Tolley Anne: Tūhoe Claims Settlement Bill Te Urewera Bill — Third ReadingsText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTolley Anne: Tūhoe Claims Settlement Bill Te Urewera Bill — Third Readings[Sitting date: 23 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19467. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Police):Can I start by saying tēnā koutou to all the members of Tūhoe who are gathered here today. Can I acknowledge the Rt Hon Jim Bolger former Prime Minister and also His Worship the Mayor of Whakatāne Tony Bonne who is in the gallery.This legislation arising from the Te Urewera-Tūhoe Bill has special significance for me as the member of Parliament for East Coast. It addresses some of the worst actions by the Crown in our history and in part these events took place within the boundaries of the East Coast electorate. That boundary includes a large part of Te Urewera and other parts of the Tūhoe rohe including the town of Tāneatua where I attended the opening of Tūhoe’s impressive new ecological community centre and headquarters in March. It is also where the Crown will deliver its formal apology for the breaches of the Treaty that this legislation settles. We can already see the progress that Tūhoe is making in revitalising its community in Tāneatua. This bill sets the groundwork. The Tūhoe Claims Settlement Bill provides commercial and financial redress to the iwi of $170 million. This will allow the iwi to develop a strong economic base and provide for more opportunities for their people. Importantly Tūhoe’s leadership have made clear that they want those opportunities not just for Tūhoe currently in their rohe but also so that those who have left can come home.In this Government we are all committed to regional development. We understand that the regions drive our economy and Tūhoe’s attitude has been one of unwavering commitment to regional development literally from the ground up. Mana motuhake redress relates to improved relationships between Tūhoe and the Crown and the delivery of Government and iwi services to Tūhoe communities and includes the Crown-Tūhoe relationship agreement signed in 2011 which provides the foundation for how Tūhoe and the Crown will work together. It includes the social service management plan which governs the relationships with and the management and delivery of services by key Crown agencies and Tūhoe over the long term. The initial planning is for 5 years of the eventual 40-year period. It sets out how the Ministry of Education Ministry of Social Development Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and three district health boards in the area will work with Tūhoe to address disadvantage and improve social outcomes in Te Urewera.At the beginning of this process there were ill-founded fears in some corners that mana motuhake somehow means separatism and that was of course never true. Throughout the negotiations in the passage of this legislation we have seen nothing except the growing of closer ties between Tūhoe and the rest of the community. At the March opening of that magnificent community centre and Tūhoe headquarters which was a huge Eastern Bay of Plenty community event we saw that relationship between Tūhoe and the community personified by the celebrations in which the locals took part and that depicted of course the maturing relationship. I believe that this will be the legacy of the legislation we are debating today. It sets the scene for a new relationship between the Crown and Tūhoe and clears the path for Tūhoe to contribute to the community and take an active leadership role in the region.This was first evident in the extensive consultation with other users of Te Urewera in order to define the different groups’ expectations of and values for the area. Not surprisingly all these groups shared a great deal in terms of the values of biodiversity conservation and access. These values are now reflected in the Te Urewera Bill. The Te Urewera Bill is a unique solution to a unique situation and it is very New Zealand. I want to say in this third reading of the bill that there are from time to time extraordinary moments in Parliament. Today is one of those. They always rely on extraordinary leadership and as the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations mentioned on courage both by the Government but also by members of the wider community.This bill which sees its final passage through the House today represents an absolute determination by this Government and by the leadership of Tūhoe to address the serious wrongdoings of the past by the Crown but more important to move forward positively for both the Crown’s and Tūhoe’s benefit. It is fitting that we pay tribute to the extraordinary leadership that people like Tāmati Kruger and Kirsti Luke backed by their trustees have shown in these negotiations. But I also want to pay tribute to the extraordinary leadership in this House by the Hon Chris Finlayson and by the Rt Hon John Key who have led the political debate and shown the political courage to make sure that we reach this final reading here today and the passage of the bill. Yes they were supported by Cabinet. Yes they were supported in the select committee process by a cross-section of party members. Yes in this House today we will have almost unanimity across the House. But someone had to start. The Hon Chris Finlayson the Rt Hon John Key Tāmati Kruger and Kirsti Luke were determined. They were the people who made sure that we reached this place today.The existing national park will be vested in a Te Urewera legal identity a unique solution. This reflects Tūhoe’s view that Te Urewera has its own identity and has its own special values and interests. It recognises as the bill states that Te Urewera is also prized by all New Zealanders as a place of outstanding national value and intrinsic worth. Tūhoe and Crown representatives will sit on the board which will provide governance for Te Urewera in accordance with the Act while maintaining access for all. The legislation recognises and provides for cultural values associated with Te Urewera and will include key principles relating to the protection of biodiversity natural and historic heritage public input into the management and public access into the future. I am particularly excited by the commitment from both the Crown and Tūhoe to work with the new board to seek Unesco biosphere status for Te Urewera. This would make it the first and only biosphere-designated area in New Zealand and I can think of no more fitting spot. This would be a huge boon for the region for residents and for tourism. This is not expressly provided for in the legislation; instead it is more evidence of the spirit of partnership and cooperation that this bill makes possible for the future. The benefits of such an approach for the Crown and Tūhoe and the region have immense potential.These are significant bills for Tūhoe. But they are significant bills for the Crown and they are significant bills for New Zealanders. It is with great pride as the member of Parliament for East Coast that I stand here today and commend these bills to the House. Kia ora tātou.