Paraone Pita: Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill — Second Reading 
Paraone Pita: Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:646;Page:15810] 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 Tena koe Madam Assistant Speaker. E tika ana kia mihi hoki ki a koutou o Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui Ngati Pukenga ara ko Tauranga Moana Nui. Engari kahore ano au i wareware ki te mihi atu ki a koutou o Waitaha. Na reira koutou e matakitaki mai e hakarongo mai hoki tena koutou tena koutou a kia ora mai ano tatou. 
[ 
Greetings to you Madam Assistant Speaker. It is apt that I acknowledge you Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui Ngati Pukenga from the Great Harbour of Tauranga. But I have not forgotten you Waitaha as well. So those of you watching and listening as well greetings to you greetings to you and greetings once again to us. 
] 
I preface my speech by acknowledging the tribes of Tauranga Moana who are either watching or listening to this debate. 
There is a saying within Maoridom: ahakoa he iti he pounamu—although small it is a treasure. I make reference to the size of the Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill. It is small in comparison with the many bills that come before this House. It contains only 16 clauses. Although many of us may think that it is not of too much importance I assure members that for the people of Tauranga Moana it is a very very important bill. It is my privilege to take a call on the second reading of this bill. 
Many of the earlier speakers have alluded to what was originally clause 7. I too acknowledge the importance of that clause which has become clause 8. It should be a reminder to Maori groups who are in the process of signing agreements with the Crown. The representatives of Tauranga Moana who appeared before the Maori Affairs Committee indicated that although they were not very happy with a particular provision they had gone ahead and signed the agreement. They actually came to the select committee to seek the committee’s assistance to change that provision. This was not new to me as a member of that committee given that we have had to consider a number of Treaty settlements. I acknowledge that this matter is not a Treaty settlement but there are some similarities in that after the iwi had signed their agreement with the Crown they came before the select committee to seek to change the agreement to what they would like it to be. However due to the collegiality that previous speakers have referred to we all agreed that we could achieve the same thing by changing the wording. I acknowledge the tenacity of the iwi of Tauranga Moana in pushing for this change. 
I also acknowledge Te Runanganui o Tauranga Moana who acted at the behest of their elders. Some members of te runanga were not happy to sign but their elders pushed them to enter into this agreement and they did so although they believed that it should not be signed. I acknowledge them because I think that when people take heed of what their elders say even in the face of what they themselves think is right and wrong their showing that respect ought to be acknowledged. Certainly members of Te Runanganui o Tauranga Moana exercised that respect. 
I will raise another issue. There was a submission from a group known as Waitaha. I acknowledge the representatives of Waitaha because in comparison with the rest of the submitters they were of a younger generation. I really had respect for the way they presented their concerns about this bill. They did it in the knowledge that many of the people in that same room did not support what they were saying. The way they presented their case was admirable. 
Their cause has not been lost. I will read out clause 14(1) of the bill “Waitaha statement of recognition” which states “The Crown Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga acknowledge the statement of recognition of Waitaha in Schedule 3.” I will also read out schedule 3 so that it is placed in  
Hansard 
 and so that the descendants of Waitaha will know that the efforts of their representatives at the select committee hearing were not in vain. Schedule 3 states: “This statement of recognition reflects the history to which Waitaha subscribes but it does not recount that history in full. Waitaha’s history will sit alongside other iwi and hapu histories and altogether these histories make up the diverse relationships that are attributed to Mauao. 
For Waitaha that place is borne of the occupation of the maunga by Tutauaroa (the son of Waitaha) his son Taiwhanake and Taiwhanake’s son Kinonui. Tutauaroa moved to Otamarakau leaving Taiwhanake to maintain Waitaha’s presence on Mauao. Ngati Ranginui and Waitaha occupied Mauao later followed by Ngai Te Rangi after the Battle of Kokowai. Mauao continues to be an integral part of Waitaha’s history and their tribal future. 
For Waitaha the enduring protection of Waitaha’s ancestral associations and historical connections with Mauao is paramount.” 
The elders the kaumatua and the kuia who appeared before the select committee recognised that connection. They also recognised that they could not turn their backs on the connection that Waitaha was claiming to Mauao. I again congratulate the representatives of Waitaha on the stance they took. 
It is important to reiterate that this bill is not as a result of a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal. It stands outside of that process and it will not impinge on the claims that will likely come from the people of Tauranga Moana. 
In conclusion I congratulate all those who were responsible for this bill and I look forward to its third reading. But I ought to say that I support the comment made by a speaker from National that because of the size of the bill there is not any reason why we cannot deal with the third reading now. However there is due process to follow and I am a supporter of due process. New Zealand First certainly supports the second reading of this bill.