Duynhoven Harry: Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading 
Duynhoven Harry: Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:632;Page:4500] 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) 
: 
 Kia ora Madam Speaker and thank you for the opportunity to speak on what is a very important day for the Ngati Mutunga iwi and all the people of Taranaki both tangata whenua and tauiwi. Those of us who live in the New Plymouth area know of the tremendous work done by the Ngati Mutunga Iwi Authority to negotiate a settlement offer for the comprehensive settlement of all the historical claims of Ngati Mutunga in Taranaki. In 1996 I was impressed to be one of the people present at the discussions regarding the overarching settlement proposals and how all the 21 claims in Taranaki might be addressed. Ngati Mutunga are to be congratulated on the way they have proceeded in an area where there is a lack of land available to try to arrive at a settlement with the Crown. 
I welcome to the Chamber this afternoon a significant number of people from Ngati Mutunga who have come here on this momentous occasion. I particularly welcome the elders. I also congratulate Jamie Tuuta and his cousin Dion Tuuta the two legal experts who have worked through all of the issues and encouraged the development of a process in which the Taranaki Regional Council and the New Plymouth District Council were able to assist. Madam Speaker you will know very well the great difficulties that you in your former role presided over in trying to arrive at a settlement that took into account the needs of those who were leaseholders—particularly of some of the very desirable baches in places like Urenui and Onaero—yet also provided adequate redress for Ngati Mutunga. I also acknowledge what my colleague the Hon Mita Ririnui said when he noted that it is not possible to compensate Ngati Mutunga fully for all the loss they have had—in particular the total loss of their lands—because there simply is not the land available to do that adequately. 
Ngati Mutunga have also forgone full compensation because they see that that sacrifice contributes to the development of New Zealand. Their offer to negotiate ahead to a position where everyone can agree and to administer the land in such a way that existing arrangements continue as much as possible is I think a considerable gesture of goodwill. I think it will result in a settlement that is seen overwhelmingly to be in the overall interests of the Taranaki region and of New Zealand as a whole. The iwi took their decision in relation to the settlement for themselves alone and they do not pretend that that should be the position other tribes should seek. But I think they have entered into this negotiation in a remarkably generous spirit. The House should acknowledge the efforts of Ngati Mutunga to arrive at a position that everybody can feel comfortable accepting. 
I am pleased to hear of the National Party’s support for the bill to proceed to the Maori Affairs Committee. I am sure that members of the House not only will offer this bill every goodwill in its passing but will do so in a way that is as expedient as possible. In that interest I will stop my comments there and thank the House for its attention to this matter which is of longstanding grievance to Ngati Mutunga and to Taranaki generally.