Davis Kelvin: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — In Committee 
Davis Kelvin: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:672;Page:18291] 
KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Chair. Harikoa ana ahau ki te tu ake ano ki te korero mo tenei pire e pa ana ki te Whanganui (Kaitoke) Whare Herehere. Ahakoa ko tenei taku taima tuawha hei tu ake hei korero e pa ana ki tenei kaupapa e pai ana tena i te mea e tika ana kia whakahonoretia te iwi o Whanganui i runga i tenei kaupapa. Na reira he mea pai tenei. 
[ 
Thank you Mr Chair. I am pleased to stand once again and to address this bill about the Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison. Even though it is the fourth time I have risen and spoken to this that is fine because it is right that the Whanganui tribe be honoured on this. So this is wonderful 
.]  
It gives me great pleasure to stand yet again to talk about the Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill. It is only my fourth call on this particular bill in the Committee stage and each time has been a pleasure. It is such an in-depth bill and in particular this whole issue around the “h” in “Whanganui”. I know that many people will be wondering why we have to spend so much time talking about the “h” in the word “Whanganui” but such I feel is the cost of defending democracy. We have traversed the topics and I will let everyone know—we will put people out of their misery—that this is the last call I believe from the Labour Party on this highly important bill. It is important that it goes through the House forthwith so that the people of Whanganui iwi can actually reach the stage where justice will be served and this whole issue will be laid to rest. 
I will just touch on the whole “h” issue once again and the issues around it such as the way that the Mayor of Whanganui at the time Michael Laws was so adamant that “Whanganui” should not have the “h”. It was really sad to see the way he treated a group of schoolkids from Otaki Primary School who wrote to him to explain that they believed the “h” should be included in “Whanganui”. It was sad to see a person in his position as Mayor of Whanganui malign these kids by saying that their teachers and their parents had put them up to writing the letters and that they should concentrate on the things that really matter such as preventing Maori child abuse as if these kids are part of the cause of Maori child abuse. I thought his arguments were quite ridiculous and quite rude to a group of kids and to a group of parents who I believe were doing the right thing in talking to their children about the issues relating to themselves and to Maoridom. I think that those parents should be congratulated on taking such an interest in their children’s education. 
I did briefly pass the Attorney-General Chris Finlayson a few minutes ago. He asked why Labour was “buggerising around with this bill”—those were his exact words—and I said to him that such is the emphasis that the Labour Party places on democracy we will give this bill our full attention. But to be perfectly honest it is time that we moved on from this as I said earlier so that the people of Whanganui can move on with their settlement and justice can actually be done. 
Paul Quinn 
: We won’t hold them up any longer Kelvin. 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: It would be really great if my colleague over there Paul Quinn—we spent so much time together in the Maori Affairs Committee—and also Simon Bridges decided to stand up and pay tribute to the people of Whanganui over this issue but I know Mr Quinn will be saving himself for great oratory later on in the evening. Of course as members on this side always do we are looking forward to the contribution that Mr Quinn can make to this Parliament. We understand how eloquent he is and what a great orator he is. He brings so much talent to this Parliament. It is a pleasure to have served on the Maori Affairs Committee that oversaw this bill at the time. Kia ora. 
Clause 1 agreed to. 
Clause 2 agreed to. 
Bill to be reported without amendment presently.