Okeroa Mahara: Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi Claims Settlement Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Okeroa Mahara: Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi Claims Settlement Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:627;Page:21924] 
MAHARA OKEROA (Labour—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 I see this as a very propitious occasion. 
Pita Paraone 
: What was that word again? 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: I am sorry. I am not here to close gaps in people’s literacy. I see this as being a very propitious occasion. It is propitious because the settlement before this House is taking place i te wa o nga whetu a Matariki me Puanga ara nga whetu e tohutohu mai ki te tangata o te ao. Mai ra ano ka puta mai te whtu a Puanga i runga i te maunga Titohe o tatau Nga Rauru Ngati Mutunga me nga korero e whakaputa ana. 
[ 
during the period of the stars of Pleiades and Rigel indeed when they pointed the way to the people of the world. From the beginning of time the star of Rigel has appeared above Titohe our mountain of Nga Rauru and Ngati Mutunga with the stories. 
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So it is propitious for that reason alone. 
However the timing of this bill before the House also coincides with three other magnificent occasions that are positive for Maori. Let me briefly talk about those because they relate to my theme in terms of why I want to support this bill. A huge occasion for all of Aotearoa took place in Hamilton kei roto Tainui—the Maori All Blacks versus the Lions. The second magnificent occasion was when we saw a gladiator transform himself into a twinkletoes. Then on top of that a descendant from Ngati Ruanui in Taranaki achieved a global distinction kei roto i tetehi o nga hakinakina. 
[ 
involved in one of the sports. 
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What does this mean? How does it relate to this bill? It relates to this bill because each and every one of those individuals showed tremendous determination against great odds. Look at Jonno Gibbes. He got off the ground tackled this fellow then fell on the ground again. That shows strength of commitment and absolute concentration on the task. That illustrates what Nga Rauru Kitahi have done mai i te timatatanga o te raupatungia o te whenua tae noa mai ki tenei wa. 
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from the time when land confiscation began to the present day. 
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Then we come to the transition of a gladiator to a twinkletoes. We know that our history has been characterised by actions that should never have happened. Last night Norm Hewitt talked about actions that should never have happened as far as he personally was concerned. But then he accepted the responsibility publicly. Maori have had to wait 200-plus years to get any apology at all. He did not wait; he gave his apology succinctly and publicly. So finally we get a Crown apology. 
Let us look at what was achieved mai te uri o Taranaki in that golfing tournament of high esteem. It shows that Maoris have a character to match against trials and tribulations both personal and professional. Nothing seems to stand in the way of achieving the goal. 
In relation to Nga Rauru Kitahi in spite of what the previous speaker has said in outlining reasons why there should not be a codification of one’s spiritual beliefs and cosmology I am of the opinion that if one wants to tell one’s story one should do so. I think the decision to do that rests very firmly with the claimants. If that is the way in which they care to identify their mana tangata whenuatanga then they have every right as far as this side of the House is concerned to express it in like manner so that it becomes part and parcel of the accepted beliefs that are shared not only by people who believe that a snake talked to a person about eating an apple. That has become part of an accepted cosmology—we have read about that. We accept that as being part of some people’s cosmology; that is fine. If we are to go forward together then we must accept that there are other cosmologies that are relevant to our existence as a people going forward in Aotearoa. [ 
Interruption 
] The member will have a turn to speak no doubt and he can add his own opinion. 
Murray Smith 
: I will. 
MAHARA OKEROA 
: Yes—and I would say that it is an opinion only. I would like to end this brief statement of total support by borrowing the quote “It is not the beginning of the end but the end of the beginning.” In that context Nga Rauru Kitahi a anei te korero tautoko mai i tenei na no Te Ati Awa Nga Rauru Ruanui kia kaha kia maia i a koutou i runga i te ara tika a e takoto mai ra a nga tauheke paheke mo tatau katoa kia ora mai. 
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And from this descendant of Te Ati Awa Nga Rauru and Ruanui a statement of support: be strong and bold as you make your way along the right path for those who have passed on for the generations to come and for all of us greetings. 
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