs Committee to ensure that we are both protecting Māori whenua and ensuring that there is no risk of alienation around that land. Also I believe we are ensuring that the educational needs of our young people from Wairarapa are also supported under this bill because we have many examples both in our present and very recent history where that has not been the case and many good schools have closed. I do not want to prolong my speech any longer but just say that Labour will support the bill. We look forward to it coming to the Māori Affairs Committee and look forward to all those who will be impacted—both the original gifters of this whenua as well as the current board and as proposed the young Māori from the Wairarapa area—having their say on this bill and ensuring that it does meet the objectives for which this member is bringing this bill to the House. That is why I say we will support the bill to select committee. Nō reira tēnā koutou katoa.