Finlayson Christopher: Rongowhakaata Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Finlayson Christopher: Rongowhakaata Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 18 July 2012. Volume:681;Page:3727. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 I want to make just a brief contribution picking up what Mr Horomia has said. I totally agree with him about the importance of dealing with the cultural redress in relation to Te Hau ki Turanga well. Nothing has actually given me a greater sense of satisfaction than to see the resolution of the issue relating to Te Hau ki Turanga. Clause 23 of the Rongowhakaata Claims Settlement Bill says that on settlement date the meeting house is going to vest in the trustees. 
Those who think Treaty settlements are only about commercial redress should learn something of the history of Te Hau ki Turanga one of the oldest surviving carved meeting houses. Basically it was stolen and then put in one of the predecessors of what is now Te Papa. I actually did not think we would get to a stage where we could resolve that matter satisfactorily but thanks to a combined effort from my officials the negotiators for Rongowhakaata and the staff and the board of Te Papa we have got to a very very happy position. 
But I certainly recognise what is said in the commentary on the bill which is that the meeting house is currently housed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and it eventually is going to be returned to Turanga but they do not wish the return to create a financial burden for future generations. That is absolutely fair. So I repeat publicly what I have said to Rongowhakaata in meetings: I want to get on with it and resolve this matter and I want to work with them as Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage so that we can resolve the issue within the next couple of years. I give them my undertaking that should they approach me on it I want to get on with it. It will have vested in the trustees. It belongs in Turanga. It should go back as soon as possible to a home that is worthy of this great whare. I will ask Mr Horomia whether he can work with me on that particular issue because it would be great to have it done in the next couple of years. 
There are other aspects of the claim that I could talk about but I will reserve my comments for the third reading. I strongly exhort members of the public members of the media and members of this House to have a good look at the historical account. Mr Horomia is right. The tribunal was right. It was not very good history at all. 
Can I acknowledge once again the wonderful work of the Maori Affairs Committee and its wonderful chair Mr Henare. This committee has made a very substantial contribution to expediting the passage of this settlement through the House. 
Although I will mention certain individuals for Rongowhakaata in the third reading speech I particularly want to mention now Stan Pardoe; Jody Wyllie who has been so concerned about Te Hau ki Turanga; Kristen Maynard; Tu Wyllie; Willie Te Aho who did great work; and—and I know he is in the gallery; he is a friend to everyone in this Chamber—Lewis Moeau who is now leading Rongowhakaata. He is a great rangatira around here and we appreciate what he does for his country. 
I acknowledge all of those who have been involved in this settlement. I am really pleased we have reached this stage. For me the symbol of a lasting and a durable—a just—settlement is the unfinished business on Te Hau ki Turanga so let us get on with it.