Flavell Te Ururoa: Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:656;Page:5334] 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
: 
 Kia ora huihui tatou katoa e te iwi. E te raukura haramai e te raukura haramai. Me penei rawa te korero. Tenei te ara kai runga ko te aro o tenei tipua ko te aro o tenei ariki ko te aro o tenei matua iwi ko te aro o Ranginui e tu nei o Papatuanuku e takoto nei. Kia rarau iho ra nga tapuwae o Tane. Tenei te po nau mai te ao. Tenei te pouri o te ngakau penei ana ta koutou haramai ki te rongo i nga korero a te Karauna e ki ana ae ae i mahi au i taku mahi. Tenei te ao e korerohia ake nei ko koutou tenei kua tatu mai nga uri o ratou ma e te iwi e te raukura tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
E pai tonu te korero a te mema a Mita Ririnui i te ahiahi nei e te tuakana tena koe i whakarite nei kia korero Maori anake i te ahiahi nei. Ko te mate o te Whare Paremata kei aku rangatira ko te tikanga o te Whare Paremata ka korero Maori mo te wa poto katahi ka whakapakehahia. Kua ahua noho tapepe te korero. Ara na Mita tera i whakatika i te ahiahi nei kia reo Maori mai te timatanga ki te mutunga a ko au tenei te uri o te waka a Te Arawa ka whai i tana tauira. 
He pai tonu taku tu atu ki mua i a koutou i te mea ko au tenei he taokete no roto i a koutou. Ko taku hoa rangatira no roto o Taranaki tuturu ake no Te Puniho no Parihaka no Ngati Ruanui ana ko te toto o aku tamariki he wahanga ki a Te Arawa he wahanga ano ra ki a Taranaki. No reira me penei ake pea te korero ka waiho ake tenei hei tahuhu korero mo te ahuatanga o waku kauhau taku kauhau ki a koutou i te ahiahi nei. 
E ki ana te korero a te waiata: “titiro titiro ki te maunga titohea runga o Parihaka Wai-te-toroa Ngati Moeahu Ngati Haupoto ko te takiritanga i te kahu o Wikitoria kaitoa kaitoa. Ko Tohu ko Te Whiti nga manu e rua i patu te hoariri ki te rangimarie kss aue kss aue. Ahakoa te pahutanga o Parihaka ue ue ue ha!” Ko te tumanako i oti pai tera momo karakia tera momo waiata tera momo korero i te mea ara noa atu nga korero o roto i tera ngeri me ki tera waiata. 
Kei mua koutou i te kahu o Wikitoria kei mua koutou i te kahu o Wikitoria. Ko tae mai te ahuatanga o te raukura ko Te Whiti tera ko Tohu Kakahi tera. E kare ma he wiki nui tenei. Ae ko te Wiki o te Reo Maori; ae i tenei wiki i korerohia te ahuatanga o te pire mo Matariki kia noho a Matariki hei ra whakanui mo te motu ko etahi kei te whakaae ko etahi kaore ano kia areare mai nga taringa ki te korero. I te timatanga o te wiki nei i whakanuia te ahuatanga o Katerina Heikoko Mataira mo te ahuatanga o tana matatau ki te ahuatanga o to tatou reo; i te ahiahi nei i runga i nga pikinga ki te Whare Paremata i tae mai nga tamariki nohinohi nei ki te ki ki te motu me mutu i te ahuatanga patu tamariki. He aha te ahuatanga ki runga o Parihaka? Patua te hoariri ki te rangimarie. No reira ko koutou tenei kua tatu mai e whai tonu nei i te wairua o tera waihotanga mai. Koinei te aroha atu ki ta koutou haerenga mai. Ko te nuinga o nga whakataunga kereme e ka riro ma te Karauna e muru i ana hara e ki atu ae engari na runga i ta koutou whakaaetanga ko koutou tenei e ki ana kati kua are mai nga taringa ki wa koutou korero kei te pai kei te pai kei te pai. Me waiho ma te rangimarie taua e tuhonohono ko koutou tenei e whai nei i tena tauira koinei te aroha atu ki a koutou katoa. Tena koutou haramai. 
