Quinn Paul: Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Bill Ngati Porou Claims Settlement Bill Ngati Pahauwera Treaty Claims Settlement Bill 
Quinn Paul: Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Bill Ngati Porou Claims Settlement Bill Ngati Pahauwera Treaty Claims Settlement Bill 
[Volume:672;Page:18726] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 I join the other speakers in welcoming representatives of the three tribes to this House. Tena koutou rau rangatira ma nga manuhiri tuarangi nau mai haere mai. 
[ 
Greetings to you chiefs of a hundredfold and visitors from afar. Welcome welcome. 
]  
I think it falls to me as the final speaker in this debate to bring together the threads of the presentations we have heard today. I start by joining all the other speakers including the speaker from ACT John Boscawen—although I respect his passion perhaps one day I will be able to help him out on his misguided thoughts; none the less I respect his passion—in congratulating the three iwi on reaching this stage. This legislation represents the 14th deed of settlement this Government has completed in 2 years. Sadly I have to point out to my friends on the other side of the House that that is the number of settlements they achieved in 9 years. National has achieved 14 settlements in 2 years. That is a great record which I am proud of. To a very large degree it is the reason as I have said on previous occasions that I stand here. I am here to help move along the Treaty settlement process and to join this Government in endeavouring to finalise and bring to an end the Treaty settlement process by the goal year of 2014. Under the outstanding leadership of the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations the Hon Chris Finlayson we are well on the way without doubt to achieving that goal. 
Comment has also been made about the fact we are dealing with three bills as one in this first reading debate in terms of the fact they are cognate bills. I assure everyone that that does not mean that one or other of the bills will be treated with any less respect or consideration. Once this first reading is completed each will take its own wairua into the select committee process. They will each be given full and respectful consideration separately by the Maori Affairs Committee and when they are reported back to the House each bill will be dealt with under its own Committee stage and second and third readings. The key issue is to get the process going to get the process on the way because for too long—for far too long—the iwi have had to wait to get these processes pushed through. I join with my relation Mita Ririnui in congratulating the Government on this process because it will enable the recipients of these settlements to get on with life and take hold of it. 
In that regard I reflect on the contribution of Shane Jones who said it was up to the iwi to take responsibility once the claims have been settled. Comment has been made in respect of the Waikato River and on how that settlement was renegotiated. What my colleague says is true but only to the extent that it is a workable settlement. In the case of the Waikato River I think Nanaia Mahuta said that there is no point in fixing the Waikato if we have not fixed the Waipa. That is the very reason that National on coming into Government had to go back to the drawing board with that settlement and with the good grace of Waikato we were able to renegotiate it. 
In that respect I will have a little dig at my friend and colleague the Hon Parekura Horomia. It is with some disappointment that I heard over the weekend that a settlement close to my heart—namely the Central North Island Iwi Collective adjudication process—has broken down which is sad because really there is nowhere to go with it now. If Mr Horomia had accepted the scheme of arrangement I put to him about 5 years ago he would be the chief by now. But he would not listen to me. I was trying to help him; I was trying to work with him. Anyway it is with some regret that I hear that the Central North Island Iwi Collective adjudication process is bogged down with nowhere to go. I am sure that under the guidance of the current Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations we will find a way through. The real point is that in putting these settlements together we have to find workable solutions. 
By way of a couple of closing comments I have to say that I was surprised at the ACT member’s contribution to the debate. As he noted towards the end he acknowledged that his leader Don Brash—who was on TV last week I think—accepts that Treaty settlements have to be dealt with and that people have to get on with their lives. But I am not quite sure what he will settle with or what he will acknowledge. If as he says harm has been done and injustices have been done then what will he will settle with? I think that ACT members really need to go back. 
As I said I do not want to hold up the process any longer because it is important that these bills get to the select committee as expeditiously as possible. Again I thank the Hon Chris Finlayson’s office and his staff for their work in bringing these settlements to the House so that we can get on and settle another three. Thank you.