Bidois Dan; Williams PotoDAN BIDOIS (National—Northcote): Tēnā koe e Te Mana Whakawā. Tēnā koutou and welcome to everybody who's come down from the mighty East Coast from Ngāti Porou for the second reading of the Ngā Rohe Moana o Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou Bill (No 2). It's a pleasure to speak on this. I wasn't on the Māori Affairs Committee which considered this bill but it's still a pleasure to speak on what is I think an important stage for the Ngāti Porou iwi and it's a really important stage for this bill to go through.I just want to talk a little bit more about the purpose of the bill and certainly before that acknowledge the work of the Māori Affairs Committee and also acknowledge my colleague the Hon Chris Finlayson and the work he's done throughout the years—this bill is the manifestation of many years of work from 2004 right up until this stage—and also the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations the Hon Andrew Little for bringing it to this stage in the House.Just to reiterate and confirm the purpose of this bill which is really to give effect to the deed that was signed between 47 hapū and the Crown around the area of fisheries. It is a shame and I do echo the sentiment that's been said many times in this House that not all 58 hapū are signing this agreement and we certainly extend the invitation to them to join this agreement. It is an important bill and an important deed for us to consider. This is of course really all about recognising customary rights and it provides consistency between the deed and the customary fisheries regulations.We're at the second reading stage now. This bill has been through the submission process and we got about 215 written submissions. We heard about 18 of those and I just want to reflect on some of the key themes that came out of the submission process on this bill. The first is around recognising customary rights and that was an issue that was reflected in some of the submissions that were made. Secondly it clarifies the regulation of freshwater fisheries and that is certainly clear from the bill that's been put forward to the House. It clarifies of course the customary marine title and the marine title for conservation processes as well.This is an important deed and an important bill that recognises and cements a deed between the 47 hapū that are in the Ngāti Porou area in the beautiful East Coast; the area that is the first in New Zealand to see the sun and in many ways sees the horizon the first as well.So the wider context of this bill is that certainly this House and previous Houses have made substantial progress on Treaty settlements and Treaty claims. All in all I think about 90 percent of all claims have now been mandated. The Crown has signed 85 of those deeds with iwi over the years and I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the current Government to continue along these efforts to conclude such a process. And I think that that is what we all want to see which is the past grievances and past issues acknowledged but also try to be addressed.The second and most equally to that is around focusing on the future. What will this deed and what will this bill once enacted enable the good people of Ngāti Porou to do? It will in essence enable them to enjoy customary rights over the fisheries area and enjoy the fruits of the sea and I think that that is also very important to that effect.So it is very very good day to be talking about the second reading of this bill and I just want to acknowledge again all the good work from the Māori Affairs Committee in bringing this bill to the second stage. I look forward to possibly commenting in its third reading later on. Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): I understand this is a split call. You have five minutes the Hon Willie Jackson.