Nakhle RimaRIMA NAKHLE (National—Takanini): Thank you Madam Speaker. Ahiahi mārie. I rise in support of the Whakatōhea Claims Settlement Bill. We're at the second reading now. In fact it's the first settlement bill that the Māori Affairs Committee of the 54th Parliament inherited. It's the first settlement bill that I've been directly involved with. As part of the Treaty settlement process this bill gives effect to the deed of settlement signed between the Crown and members of Whakatōhea in May 2023.The iwi Whakatōhea is based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and I'd like to recognise a few MPs in the House today including my colleague Dana Kirkpatrick. With a population of about 17000—Madam Speaker the clock hasn't started.DEPUTY SPEAKER: It has now. Apologies for that.RIMA NAKHLE: That's OK.DEPUTY SPEAKER: You gained a couple of seconds there. Keep going.RIMA NAKHLE: With a population of about 17000 Whakatōhea's area of interest spans about 200000 hectares. Like every Treaty settlement I've studied so far—there's only been a few though—each one is noteworthy in its own right and includes aspects of deep significance.The Whakatōhea story I've learnt is like so many of our settlement stories one of profound loss unimaginable pain and uncomfortable truths but the history which forms the basis of the deeply seated grievances underpinning the Whakatōhea Claims Settlement Bill is considered by some as one of the saddest and most moving accounts of land confiscation and subsequent loss suffered by te ao Māori in New Zealand's history—one of invasion; senseless loss of life; false accusations in my opinion; and the infliction of horrible violence which set the scene for perpetual and ongoing generational trauma.This settlement deed and this bill will acknowledge the wrongs of the past recognise the sufferings inflicted by the Crown and provide financial cultural and commercial redress to the people of Whakatōhea for the benefit of those people who are most important to them their mokopuna.I acknowledge the support that this bill received in the submission process and I also respectfully acknowledge the opposition to this bill as well but we can't let perfection be the enemy of good.I acknowledge the members of Whakatōhea who are present in the House with us today and I thank you for the beautiful manaakitanga you bestowed upon myself and my fellow members of the Māori Affairs Committee when we were fortunate enough to be at your home Ōpōtiki and beyond earlier this year.If I may I would like to also acknowledge Jason Pou and Maui Hudson as well as Te Arawhiti representatives Glenn Webber and Jacob Pollock for your patience and transparency in answering the many questions that I and my colleagues on the committee had—questions and concerns as the Hon Marama Davidson pointed out throughout this process. Thank you.Lastly there's been a lot of sweat and tears in this long road towards settlement for Whakatōhea—decades in fact. I look forward to the third and final reading when hopefully the dark cloud of burden of sadnesssome of it can be lifted off your beautiful shoulders. I commend this bill to the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. This is a split call—five minutes. Thank you.