O'Connor Simon: Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Connor Simon: Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 20 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3502. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SIMON O’CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): I am very pleased to take a call this evening to speak in the second reading of this bill the Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill. I am very conscious as I stand here tonight that I have not sat on the Māori Affairs Committee but I have been very fortunate to discuss this legislation with an excellent caucus—or rather the likes of Nuk Korako the chair of the committee and Maggie Barry the Minister sponsoring this bill have been very wholesome and fulsome with us as a caucus in their discussions around what is happening. And so again I am particularly pleased to stand along with others tonight to speak to this bill.Like others I would like to acknowledge the passing of Ērima Hēnare a man who has stood very tall proud and loud in the Māori and of course New Zealand community for many actions particularly around Te Reo and the maintenance and promotion of that—and of course his role which has been acknowledged here tonight many times sitting as a member of the current Waitangi board. I acknowledge too his son Peeni Hēnare. Outside of Parliament he and I have known each other for a good amount of time. I have mentioned that before we worked together at the Ministry of Social Development and although we might find ourselves on opposite sides of the House good conversation can continue with memories past and I think a common bond to serve our country as best we canin the future.In doing so I acknowledge again the Minister and the work that has gone into this legislation. I acknowledge the members of the select committee. I am conscious that where this started is not necessarily where it ended or was intended to end so a lot of discussion has gone on and debate—fraught at times I am sure. But it has reached a place nowthat members are happy with if I am hearing the debate tonight correctly. Within that is the intention for a review by the Minister as well and we will touch on that a little bit later. So this is a step in the right direction.Waitangi is a place that sits very strongly in our national consciousness for a variety of reasons but of course first and foremost it is part of our national identity—a point in time that has defined and arguably began to define New Zealand’s identity. For me personally being someone born and raised in the north Waitangi is a place we would visit every year not necessarily on 6 February but it was a place that we would go to frequently. The place has much history and tradition not just around the Treaty itself but also as a place where many early settlers came. I know this certainly from my own side of the Catholic community which was well-connected into the Hokianga where Bishop Pompallier is buried. And of course across in Russell you have the Marist fathers whom I was very connected with. It is a place where I find myself at home. It is a place where more recently National Party members found themselves at home when we went up there for our conference. And I have to say not only the locals but also the weather performed exceedingly well.I do want to note that the Treaty of Waitangi and the place of Waitangi itself is larger than just one place. I am reminded of this because a few months back I was very pleased to join Ngāti Paoa at Karaka Bay in Glendowie in my electorate where they acknowledged the 175thanniversary of their signing of the Treaty. Although the seminal moment may have occurred up in Waitangi with the conversations and signings there the Treaty then began to go around the country to be signed. As far as I am able to say for Ngāti Paoa the signing at Karaka Bay—within the electorate of Tāmaki as it is now—is the really important moment for them. I have to say that it was an incredible honour and privilege to be invited to join them and to be out on their waka on the Waitematā Harbour. It was an absolute thrilland also very educational I have to say to be able to sit through the hours of the talk and speeches.I just mention this because Waitangi may be a singular place but with the Treaty and its signing for all of us as New Zealanders it moves beyond just one place.Important we do look towards Waitangi itself to symbolise that and so this bill is about updating the structure of governance. Under the original Act and trust deed there are eight representative members. One comes from the family of Archdeacon Henry Williams. I in fact met his I think great great—oh I have forgotten exactly. I met a guy called Bill Ludbrook. Sorry Bill that I have forgotten the exact connection but Bill Ludbrook joined me at Karaka Bay representing the Williams family. It was again an incredibly powerful moment as obviously the descendants of Ngāti Paoa were there. And here was this descendant of Archdeacon Henry Williams sharing the story as had been passed on to him. Again it was a remarkably powerful moment.The families of Hone Heke Maihi Kāwiti Tāmati Waka Nene and Pōmare are represented by Pita Paraone who is currently sitting for the New Zealand First Party. Pita I do not know how you balance one family let alone four but kudos to you sir. I think we will come back to that as well because one of the discussions that have come through the debate tonight is around inequities. There is a representative for Māori living on the North Auckland peninsula Māori living in the rest of the North Island Pākehā living in the Bay of Islands the family of Edward Gibbon Wakefield and No. 8 is a prominent person in the life of our country and that is the Sir Don McKinnon at the moment. I think it is good to mention his name and acknowledge his work. When we talk of a prominent New Zealander it is the calibre of Sir Don that we are talking about.There are four members ex officio those being the Prime Minister the Minister of Conservation the Minister for Māori Development and of course His Excellency the Governor-General or whomever he or she chooses. With the review of the Act changes are being suggested. Important the likes of the Governor-General and Ministers will be removed from these ex officio positions. They will continue to be able to engage. I understand the Governor-General is able to be the patron—is that right?Hon Members: Yes.SIMON O’CONNOR: I think that is really important. The Governor-General is a very visible expression of our Sovereign Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. That connection with Māori and with this country is incredibly important. So I am pleased to see that although he is no longer represented his representative ex officio maintains a place.The new board will also see the Ministers step away. In some ways that could remove any perceived conflicts of interest or confusion. Instead what we are going to see are two members of Parliament nominated. I am not going to make a pitch for that role—I am not sure you really want me talking much more beyond the 10 minutes of tonight—but one of those will be put forward by the Government and one by the Leader of the Opposition. I note here in some notes that I have put down that the bill by removing the Governor-General and the Ministers removes the risk of as I say conflicts between their constitutional roles and those of trustees. It also removes the risk of legal and reputational issues for the Crown. I think one of the really key elements here is for this new board as they talk in legal terms to be treated as a natural person. In other words the trust board moving forward once this bill goes through its third reading should be allowed to basically borrow money pay it off as it sees fit and make the decisions that we as individuals or as natural persons are able to do. I think that is very positive.The last issue—because I am conscious that the bell has rung—is ultimately there are—Tim Macindoe: Let’s have more.Joanne Hayes: Keep going.SIMON O’CONNOR: Really? Do we want to move an extension of time?Tim Macindoe: More on the royal family.SIMON O’CONNOR: Well we could ask them to come down but I am not sure they necessarily always will. But actually they play a critical part.One of the major elements has been that of inequity. The Treaty is based on partnership and working together. At the moment we have four individuals of Pākehā descent—as important as it is—being represented and then we have four Māori families represented by one person. Regardless of whom that is it is still one for four and four for four—not really the way to go. So what this bill is doing is bringing about an opportunity for more Māori representation. I think that is incredibly positive. I would say to that harkening back to what I discussed at Karaka Bay that obviously Waitangi is a place for all of New Zealand and the Treaty is something that was experienced in multiple places in New Zealand by multiple families—Pākehā and Māori. Personally I would like to see that diversity of representation go much broader than just the geography of Waitangi and the place of Waitangi itself.I understand the Minister is going to be conducting a review. I also understand she came before the Māori Affairs Committee which I think is fantastic and had a lengthy discussion with members outlining what she is interested in doing. I trust and hope that the select committee itself engaged with its expectations too which will inform that review going forward. I think this Government is very proud of its work around matters to do with the Treaty. It would be remiss of me—primarily because he is in the House—not to acknowledge the Hon Chris Finlayson for the work that he continues to do around Treaty settlements. Again I think—