Clendon David: Waitaha Claims Settlement Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeClendon David: Waitaha Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 05 June 2013. Volume:690;Page:10835. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]DAVID CLENDON (Green): Ki ngā manuhiri ngā hapū ngā whānau o Waitaha tēnā koutou katoa.[Salutations to you all visitors subtribes and families of Waitaha.]I am pleased to take a short call on behalf of the Greens to speak to this important piece of legislation the Waitaha Claims Settlement Bill and to reaffirm our support for the passing of this very significant bill. A couple of times this morning I have enjoyed my whanaunga Tau Henare speaking of his regret at the lack of attention that we as New Zealanders pay to our own history. He commented earlier that perhaps he and I were some of the exceptions to the rule having parents and family who enjoyed and revelled in learning and speaking about New Zealand history. But many New Zealanders of my age and even younger grew up knowing about Geronimo Sitting Bull and Robin Hood but knew next to nothing about Te Rauparaha Hongi Hika Kawiti and Te Kooti who were extraordinary men living in extraordinary times and doing extraordinary things.In that context I must confess that my own knowledge of the story of Waitaha was fairly minimal up until coming to grips with and reading this bill. It is a sad story it is a heartbreaking story but it is also a story that is represented in the doings of their tipuna Hakaraia who showed the leadership that was so common in Māoridom. The leaders at that time were warriors they were philosophers they were writers and poets but critically they were leaders. They took on the responsibility and the burden of leadership at a time of incredible change when an entire history of a people was under threat and they retained that. Their strength of purpose their example remains for us in the present day and for the descendants of those extraordinary people to remember their sacrifice and their efforts and to carry that forward into the future.The story is well told as ever in the Waitaha Claims Settlement Bill. It is a very succinct story in the telling in this context anyway but it is one I recommend to any New Zealander who wants to know more about the history of this country and particularly of that area. It is noted that after the death of Hakaraia particularly the Tauranga raupatu took away the economic underpinnings of the people of Waitaha and that very nearly led to their demise entirely. Sadly that is a story that was repeated across the country. People families hapū and iwi can survive a great deal but cannot survive the complete loss of the land that sustains them and that had sustained them for many generations.We must acknowledge in entering into the settlement that as ever Waitaha are forgoing full reparation as have iwi and hapū throughout the country. I have heard a figure that typically the settlements in terms of value represent between 2 and 5 percent of what was lost. Again we must admire and acknowledge the generosity of ngā iwi katoa who take that hit who accept much less in return. Critically they hear the apology of the Crown they hear the acknowledgment of the mana whenua and that is equal at least in value to the land the resources and the financial redress that comes along with it.I would like to quote our late and much-lamented friend Parekura who in an earlier debate on this very bill in reference to Waitaha said: “there is a feeling in me that this is one of the most persistent tribes in all of Māoridom.” I think you could put up a lot of nominees for the award of the most persistent but I will certainly bow to Parekura’s superior knowledge. For an iwi to win that award from that gentleman is I think remarkable. Persistence is a quality that we all admire. It speaks not only to the determination of the people who have endured so much for so long but also to the integrity the essential rightness of their claims and their very justified demands for restitution over the generations.It is my pleasure on behalf of the Greens to acknowledge ngā tūpuna o Waitaha and the iwi hapū and whānau of today whohave worked so hard to get to this point whose objectives in their negotiations include cultural revitalisation social enhancement and economic and political participation. This legislation that we will pass today will make a contribution to enabling that.I would like on behalf of my colleague Catherine Delahunty—who unfortunately is unwell or else she would take an opportunity to speak today—to quote briefly from her speech in an earlier debate on this bill. She talks of meeting with some Waitaha people who laid out around the issue of Newmont WaihīGold and Glass Earth Gold their aspiration to mine Muir’s Peak. Catherine said: “I met then with some Waitaha people who laid out very clearly their passion for their maunga down to the ocean and their passion for preserving their waterways and protecting the area from mining. It was very humbling to have met those people and I want to acknowledge them.” So I greet Waitaha on Catherine’s behalf and I am sure she will continue in that shared battle toprotect the whenua.So Māori and the Greens share an essential concern for the well-being of people for the well-being of whenua for the well-being of ngā awa and ngā moana. We recognise that those are interwoven that they are interdependent that the well-being of one determines the well-being of another. Toitū te marae o Tāne toitū te marae o Tangaroa toitū te iwi.[The courtyards of Tāne and Tangaroa are permanent and so is the durability of the people.]To the extent that we damage the land and water we damage ourselves. Restoration of land and water is also restoring our own well-being and these settlement processes are a step towards that restoration and for that reason we welcome them.This bill provides acknowledgment and recognition of the mana whenua of Waitaha and as ever the Greens are pleased to see mana recognised and restored not only for the people of Waitaha but for the land and waters which we know they are making an enormous contribution to restoring and bringing back to life and to bringing back to the quality that is within them. We wish Waitaha well and with real pleasure we continue to support this legislation. Kia ora.