Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): E ngā mana e ngā reo tēnā tātou katoa.[To the authorities to all the voices greetings one and all.]It is with great pleasure that I rise to speak on behalf of the National Party and as the member of Parliament for North Shore on the Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Claims Settlement Bill. I want to just firstly acknowledge the last speaker Paul Eagle for his contribution as a member of the Māori Affairs Committee. As part of the preparation for this this evening I had a review of the deed of settlement which I think provides quite a detailed overview in terms of the full account of what occurred back in the 1870s. For someone who was coming to this with little knowledge I've learnt a lot from that overview. I guess that gives some context in terms of not only the importance of what we've heard this evening from a number of speakers before but also the importance of such a process that in a bipartisan manner across the House we join together to make progress and I think we've heard that term used a lot this evening as well in terms of the progress that this process allows us all as a country to undertake.The select committee of which Tāmati Coffey was the chair contributed a great amount in terms of this process. I understand there were around 35 submissions that the committee heard. Eight were oral submissions and of course that was undertaken virtually due to the reality that we are all faced with under COVID-19. But the committee did a good job. I want to acknowledge Joseph Mooney and Harete Hipango from the National Party who are members of the Māori Affairs Committee alongside all of the other members of that committee many of whom have spoken here this evening.I also want to acknowledge Minister Little for his contribution in terms of bringing this bill to the House and of course prior Ministers in this area—particularly the Hon Chris Finlayson who was very much a part of the initiation of this process. I also want to acknowledge the many members of the support team that provides support to our select committee process. The Clerk's Office obviously were key contributors and I must say that for anyone involved in the select committee process often those individuals' efforts go unnoticed by some but it's definitely acknowledged and noticed by members of select committees in terms of their contribution and often under quite significant pressure in timetable as well.Obviously this process in this settlement is one which provides an apology on behalf of the Crown. There is also an element which we've discussed already around the financial redress. I think it's been acknowledged right through no matter where we are or who we are that this will never be enough and I think that term has come through loudly and clearly. But it is part of that process and it is the part of that redress that this House does and this evening actually hearing two of those bills come across is pleasing to see.Obviously I'm from the Waikato and I just want to acknowledge Mr Assistant Speaker McKelvie—congratulations. It's good to see you in the Chair this evening. It's a pleasure to be able to get some guidance from someone so wise as yourself so that is acknowledged. As a boy from the Waikato I haven't spent much time in the Taranaki but we're very lucky to have listened to Barbara Kuriger my good colleague and friend who articulated the beautiful elements that this settlement process will include and—vast areas and beautiful areas—that was articulated in terms of what were Department of Conservation and conservation areas which I'm sure those 2800 members of Ngāti Maru will no doubt really appreciate.The select committee process had two major or substantive contributions I guess in terms of their process. One was around the administration of the riverbed within the Wanganui River catchment area—that process—and the committee considered that. The other aspect that was substantive in terms of amendments that were done by the select committee was around the resource consent process—in particular clause 87(1)(b)—for which the committee recommended amending the bill to remove what was in effect an error in the original thing. So that brought value and that has made the bill even better than before.Obviously today we're embarking in terms of this virtual Parliament process. The hapū and iwi that are unable to be here physically in the House will be watching from afar in terms of being online and I do pass on my best regards to all of them. This is a long process but we are coming towards the end of that. I'm sure for that iwi and hapū that that is a really important part and I understand as we've heard from Nicola Grigg the member of Parliament for Selwyn in her contribution before that the Minister is going to provide that apology in person which no doubt will be appreciated by those members.So I think that is pretty much what I wanted to cover this evening. The settlement process is something that is very very important. It is as I say a redress. It's not enough in terms of the full compensation in terms of what was taken back in the 1870s but it hopefully will provide a level of not necessarily closure but a level of acknowledgment of where the process is and allow us together to move forward from this point together. So tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa. I commend this bill to the House.