SpeechHARETE HIPANGO (National): Tēnei te mihi w'akanui ki Ngāti Maniapoto ngā uri o Ngāti Maniapoto ngā hapū o Te Rohe Pōtae ka mihi maioha.[This is an acknowledgment of Ngāti Maniapoto the descendants of Ngāti Maniapoto and the hapū of the King Country.]I rise as the last speaker for the National Party and also as uri of Whanganui. I acknowledge Ngāti Maniapoto those who are gathered near far wherever you are; this is a Titanic an exceptionally powerful moment in the history of Ngāti Maniapoto with the reading—the first reading—of the Maniapoto Claims Settlement Bill. I acknowledge those who have gone before those who are gathered here—that is in the precinct in Parliament. I look over and I acknowledge the Hon Nanaia Mahuta. When I look at you I see your mother and your father those who have gone before and those of us who are here we carry the responsibility and the weight of our tūpuna. I acknowledge those who are far away of Ngāti Maniapoto. We come together to w'akanui—to celebrate—today the first reading of the Maniapoto Claims Settlement Bill. My acknowledgment also extends to those who have been leaders. Those who are here in the present you are the gift for your future your mokopuna. Those of ours who've departed we are their mokopuna and we carry on into the future the aspirations but also the expectations of our old people—those of us here who are becoming old for our mokopuna our future.I acknowledge and draw to the attention of New Zealanders in addition to Ngāti Maniapoto who are tuned in listening in to this debate this afternoon that the bill records at clause 12 those who signed and thus this is inscribed into law—into this bill soon to become law. Those who were present and were signatories at the deed of settlement on 11 November 2021 I acknowledge all of you—Madam Speaker I say you" because appropriately I acknowledge those whom this bill is about. Also the acknowledgment is to the negotiators both for Ngāti Maniapoto peoples and on behalf of the Crown. May I say in paying acknowledgment aroha mai: our apology from the National Party for not being present at the pō'hiri here in the precinct today. We did not know. Tikanga in the past has afforded us the opportunity to be present so simply to allay any concerns as to why the National Party were not present. We are today. My colleague Joseph Mooney and I we sit on the Māori Affairs Committee. Regrettably we weren't there but we will be to listen to the submissions from those in relation to this bill.May I just go over briefly again for the benefit of New Zealanders—because Ngāti Maniapoto you know the passage and the journey that you have been on and that this bill records—the chronology. There's been reference made to Waitangi Tribunal claims that were lodged back in the 1980s and again I turn to the deed of settlement which records there in clause 9.2.2 the claims and the claimants associated with the passage of the journey to arrive at the bill for the first reading today. Of note and interest there were 108 claims to the Waitangi Tribunal in relation to those exclusively associated to Maniapoto or representative entity and at clause 9.2.3 of the deed of settlement an additional 80 claims to the Waitangi Tribunal. So that conveys the enormity but also the reach and the impact of the breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and the Crown having to amend that by way of this bill.So the Waitangi Tribunal claims commenced back in the 1980s some 30 years ago and then the chronology: in December 2016 a mandate endorsing the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board to negotiate on behalf of their people. On 17 December 2016 the terms of negotiation were signed. On 15 August 2017 the agreement in principle was signed. December 2020 the deed of settlement was initialled and then a year later it was signed to completion on 11 November 2021. And here we are today 14 December 2021 for the first reading of the passage of the bill into law.The bill is comprised of 233 clauses seven parts six schedules which summarise and encapsulate the journey of the historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi over the course of time. Also inscribed into law at clause 8 is the summary of the historical account. Of note clause 8 which is the historical account summary; clause 9 the acknowledgments; and clause 10 the apology—and I will address that in greater detail at the third reading—are the only parts or portions of the bill that are in te reo Māori. That is significant because that portrays and is indicative of the reo of the old people who are now mostly gone carrying through.The historical account—again New Zealanders when these Treaty settlement bills come before Parliament they are a history lesson and they are putting into law accurately the history of the people who have been affected afflicted and aggrieved by the breaches of the Treaty. Clause 8 details that "Under the leadership of Rewi Maniapoto and others Ngāti Maniapoto fought Crown troops … at Meremere Pāterangi and Ōrākau … also present at the unfortified village of Rangiaowhia". The detail of the history and the grievance and the wounds and the mamaes that hopefully this bill will seek to appease and to heal is detailed there. Time does not permit me to address all of that today. At clause 9 there are 44 acknowledgments detailed in the bill—again time does not permit me to read that. I invite New Zealanders to turn to the bill as a history lesson. Then as I said clause 10 is the apology which I tend to save for the last reading the third reading before this passes into law.The background—I've talked about the chronology—Maniapoto are an iwi-based tribal peoples in Te Rohe Pōtae the King Country in and around Te Kūiti Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu. There's an estimated 45930 members associated to Ngāti Maniapoto with more than 90 percent living outside the tribal lands. This just gives some context for the benefit of New Zealanders because Ngāti Maniapoto you know your journey you know your story. I often seize the moment and the opportunity for New Zealanders to learn from the wrongdoings of the past as we move forward into the future to remedy and to surface with hope; as I said aspiration; expectation to fulfil what these Treaty settlements afford and allow—never in recognition of the real value and the depth of the wrongdoing and the damage but it is a start it is a reset and it is to refresh moving forward.The National Party supports as we do all Treaty settlement bills. There's been a little bit of concern expressed about a particular clause or provision. However the select committee is the place for that kōrero and enlightenment from our people to set the course and the pathway further into the future with clarity and with fulfilling expectations and hope. I commend this bill to the House."