Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:664;Page:11862] 
Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill 
Second Reading 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
: 
 I move  
That the Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill be now read a second time 
. Perhaps because I am Acting Leader of the House I will resist all efforts by the chief Government whip for the House to lift before 6 o’clock; I think we should work to rule—work until 6 o’clock. 
The bill gives effect to aspects of the deed of on-account settlements signed by the Southern Whanganui Cluster / Tupoho working party on behalf of Whanganui iwi and the Crown on 31 July 2009. It protects iwi interests in the northern part of the Wanganui Forest and the half share in the land under the prison. The agreement by the Crown to enter into an on-account settlement was a result of discussions between Ngati Apa North Island and the working party to address concerns Whanganui iwi had with aspects of the Ngati Apa settlement. Addressing overlapping interests is a difficult and complex aspect of the negotiations process and the on-account settlement is a creative solution to those issues. 
The deed of on-account settlement provides the working party with an opportunity to acquire a half share in the land under the Wanganui Prison and the half of the Wanganui Forest not offered to Ngati Apa North Island. The right of deferred selection offered to Whanganui iwi over these properties is subject to Ngati Apa North Island deciding whether they wish to purchase the half share of the land under the prison or the forest. The value of the assets transferred in this on-account settlement will be taken into account when the Crown makes an offer of redress for the final settlement of the iwi historical claims. The transfer of these properties is closely linked to provisions in the Ngati Apa bill to transfer the land under the prison and the southern part of the forest. 
I propose that this bill be progressed through its stages as a companion measure to the Ngati Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill we have just dealt with in order for the bills to receive Royal assent on or close to the same date. I thank the members of the Maori Affairs Committee for their excellent work. The hearings were held in Marton on the same day as the Ngati Apa bill at Turakina Maori Girls College. The committee has examined the bill and there are a couple of minor technical changes reflecting the name. I want to thank Mr Henare and his team for the excellent work they did and I want to thank members of the working party for their work in reaching this on-account settlement in such short time frames. Once again I thank the committee for their work. 
CHRIS TREMAIN (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 We have made good progress today and I seek leave for the House to rise early. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: Leave is sought for the House to rise early. Is there any objection? There is no objection. I think members have saved 30 seconds. 
Debate interrupted.