Quinn Paul: Ngati Tuwharetoa Raukawa and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Bill — Third Reading 
Quinn Paul: Ngati Tuwharetoa Raukawa and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:667;Page:14750] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 Tena koe e te Mana Whakawa. Tena tatou te whanau Paremata. Ngati Tuwharetoa Te Arawa Ngati Raukawa tenei kei te mihi ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te Whare Paremata. Kua tangihia nga mate moe mai koutou. Tatou te hunga ora kei konei i tenei po kia ora huihui tatou katoa. 
[ 
Greetings to you Mr Deputy Speaker. Greetings to us the parliamentary family and to you all Ngati Tuwharetoa Te Arawa and Ngati Raukawa. Welcome to the House of Parliament. The dead have been mourned so rest there. To us the living gathered here greetings to us all. 
]  
I have the privilege of joining with previous speakers in welcoming our guests and the members and representatives from the three tribes. As others have suggested their presence here this afternoon is a demonstration of the importance of this occasion to them to this House and to the nation. 
My speech is the final step before this bill receives the Royal assent so in not wanting to be frowned on by my uncles and aunties I promise not to hold them up any longer. They have waited for too long for this day to come to be able to receive this taonga back in honour of those who have gone before them who are unable to be here on this day to see it happen—they had stood and watched as their taonga was denigrated and they had hoped that this day would one day come—and of course in honour of those who will come after them who are now charged with the responsibility of taking up the cudgels of leadership and ensuring the future health and well-being of this river that has been spoken of already. So I stand to acknowledge the kaumatua and the work they committed to in reaching this point. I wish them well. 
In so doing I see amongst them Brian Roche the ubiquitous Brian Roche who seems to have a finger in every pie. I single him out because I think this legislation represents his last settlement and it is appropriate that this Parliament reflects on his deeds. I think he goes back to Ngai Tahu; that was his first one. He has been involved in the wananga in Ngati Awa and in the Waikato River negotiations. I think that that reflects on his professionalism. I also single him out because there is one small victory for me—that is I think I am the only person who during the course of a negotiation actually got him to leave the room in frustration. I was able to finally break him down—he had always had the ability to discuss matters calmly until he met me—and I do not think anyone else was able to achieve that. 
I also thank and record the work of the officials for the support they gave to the Minister. He is doing an excellent job and I think it is very appropriate that we recognise the leadership he has shown and the dedication that he is bringing to the job to achieve the target of this Treaty settlement. With those few words it is appropriate that I now conclude and allow the ope that has come down to rejoice in celebration of the closing of this debate. No reira tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa.