Finlayson Christopher: Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFinlayson Christopher: Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 06 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12424. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Third ReadingHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):I too extend a very warm welcome to the representatives of Raukawa who have joined us today for this occasion. They may be wondering why I as the Minister in charge of the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill was not here for the first speech. The reason for that is quite simple. Mrs Turia is the local MP and she asked me whether she could give the first speech because of her fondness forNgāti Raukawa. When Mrs Turia asks someone to do something you do it and the reason quite apart from the fact that she is the local MP I have to confess is that she is my favourite politician—utterly principled and a very decent woman. In this place folk say that it takes a lot of courage to stand up to one’s enemies. Well it takes a lot more courage to stand up to one’s friends. That is what Mrs Turia did 10 years ago and she won. I just wish that she would forget about retirement and decide to follow Mrs Thatcher’s dictum to go on and on and on.So that is why she gave the first speech. But I acknowledge that it takes skill and courage to reach a settlement. The Raukawa negotiating team has navigated this very tricky river with pragmatism with leadership and with diligence. It is because of these dedicated people that we are here today and I certainly want to pay tribute to them. I acknowledge past and present negotiators Chris McKenzie VanessaEparaima Nigel TeHiko and PatriciaCowley. I think Stephanie O’Sullivan David Bennett has just said to me is not here today but she is watching it on television and I wish her all the verybest. She has done great work forNgāti Raukawa. I first met her when we were still in Opposition in about 2006 with Chris in Hamilton. I know how much she means to the iwi and how much the iwi means to her.But I particularly want to say a few words about GeorgeRangitūtia who has passed away. He championed Raukawa with wisdom and with humility and leadership. I have many memories of George. George the quiet leader. George who just settled things down at that airing of grievances in Tokoroa some years ago. George the very kind host who picked me up at the top of theKaimais one beautiful summer’s morning in January in the bus. With members of Raukawa we drove around the rohe and he dropped me off nearTaupō because I was heading off to be shown the Whanganui River by Archie Taiaroa the next day. The sad thing is that both those fine fine people are gone. So I always remember George as a kind host on that beautiful day and I remember George the ill but optimistic patient. I was very pleased to go and visit him with Louise Upston on the day we signed the deed of settlement. We got his signature on the deed and that was a very special occasion for me.I want to thank Denise Roche for her very kind words. I was frankly in a state of shock because it is the first time a Green member has said anything nice about me. In fact I was so shocked—Hon Trevor Mallard: She’s been smoking!Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Speaking of enemies I hear Mr Mallard piping up. Judith Collins was so surprised she called me over for counselling and wondered whether something had gone wrong. But anyway I want to thank Denise. I will treasure that memory. I want to acknowledge all these people because they have played their part but I particularly want to place on record my deep respect and affection for George and I wish his family all the very best on this special day.Raukawa are no strangers to this House. In 2008 they were here as a party to the central North Island forests land collective settlement legislation. In 2010 they joined us here along with their neighboursNgātiTuwharetoa and Te Arawa to witness and celebrate the passage of the NgatiTuwharetoa Raukawa and Te Arawa Iwi Waikato River Act 2010. The aim of that legislation as you yourself know Mr Assistant Speaker Tisch—not that I am bringing you into the debate but simply to say in passing that as the MP for Waikato you know—is to restore and protect the health and well-being of the great river that flows through your electorate.Raukawa are again our guests today this time for the final steps to their settlement journey. It does address the longstanding historical grievances of Raukawa which are many as this House has said. I thank particularly Mr Tirikatene for his contribution. These matters are long overdue for settlement because what happened up there was simply unjust. I do recall so very well the airing of grievances in Tokoroa when the elderly lady stood up and said that she was forced out of her home because of Public Works Act takings and hydroelectric development in that part of the country and that she resisted going until the waters were just about lapping at the entrance.These unjust actions started in the 19th century and continued right through to the mid-20th century and what they did resulted in the economic social and cultural impoverishment of Raukawa and their special relationship with their lands and waterways. These are not formulaic statements; they are statements from the heart particularly as a result of having got to know these people and the utterly justifiable claims that they have had over such a lengthy period.These grievances started with the wars of the 1860s in the Waikato where the loss of life and property through armed conflict through occupation and through raupatu had such a severe impact on the well-being of Raukawa. Picking up on what Mr Tirikatene said and coming back to that day in Tokoroa I too recall the statements aboutMangakino and thePouakani lands and so on and the utter unfairness of that. It is unfairness that repeats itself year in and year out and I know that it has been—to call it an irritation minimises it—a severe question for Raukawa over the years. Mind you it was not very fair toNgāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa either. Of course they were given that land because I think people thought it was worthless and then after World War II it proved to be economically viable. What happened there was simply unfair and unbecoming of the Crown and that is why we have these settlements. That is why as others have said it is important to know the history of what happened.So the Crown acknowledges that it has breached the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles in its relationship with Raukawa. It failed to protect the mana and the rangatiratanga of Raukawa. It failed to protect Raukawa interests in customary resources and significant sites. That is why we have had a settlement. That is why this legislation was introduced. That is why I am so very keen to see the legislation move through the House as quickly as possible so that it can be legislated for before the end of the year.Last week I was talking to Vanessa who was a little bit upset that perhaps it was not debated last week and I said to watch this space. We have managed to get it done quicker than either of us thought. I am just so very pleased that now the bill will be off to theMāori Affairs Committee led by the great Mr Henare and his team. They are going to be very busy because they are dealing with the Te Tau Ihu Claims Settlement Bill where there are eight settlements and thehaka; theNgāPunawai o TeTokotoru Claims Settlement Bill where there are three settlements; theNgā Mana Whenua oTāmakiMakaurau Collective Redress Bill; theMaungaharuru-TangitūHapū Claims Settlement Bill; and now this bill. So I simply say to the members of that committee and to Mr Henare in particular that there is no time to muck around. You have got to knuckle down get these bills through the system and get them back to the House as quickly as possible.Hon Member: Listening Tau?Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Of course he’s listening because he is an outstanding chair of theMāori—the member is listening is he not?Hon Tau Henare: Yep.Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: He is an outstanding chair of theMāori Affairs Committee. He is a great friend and colleague and I know that he is going to get these bills back post-haste.Bill read a first time.Billreferred to theMāori Affairs Committee.