Willis Nicola; McKelvie IanNICOLA WILLIS (National): Tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa. I am humbled today to have this opportunity to tautoko what is a very important bill for New Zealand. I'm humbled and I feel very strongly the Hon Chris Finlayson watching over my shoulder. He is a man who within the National Party caucus we hold in great esteem. I know that what we do today is something that was important to him and that he is watching closely. I hope that in my speech I am able to do justice to him and his work.I want to acknowledge the other kaumātua who have made this possible—in particular Te Ururoa Flavell Kelvin Davis all of those leaders from Taranaki iwi who are among us and all of those who have worked together to make this possible.We are here today not only to acknowledge injustice but also to take inspiration from Parihaka to acknowledge that Parihaka is not just about the past but also about a vision for what our future can be: that legacy of non-violence that commitment to self-determination and the potential for an ongoing harmonious relationship between Pākehā and Māori—the opportunity for a fresh start.I spoke recently on a settlement bill of Ngāti Hinerangi. When I spoke on that bill I received an email from somebody who said they were disgusted that I would speak of confiscation that I would speak of injustice and that I would speak of people being treated wrongly. I reflected on this and I thought to myself: what is it that makes people so ashamed to acknowledge that these things have happened in our history and they are real? We are here today because shameful events have happened in New Zealand's history. We are here because of the Crown's failure to uphold the rule of law. It is that that we are all in this House to honour: the rule of law.It is hard to imagine today the Crown responding to protests by legislating away people's right to a fair trial by legalising continuing detention of those who have sought to protest. It is hard to imagine today the Crown retrospectively legislating to make acceptable the destruction of private property of homes and of possessions. But that is what happened at Parihaka. So to those who are listening to me speak saying Why are you talking about a shameful history and a shameful past?" that is why—because here in this House we must honour the rule of law. When we look to a history where the rule of law has not been upheld we must feel that shame and we must act and we must respond to it and that is what this bill does. This bill acknowledges that at Parihaka there was not one law for all; the law was not upheld.I am mindful of the Hon Christopher Finlayson's words who said "There can be no reconciliation where one party remembers while the other forgets." So while it is painful to remember we must in order to move forward—and I am as impatient as anyone—to have a more positive relationship into the future. But I acknowledge as those of you here today acknowledge that we will not do that with integrity and with trust unless we acknowledge what has come before. I am mindful in particular of the young people of the children of those who were wronged at Parihaka and the hope and promise that they have but the need for them to be able to acknowledge the history that has come before them.So we are here to apologise to agree to a deed of reconciliation to make a legally binding commitment of the Crown's commitment to Parihaka to create a lasting legacy for those who were wronged.It wasn't just about the wrongs of the 1800s; it is also about the lasting stain that that has had because the Crown denied Parihaka the right to develop and sustain on its own terms. We here in the National Party in particular have a real belief in the rights of individuals and communities to sustain themselves and to make their own choices and to develop their own resources. So I feel particularly keenly the lasting impact that the events at Parihaka will have had. We have failed for too long to address those wrongs and to address the resulting grievances—the intergenerational legacy that those wrongs have left; the legacy of shame.I've talked about shame and I have talked about the broken rule of law but I also want to talk about positive vision because we must today honour—and other speakers have done so so eloquently—those prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi because theirs is actually a positive vision of the power of peaceful protest the power of self-determination and the ability to cooperate for peace. We should remember them in that positive vision.We should remember that powerful image of people being met by soldiers who were wanting to destroy their homes and take away their leaders and people meeting those soldiers with songs of peace and gifts of food. That image is a powerful one and it is one that we should all think of when we think of the possibility of peace and reconciliation across our communities.I want to pay tribute to the dignity the discipline and the courage of those at Parihaka. I want to take from that aspiration for the future that this relationship agreement will be one that is positive.I said at the beginning of this speech that I was humbled to be able to give it. It is important to me that I acknowledge Dame Tariana Turia the Rt Hon Jim Bolger the Hon Mahara Okeroa and all those who have been more deeply invested and involved in making this settlement today possible. I acknowledge their work.Coming together in this way is not easy; there have been compromises—I am sure—for all involved but a great result is what we have today. What we have today is an opportunity for the people of Parihaka and the Crown to bring this law to life to do the work to do the talk to continually renew the vision and to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of spirit the humanity of the people of Parihaka to create for young children and for future generations a better relationship at this place and an acknowledgement of it. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa.TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): So I understand this will be a split call. Both calls will be taken by Labour speakers."