Goldsmith PaulNGĀTI PAOA CLAIMS SETTLEMENT BILLSecond ReadingHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I present a legislative statement on the Ngāti Paoa Claims Settlement Bill.DEPUTY SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: I move That the Ngāti Paoa Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. Tihei mauriora! Te Whare e tū nei tēnā koe. Te papa i waho nei tēnā koe. Te mana whenua o tēnei rohe tēnā koutou. Te hunga mate haere haere haere. Haere ki te whenua o ngā tupuna. Te hunga ora tēnā tātou katoa. Ka mihi ki ngā maunga kōrero ki ngā awa rangatira ki te whenua taurikura o Ngāti Paoa e ngā kāwai rangatira tēnā tātou katoa.[The House that stands here greetings. The land we are on greetings the protectors of this region greetings to you all the deceased farewell. Farewell to the homeland of your ancestors. To the living greetings to all of us. I acknowledge the fabled mountains the noble rivers and also to the cherished lands of Ngāti Paoa dear esteemed leaders salutations to you all.]This bill gives effect to the deed of settlement signed by Ngāti Paoa and the Crown in March 2021. The deed of settlement settles all the remaining historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāti Paoa. Ngāti Paoa are an iwi with an interest that includes Mahurangi Tāmaki-makau-rau the Hauraki Plains gulf islands and parts of Waikato. The historical claims of Ngāti Paoa relate to the Crown's actions that led to the loss of life and devastation caused by hostilities as well as by the operation and impact of the native land laws and continued Crown purchasing that left Ngāti Paoa virtually landless.The bill comprises five parts including cultural and commercial redress and the Crown's apology. I look forward to describing the bill in greater detail at its third reading. We remember and pay tribute to the tūpuna and many generations of Ngāti Paoa who suffered from historical Crown acts and omissions and who are not here today to see those grievances redressed through this settlement.I acknowledge the many members of Ngāti Paoa who have passed away over the course of the settlement and for whom justice did not come soon enough. I also wish to acknowledge the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust as the post-settlement governance entity for Ngāti Paoa who have been entrusted with taking this settlement forward on behalf of the iwi to realise their aspirations for the future. On the Crown's side I acknowledge the chief Crown negotiators Michael Dreaver and the Hon Rick Barker. I also acknowledge my predecessors the Hon Chris Finlayson and the Hon Andrew Little for their significant contributions to this Treaty settlement. I thank the Crown agencies and local authorities for your support in progressing this settlement.The bill was referred to the Māori Affairs Committee on 21 June 2023. The committee received and considered 351 submissions on the bill and heard oral evidence from 25 submitters. I'd like to extend my thanks to the committee for their work in the consideration of the bill. The committee recommended two main amendments to the bill as a result of submissions that relate to two Waitangi Tribunal claims Wai 365 and Wai 968. Wai 365 is a historical claim currently listed to be settled in full through the bill. On review the claim is listed in the Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngā Pōtiki deed of settlement as a claim to be settled in part. Accordingly the committee recommended the bill be amended so Wai 365 is only settled in part in the bill.A named Wai 968 claimant submitted in support of the bill but requested Wai 968 be removed and instead settled in full by the Ngāti Tamaterā settlement. After consultation with affected parties it was agreed that Wai 968 should be removed from this bill and be appropriately settled in full by the Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty settlement.The committee also recommended some minor and technical amendments to ensure consistency with other Hauraki iwi settlement bills. A large number of submissions were received on the transfer of the farm on Waiheke Island from the Ngāti Paoa Trust Board to the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust. This has been a point of contention amongst Ngāti Paoa descendants resulting in various legal challenges and an attempt at mediation between the two entities. The committee does not propose any changes to the bill in relation to the Waiheke farm.The committee acknowledged the different strongly held views on this issue but concluded that on balance the interests of Ngāti Paoa descendants are best served by the farm being vested in the post-settlement governance entity the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust alongside the other assets listed in this bill. The committee strongly encouraged the trustees involved to find a path forward together for the benefit of the people they are elected to serve. I support the committee's view on this.I'm satisfied with the committee's recommendation as they will ensure the redress addressed in the Ngāti Paoa deed of settlement can be properly implemented through the bill. This reading today is another important step in the settlement process before the third reading that will result in the full and final settlement of Ngāti Paoa's historical Treaty of Waitangi claims. I look forward to hosting Ngāti Paoa here for that occasion and to honour the steps the Crown has agreed to take towards reconciliation. I commend the bill to the House. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ko te pātai kia whakaaetia te mōtini.[The question is that the motion be agreed to.]