Kua korerohia te ahuatanga o nga mate mo te rua tekau ma rua aha ranei nga tau kua roa koutou e tatari ana. E hia ke nei te hunga kua ngaro atu i roto i te ahuatanga o te raukura. Kawea mai te ahuatanga o nga mate huhua o te wa kei aku rangatira kia arare mai nga taringa o nga mema o te Whare Paremata i te wairua o tenei rangi. I te wa i noho au i waenganui i a koutou o roto o Taranaki i raro i te maunga titohea i patai au i te patai ki au ano. Me pehea e taea ai e wai ranei te rongo i te mamae o te muru me te raupatu mena karekau o whenua mena kua murua tera whenua i raro i o waewae? Pehea e taea ai te rongo i te mamae i nga taumahatanga? Ko au tetahi i haere ki Parihaka i te tekau ma waru tekau ma whitu ia marama ia marama ia marama. Ko nga tamariki ko nga mokopuna i korero mo te ahuatanga o te muru me te raupatu. I rongo nga taringa i te ahuatanga o te tangi o te roimata nga korero mo te ekenga o te Karauna ki runga o Parihaka a pera ano hoki ara ki te motu koinei te raruraru kua kite mai ai i roto i nga kereme. No reira he mea pai ta koutou haramai ahakoa te pouri o te ngakau i te mea ka panuitia a nga ra kei mua i te aroaro ko nga korero kua puta i te Whare Paremata i te rangi nei. Ka mutu ka rongo tatou ka rongo nga tamariki nga mokopuna a te wa ko nga korero i puta i te rangi nei. 
Engari he paku patai taku; he whare taku kei roto o Korokoro; ae kua rongo nga korero a te Minita ko tana ki mai e ko te wahanga whenua o Korokoro no koutou no reira me penei rawa taku korero mena e pai ana kia whai wahi pakupaku nei a Te Ururoa i waenganui i a Korokoro mo te wa poto i au e noho ana i te Whare Paremata hei wahi noho mo maua ko taku tamaiti i a ia i te whare wananga i au i konei he wahanga whenua pakupaku noa iho e hoa ma na runga i te ahuatanga o te hononga a-toto nei waku tamariki taku e korero nei waku tamariki tenei e korerohia nei kia whai wahi o roto i nga whiriwhiringa. Ehara he korero he korero he korero. 
A me korero au mo te wa poto nei mo te ahuatanga ki ta koutou whakaaro nui ki te ahuatanga o tera korero ki te Karauna a ko ake nei a ko ake nei ka korerohia tera take i raro nei. Hei aku rangatira ki taku mohio koinei te wa tuatahi kua tu ake tetahi iwi ki te ki ki te Karauna kei te pai kua rongo kua marama kua hokia mai te whenua me haere taua ki te paerangi. Me haere taua tahi ki te paerangi. Ko te tumanako ia ka rongo nga nupepa i tera korero me nga pouaka whakaata kia rongo te motu ehara a te iwi Maori i te iwi matapiko. He ngakau nui o roto i te iwi Maori ana ko koutou te tauira whakaatu nei i te aroha a tetahi ki tetahi i korerohia e ratou i te wa i a ratou. 
No reira kati ake. Te tumanako ia ka tere pau wa tatou korero ka tere mutu wa tatou korero kia eke ki raro kia hainatia te pepa kia noho kohatu nga korero i runga pepa mo ake nei. Hoi ano ko taku hei kupu whakamutunga ki a koe Ta Paora tena koe haramai ra ki to Whare. Ki a koutou nga kaikorero mo te iwi Ngatata ko koutou tena ara ano wetahi i arahi i tenei kaupapa ki tona mutunga me mihi ra ki a koutou me ta koutou whakaaro nui. E tika ana ta te mema na ta te mema o te Nahinara ara ano wetahi raruraru engari waiho tera ma te iwi Maori e whakatika. Tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
[ 
Greetings to the people. Welcome to the raukura plume welcome to the raukura plume. Let me state thus: this the high path in the presence of this demigod of this god of this principal people of Rangi who stands above and Papatuanuku who lies here; may the paths of Tane converge this night before the dawn. My heart darkens at the treatment you have endured in coming here today to listen to the Crown admit its wrongs. I acknowledge you the people. 
