Little AndrewHERETAUNGA TAMATEA CLAIMS SETTLEMENT BILLSecond ReadingHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I move That the Heretaunga Tamatea Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. This bill represents the continued effort by the Crown to remedy the wrongs of its past actions toward Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki are an iwi centred around Maraetai and are members of both Tāmaki and—sorry I've got the—if the House will indulge me for a moment I'll just get the right notes for the speech.Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. [Interruption]DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can I have quiet during the point of order. Thank you.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Sorry my apologies Madam Deputy Speaker—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hang on.Hon Chris Hipkins: The point that I was going to raise was that I was unable to see or hear the Minister who was speaking in what is quite a significant debate in the House because members on both sides leaving the Chamber were conversing in the middle of the Chamber and therefore disrupting the overall proceedings of the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I appreciate the member's point of order. It was probably just as well—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Speaking to the point of order—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes I don't really need it but—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Any amount of movement in the House does not excuse a Minister from getting on the wrong page of such an important piece of legislation.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. I don't think that that's very helpful. Can I call on the Hon Andrew Little please to speak to this important bill.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker and my apologies for the error on that part. But I now point out that the bill the Heretaunga Tamatea Claims Settlement Bill gives effect to the deed of settlement between the Crown and Heretaunga Tamatea signed at Te Aute College in the Hawke's Bay on 26 September 2015. The deed of settlement settles all the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims relating to Heretaunga Tamatea. It comprises in that respect historical redress recording the Crown's breaches and past injustices; cultural redress acknowledging connections to land and resources of significance to Heretaunga Tamatea; relationship redress building new connections with the Crown local authorities and other groups; and financial and commercial redress providing a strong economic base for the future.Firstly I'd like to acknowledge those who took the time to make submissions—in particular all the people who made oral submissions—for their efforts and for sharing their kōrero with the Māori Affairs Committee. I acknowledge the work of the Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust the Heretaunga Tamatea negotiators Government agencies—especially the Parliamentary Counsel Office—and local authorities for their contributions to the bill.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can I just interrupt the member I'm sorry for a second. I do think that the member has to actually move a motion and then speak to it and in the confusion he did not move that it be now read a second time. So if he could do that and then continue on with his speech.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I move that the Heretaunga Tamatea Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time and—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: —I hope that the House will take as read—Hon Nathan Guy: Come on Andrew. Come on get on your game.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: —what I've said for the last three minutes and I'll continue from there. Mr Guy might want to note that this bill had its first reading in 2015. Why his Government didn't get off its backside and get this through the House much earlier is a question no doubt that he'll be able to answer when he gets to his feet. But this Government is left to clean up the mess of that Government including some of the Treaty settlement issues. I'd also want to acknowledge—[Interruption] Well the members opposite might be outraged but it just happens to be true. I would like to acknowledge however—continuing this very important piece of legislation—the work of Peter Paku one of the Heretaunga Tamatea negotiation team who couldn't be here today because of health reasons. I wish him a speedy recovery and I look forward to him being here for the third reading which members opposite will be able to celebrate more fulsomely at that time.I'd also like to thank the Māori Affairs Committee who considered that bill. The bill has had robust consideration with the committee focusing on key issues raised in submissions. After the first reading the bill was referred to the Māori Affairs Committee and the committee heard 33 oral submissions in Havelock North on 16 February this year. The committee reported the bill back to the House on 29 March this year and recommended that it be passed with a small number of technical amendments. The committee received 47 submissions—46 in support and one opposed. The committee's commentary on the bill focused on submissions and in particular the issue of Glasgow leases at Te Aute.The land around Te Aute College was gifted by a hapū of Heretaunga Tamatea Ngāi Te Whatuiāpiti and is currently subject to Glasgow leases. Submissions focused on the ongoing limitations that these leases have caused restricting owners from receiving a reasonable return on their land and affecting the aspirations of Te Aute College. The Glasgow leases have been a long-running concern for the Te Aute community.Glasgow leases arose in the early 1900s when it was considered that long-term tenancy of land was beneficial. The leases gave lessees incentives for remaining on the land for an extended period of time 21-year lease periods perpetual rights of renewal and the ability for lessees to construct and own improvements on the land. This arrangement was appropriate at the time but is not beneficial to the lessor today.Te Aute Glasgow leases are however an arrangement between two private parties and therefore options for the Crown to intervene are limited. Throughout the negotiations the Glasgow leases at Te Aute College were a key matter raised. The importance of Te Aute is also evidenced by the signing of the deed at Te Aute College. And I might say as an old boy of New Plymouth Boys' High School that had an annual sports exchange with Te Aute College I do know of the pride with which that college and its old boys hold themselves and the important place that that college plays in the Hawke's Bay community and to the Māori community generally.The Heretaunga Tamatea settlement has specifically provided $5 million to support the long-term sustainability of Te Aute College. The committee considers that this will assist in resolving the issues associated with the Glasgow leases and support Te Aute College to thrive and produce outstanding Māori leaders and citizens as it has done in the past.In response to submissions the committee has also commissioned a report on Glasgow leases. The committee's commentary on the bill also focused on issues raised in other submissions on the bill.Another issue for submitters was the effectiveness of the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee. The Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee focuses on resource management and comprises representatives from the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and local iwi. The regional planning committee was formed under the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee Act 2015 and arose from discussions during the Ngāti Pāhauwera negotiations. A review of the regional planning committee will be carried out in August 2018 under section 15 of that Act. This will be the opportunity for the parties to assess the operation of that regional planning committee.The one submission in opposition to this bill was in relation to Wai 574 the Karanema Reserve Claim and asserts that the Wai 574 claim should be removed from this settlement and negotiated separately. The Crown negotiates with large natural groups and settles all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims associated with a large natural group. Wai 574 is within the Heretaunga Tamatea large natural group. Therefore Wai 574 remains included in the Heretaunga Tamatea settlement. The committee is satisfied that this Wai claim has been duly and fairly included in this settlement.The committee has recommended a small number of technical changes to the bill including updating the legal descriptions of cultural redress sites following the completion of surveys. This second reading brings us closer to the concluding stages of settling the historical claims of Heretaunga Tamatea. I intend to speak in more detail at the third reading when we fully celebrate that settlement. Until then I commend this bill to the House.