Henare Tau: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — First Reading 
Henare Tau: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:650;Page:19242] 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
: 
 I start by saying that the briefing paper I received on the Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill is pretty straightforward and there do not appear to be any fish-hooks. But when I look closely at the background to the bill there are some questions that my colleagues and I and those on the Maori Affairs Committee might like to ask when the new committee is established after the election. The briefing paper states that the Whakarewarewa Valley land and the Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve were acquired by the Crown from Ngati Whakaue Tuhourangi and Ngati Wahiao in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That begs the question of what was paid for and how the land was acquired. Was it paid for was it stolen did the people at home say: “Please ‘Mr Crown’ can you look after it for us because we’re not in a position to look after it.”? Those are the sorts of questions that I would like answered. 
In reading through the briefing paper it seems that although there is the transfer of the fee simple title in these reserves they will remain as reserves for a long long time into the future. They will always be reserves even though the landlord may have changed hands. But in effect I think the bill is a bit of a Clayton’s deal. The fee simple title has been given back but one cannot really do anything with it. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Yes you can. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: That is good; the Minister says one can do something with it. That is fine if that is the effect. But it looks as though from the briefing paper that I have been given from the Minister of Maori Affairs’ office— 
Pita Paraone 
: What? 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Yes a briefing paper from the Minister of Maori Affairs’ office—I do not know how I got it but I got it. It must be one of those things that slipped off the back of the trolley. 
Simon Power 
: Got it from Trevor’s office. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Yes I got it from Trevor Mallard’s office. But all kidding aside the briefing paper says that the land will continue to be reserves under the Reserves Act. If that is true then I would be of the opinion that people cannot do anything with it other than what is allowed for under the Reserves Act. We may have to tidy that up and find out for real what people can do with the land that has been handed back. 
I will not take up too much more time other than to reply to the point in the Minister’s speech about Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao—here we go again. But the funny thing is that on page 1 of the briefing paper it states “Ngati Whakaue Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao” which is different from what is on page 4 which states “Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao”. I know that this is a real minor point and that I must thank our kaumatua for pointing this out. They did not bail me up outside but they saw me waiting for my other half and they instructed me on the whakapapa of Wahiao and Tuhourangi. So I thank them very much and it is all clear—ko atea. But I still have a problem with why there is a hyphen between the names of the two iwi on page 1 and then there is no hyphen on page 4 but just a straight “Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao”. 
The great thing about this is that we have gone through the debates in the other two bills and maybe it will be one of the chores of the next Maori Affairs Committee to delve deeper into— 
Pita Paraone 
: It’ll be the same one. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: That is highly unlikely brother—highly unlikely. 
Pita Paraone 
: It might have a new chairman. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Well we might have a new chairman. 
Pita Paraone 
: But Dave will be there. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: For that to happen I digress—[ 
Interruption 
] I will not go there. That is one of those issues that maybe the next Maori Affairs Committee can delve into. 
I would question the paragraph on page 3 of the briefing paper asking whether the bill is part of a Treaty settlement. It states in the briefing paper that no it is not. I wonder why it is not part of an overall Treaty package. What is the reason for it? Is it just because the Crown is feeling rather benevolent and has said: “OK you guys. You can have this.” or what was the reason? It does not say in the briefing paper. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: It’s the right thing to do. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Oh it is the right thing to do. So why was it not done in the first 9 years of this Labour Government? Oh I get it. Now it is all—like I said before—ko atea. I am clear now as to why the Government is doing it so late in the piece. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: Because you didn’t. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Oh the question is why we did not do it. Well I might even ask why we did not fight in the Crimean War for goodness’ sake! Those members are in the Government. One would have thought that there was a better answer than: “Well why didn’t you do it?”. In fact I will give a reply to that question. Why did we not do it? Actually I did not even think about it. At least the answer to that question from me is an honest answer an upfront answer but this bill is all about trying to curry favour. That is all it is. Because if it is not part of a Treaty settlement then what is it for? Maybe I was a bit harsh. Maybe I am being a bit harsh. But maybe it is not part of a Treaty settlement because if it was then the value of the reserves in question would have gone against the value of the whole Treaty package and they would have gone over it and it would have had an impact on the ratchet clauses both in the Ngai Tahu legislation and the Tainui legislation. Maybe that is why it is not part of the Treaty legislation. Oh yeah that is right. Anyway in a nutshell that is the Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill. 
Going back a bit I congratulate Te Arawa in general. It is not their fault that this bill has been so late in coming. It is not their fault that there is an election in 6½ weeks’ time. Again I offer my congratulations on their seizing the opportunity but I will have to ask some questions. We will not be voting against this bill; we will be voting for it to go to the select committee so that the select committee can ask and maybe receive some answers from the officials and the Minister in charge—whoever that may be—in the coming months. 
Pita Paraone 
: It’s not going to be you. 
Hon TAU HENARE 
: Oh it is not going to be me. So now we have the matakite from Ngapuhi. He even knows who will be the Minister. Well well I am astounded by my tuakana’s ability to get out that crystal ball and see who the Minister will be. If it is not me well who cares? This ain’t about me; this is about a bill that needs questioning. That is what we will do and that is what this House will do come the select committee debate. Kia ora.