Smith Nick: Tūhoe Claims Settlement Bill Te Urewera Bill — Third ReadingsText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSmith Nick: Tūhoe Claims Settlement Bill Te Urewera Bill — Third Readings[Sitting date: 23 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19474. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Conservation):Kia ora tātou katoa kua huihui mai. I acknowledge Tāmati Kruger the trustees and people of Tūhoe and this landmark legislation arising from the Te Urewera-Tūhoe Bill in the Treaty settlement process. I want to make a few comments about the settlement in the context of the history of Treaty settlements some comments about the conservation significance of the Ureweras and the settlement and a little bit about the future.It is surprising for me as a Minister of Conservation in the 1990s who was involved under the leadership of the Rt Hon Jim Bolger—who is in the House—in the huge debate that occurred around the provisions of the Ngāi Tahu settlement in respect of conservation land how far this country and this Parliament have come when we now get to this Tūhoe settlement in respect of the treasured Te Urewera National Park. If you had told me 15 years ago that Parliament would almost unanimously be able to agree to this bill I would have said “You’re dreaming mate”. It has been a real journey for New Zealand iwi and Parliament to get used to the idea that Māori are perfectly capable of conserving New Zealand treasures at least as well as Pākehā and departments of State. I want to also acknowledge in the history of that Treaty settlement process—and I think Minister Chris Finlayson this is No. 34 that you have progressed through this Parliament—and I would actually say to you that I think this has been one of the most difficult because the history with Tūhoe is actually one of the ugliest chapters in the settlement history of New Zealand. Even when we were elected to Government in 2008—with the commitment of the Prime Minister and your energy which I acknowledge Chris as Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations—you would have been an optimist to think that we could get to this point with what I think is the most difficult of the Treaty breaches that this Parliament is having to deal with.I note that the 213000 hectares of the Ureweras is one of the very special conservation areas of New Zealand. It is the largest national park in the North Island. I note that in the Treaty settlement process there is a desire to have world heritage recognition of that area something that I would welcome. I note that this is an area that has over 70000 visitors a year. It is an area where over 5000 people a year do that very special great walk of the Waikaremoana Track and I acknowledge that. The part for me that is a bit ironic in the debate that has occurred around national parks is that there has been this view that Pākehā treasure to a greater degree New Zealand’s natural heritage and that in my view is actually the opposite of what has been true if we are honest about the history of New Zealand. Many of the settlers that came from Europe wanted to recreate in New Zealand a sort of English landscape rather than actually recognise the natural treasures. Even as a Minister of Conservation of Pākehā heritage I note that there are literally thousands of species that exist only in New Zealand whereas the United Kingdom from which many of us descend has only one unique species a rather boring Scottish Crossbill. Then I look at just the Ureweras. Whether it be kiwi or kōkako whether it be the kākā whether it be in terms of the huge beech and podocarp forests it is truly a natural treasure.In that discussion around whether iwi can be trusted with managing those treasures I say absolutely and I say that the new board will do in my view equally as good a job of managing that treasure as any department might. There is in the conservation movement a view that only the State only the Government can do conservation well. I am pleased that this Government has actually made some changes to the Department of Conservation for it to be more outward looking for it to be involved not just in more partnerships with iwi but also with business and with communities because if we are truly to look after what makes these precious islands special then it is not just up to departments of State but it means partnering with community organisations and I think the Te Urewera Bill which we are passing today actually sets up a new framework in which to manage New Zealand’s treasures.I want to finally comment about the future because I am an optimist. I reflect back on when Tau Henare was the Minister of Māori Affairs and I was the Minister of Conservation in the 1990s and the huge controversy over the visitor centre at Lake Waikaremoana and the tensions that existed over the very issue. I would like not just to acknowledge Tau’s work as the chair of the Māori Affairs Committee on this legislation but to say to Tau as a retiring member that I look forward to travelling to Lake Waikaremoana and opening a new visitor centre on a site that has been determined by Tūhoe with a design that has involved Tūhoe and in a place of which Tūhoe and all New Zealanders can be proud. This is remarkable legislation and a remarkable achievement. We must acknowledge the courage of all of those who have been involved in getting this to the third reading stage. I particularly want to say that it is actually Tūhoe themselves who have had the most courage for having—where trust had previously been breached—the good faith to sit down with the Crown and find a way forward and this legislation does just that.