The member Mita Ririnui made a very good point in his speech—acknowledgments my kin—declaring that his entire speech would be delivered in our Maori language. The rules of this House direct that all speeches delivered in our language be rendered piecemeal to allow for an English interpretation. This type of interpreting makes it hard for Maori speakers because it interrupts the natural flow. Today Mita has challenged this shabby treatment of the Maori language; he has shown how Maori should be spoken here: one delivery from start to end uninterrupted. This descendant of the ancestral canoe Te Arawa will follow his lead. 
I stand here proud to say I married into your iwi. My partner is Taranaki Tuturu Te Puniho of Parihaka and Ngati Ruanui. Therefore the blood of my children part Te Arawa part Taranaki will form the basis of my speech this afternoon. 
To recite part of a waiata: “set your gaze upon the barren mountain that looms over Parihaka over Wai-te-toroa and in the presence of Ngati Moeahu and Ngati Haupoto throwing off the garments from Queen Victoria. Good job! Good job! Tohu and Te Whiti the two birds who triumphed over their foes with love as their weapon. Heedless to the thunder that reverberates over Parihaka ue ue ue ha.” I trust that my rendition was not too poor because that change has many layers of meanings and understandings. 
O people of Te Whiti of Tohu the people of the raukura feather you are here present in the sanctum of Queen Victoria. This has been a momentous week being Maori Language Week. Further the bill seeking statutory recognition for Matariki was debated in the House; some agree some do not. Katerina Heikoko Mataira was honoured for her efforts to preserve the language; and this afternoon on the steps of Parliament there gathered many young children to promote non-violence. I recall the guiding principles of Parihaka: through goodwill you will overcome your foe. You the iwi have kept true to that legacy; that makes the occasion more poignant. In most claims settlements the Crown admits the wrongfulness of its actions. However in this instance you the people have said: enough; let peace weave us in unity. You have followed this path so I extend love to you all. Greetings and welcome to you all. 
Members before me have spoken of the people of the iwi who have passed on in the 22 years since the claim was lodged. You have lost many who were involved in the claims from the start; but they are here now upon your shoulders symbolised by the raukura plume. People let our lamentations resound in this House so that members hear the deeper meanings of this day. When living amongst you in Taranaki under the shelter of the mountain I would ponder the following question: how can you truly understand the pain and trauma of confiscation if you yourself have not had your lands taken from beneath your feet? Each month on the 17th and 18th days I would join with others at Parihaka. There the young people would speak about the confiscations and the plundering and when the discussions inevitably turned to the invasion of Parihaka by the Crown the tears flowed freely. It is a good thing that you have come although I have misgivings that the matters stated today in the House of Parliament will remain on the public record. The children and the grandchildren will be able to read the words uttered today. 
But I have a small request. I have a house at Korokoro. The Minister has stated that Korokoro now belongs to the iwi. Might I be able to retain my residence at Korokoro for a short period while I serve my time in this House and my son attends university? My friends a small piece of land for Te Ururoa and let us not forget the blood ties of my children! But I jest—an attempt at humour! 
Let me talk now of the signing that will follow the proceedings of the House and your magnanimous gesture to the Crown. In my knowledge this is the first time that an iwi has said to the Crown: it is good all have heard and all understand; the land has been returned so let us walk as one into the future. It is my real hope that the media highlights this settlement so that the country knows that Maori are not a mean people; rather they have goodwill in abundance. You are the shining example of this legacy spoken of by your forebears.  
But enough—it would be a good thing if our debate ended soon so that the document can be signed and the words therein stand for ever. In conclusion greetings Sir Paul welcome back to the House. To the representatives of the people to you Ngatata and the others who brought the claims to their conclusion I congratulate you on your vision and sense of purpose. The National member who stood up before me is quite right there are problems amongst Maori; however leave those for Maori to address. Greetings to you greetings to you and greetings to you all. Thank you 
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