Mahuta Nanaia: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — In Committee 
Mahuta Nanaia: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:670;Page:16923] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
: 
 The important parts of the preamble are obvious. Jo Goodhew might sigh but it is important. The important parts of the Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill preamble are in fact recitals 3 and 4. Recital 4 more particularly sets out that there will be provision in the overall settlement for Ngati Apa to purchase the Kaitoke Prison. That is the key element of the on-account settlement because it signals a clear intention. 
My colleague Kelvin Davis said that it was all well and good talking about trying to get to this point but it was indeed very difficult. I expect that the discussions amongst the Whanganui iwi collective in terms of identifying the components of the settlement that were important to them—getting the balance of interests right and setting the overall quantum—actually took quite a bit of internal negotiation but they got there. 
I point to recital 4 because it specifically outlines the provision for the overall setting of the quantum of the settlement. I say to the Minister in the chair the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations that I might have got this wrong and he might want to correct me but my reading of it is that in the overall setting of the quantum provision will be made for Ngati Apa to purchase Kaitoke Prison and the sum of that purchase will be considered in the final redress measure. That is certainly my reading of that recital. If I am wrong I would like to be corrected so that I am not misinterpreting the Minister’s intent. 
In terms of approaching opportunities for settlements where there are specific interests of hapu groupings within a wider iwi collective this type of approach gives a level of certainty and assurance to hapu groupings that their particular components of iwi settlements have been provided for and are considered very specifically in terms of the overall setting of the redress quantum. 
I will not take too much further time on the preamble. Recitals 3 and 4 are the most important. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Kia ora. Good speech. 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: I thank the chair of the Maori Affairs Committee who wants to rush this debate through. I understand his eagerness. But I recommend this preamble as a great standard. For settlements where there are internal differences around what people place as their priority in terms of redress it sets out a framework to address those types of matters. 
When the time comes for Ngati Apa to put some very real consideration into purchasing back Kaitoke Prison the redress component will have already been factored into the settlement and they will be able to do that. Then they could ask themselves further questions about the long-term management potentially of Kaitoke Prison and what further role they want to have over and above that role as landlord. 
I reiterate the comments made by former Minister of Corrections Damien O’Connor. It was helpful to hear his insight into this matter. I say simply that I am very sure that the people of Whanganui although they might be the owners of a prison will certainly hold very strong views about not wanting their people to go to prison. This might afford a future opportunity and we can only hope that fewer Maori go into Kaitoke Prison. Kia ora. 
Preamble agreed to.