Turia Tariana: Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading 
Turia Tariana: Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:608;Page:5648] 
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development)) 
: 
 I move  
That the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill be now read a first time. 
 It is my intention to move at the appropriate time that this bill be referred to the Maori Affairs Committee for consideration with an instruction that the committee has the authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting except during oral questions and can meet during the evening on the day on which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Order 193 and Standing Order 196(1)(b) and (c) and that the committee report finally to the House on or before 13 August 2003. 
This bill brings to an end the longstanding and significant grievances of Ngati Tama in Taranaki. Na reira Ngati Tama tena koutou. One of the eight iwi of the region Ngati Tama is located in northern Taranaki and has about 900 members. The bill settles all of Ngati Tama’s historical Taranaki claims. It is the second Taranaki claims bill introduced by this Government. The historical claims of Ngati Tama relate mainly to the Crown’s waging of war in Taranaki in the 1860s and the associated confiscation of about 30000 hectares of Ngati Tama’s land. The claim also relates to the Crown’s unconscionable actions in its dealings with the Parihaka community and the inadequacy of the west coast reserves. This bill contains a formal apology to Ngati Tama to their ancestors and descendants and to all the hapu of Ngati Tama for the breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi acknowledged by the Crown. 
The mainly 19th century historical claims of Ngati Tama were heard by the Waitangi Tribunal between 1990 and 1995 together with other Taranaki claims. In 1996 the tribunal issued an interim report giving its preliminary views on the Taranaki claims. The tribunal stated that “Generous reparation policies are needed to remove the prejudice to Maori to restore the honour of the Government to ensure cultural survival and to re-establish effective interaction between the treaty partners.” 
In November 1996 the previous Government recognised the mandate of the Ngati Tama Iwi Development Trust to represent Ngati Tama in negotiations. In September 1999 the Crown and the development trust reached a heads of agreement that recorded that in principle Ngati Tama and the Crown were willing to settle the Ngati Tama historical claims in Taranaki. In December 2001 the Crown and Ngati Tama signed a deed of settlement. A representative transparent and accountable governance entity to receive the settlement assets was established in January this year. For the purposes of providing redress a distinction was made in the heads of agreement between the Ngati Tama area north of the confiscation line and the area subject to an overlapping claim by Ngati Maniapoto north of the confiscation line. Redress offered to Ngati Tama was made subject to the resolution of Ngati Maniapoto overlapping interests to the satisfaction of the Crown. However Ngati Maniapoto believed that the Ngati Tama settlement would compromise their future treaty settlements and lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal. This opposition led to mediation that was unsuccessful. 
The Crown commissioned independent research to clarify the customary associations of both iwi to the specific sites proposed for the transfer to Ngati Tama. As a result of that research the Crown revised its settlement offer to Ngati Tama. The revised offer still contained exclusive redress to Ngati Tama and the overlapping claim area although less than originally proposed. Ngati Maniapoto sought and was granted an urgent hearing before the Waitangi Tribunal. In its subsequent report the tribunal found that no breach of the treaty would occur if the revised settlement proceeded and believed that the Crown had exercised sufficient caution in addressing the overlapping claim issues. The tribunal also endorsed the Crown’s approach to addressing overlapping claimant interests in the context of the settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims. 
Many people deserve acknowledgment in regard to this settlement. I acknowledge those who suffered the breaches with the treaty and those who carried the grievances and who are no longer with us. I thank the Ngati Tama negotiators who have been a constructive and conscientious group to work with. Our goal is to ensure that settlements resolve grievances of the past. The bill lays the foundation for a strong and positive relationship between the Crown and Ngati Tama into the future. 
I acknowledge the work done by former Ministers of Treaty Negotiations and Maori Affairs who contributed to this settlement. I also thank the other Ministers and departments involved and in particular the Minister of Conservation who has supported the process throughout. I thank the Office of Treaty Settlements for the work done in seeking a just and fair settlement. As New Zealanders we can be proud that real and significant grievances are recognised and settled peacefully and within the law. 
The public can be reassured that the Crown is certain of the validity of the claims settled by the bill and has negotiated with the interests of the taxpayer in mind. It is not possible to compensate Ngati Tama fully for all of the prejudice and loss they have suffered. Settlements must be balanced with other commitments of the Government. I congratulate Ngati Tama on negotiating on that basis and with reasonable regard to the interest of New Zealand society as a whole. If claimant communities insisted on full recompense for losses there could be no settlements and therefore no resolution of the historical grievances affecting claimant communities. The negotiators for Ngati Tama have agreed to a settlement package that includes a Crown apology for the Crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles financial redress of $14.5 million the vesting of five cultural redress properties a statutory acknowledgement of the special association of Ngati Tama with 11 statutory areas an acknowledgment of the special association of Ngati Tama with particular coastal areas the right of first refusal over an amount of quota for certain shellfish species and an acknowledgment of the special association of Ngati Tama with certain indigenous species. As a consequence the bill makes it clear that this is a final settlement of all of the Taranaki historical claims of Ngati Tama. 
Finally I acknowledge the kaumatua members and negotiators of Ngati Tama whose commitment on behalf of their people ancestors and descendants has led to this historic event and contributed to the restoration of the integrity of the Crown. Na reira Ngati Tama ka nui te mihi ki a koutou tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou. I commend the bill to the House.