Little Andrew; Rurawhe AdrianMORIORI CLAIMS SETTLEMENT BILLSecond ReadingHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I present a legislative statement on the Moriori Claims Settlement Bill. I move that the Moriori claims—SPEAKER: No—that legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the parliamentary website.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I move That the Moriori Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. E ngā mana e ngā rē rau ieriki ieriki mā. Tena kotou tena kotou tena kotou katoa.[Exalted figures and voices of authority and multitudes of leaders; acknowledgments to every one of you.]I have the honour this afternoon of supporting the Moriori Claims Settlement Bill through its second reading. This crosses yet another very important threshold as we all know in the passage of these important pieces of legislation. I begin by acknowledging the work of the Moriori imi their negotiators and the Moriori claims settlement trust for their energy their tenacity and their drive that has brought us where we are today. I'd also like to thank key members of the Crown team: chief Crown negotiator Dame Fran Wilde my ministerial colleagues and the Crown entities who have been involved in this work for many years now.This bill gives effect to the deed of settlement between the Crown and Moriori that was signed on 14 February 2020 on Wharekauri island. The deed of settlement acknowledges all the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims relating to Moriori—so it comprises historical redress which records the Crown's breaches and past injustices; the Crown apology for historical Crown actions or omissions that breached the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles and of course the resulting harm that that caused to Moriori; cultural redress that acknowledges the connections to land and resources of significance to Moriori; relationship redress which builds new connections with the Crown local authorities and other groups; and finally financial and commercial redress which provides a strong economic base for the future.In February 2021 after its first reading this bill was referred to the Māori Affairs Committee and I want to thank the committee for their very fine work on the bill. The committee called for submissions between March and April 2021 and received 55 written submissions. Of these 43 were in support of the bill six were in opposition and six did not take a position. The committee also heard 13 oral submissions at Kōpinga Marae on Rēkohu and in Wellington over April and May 2021. I acknowledge all those who made oral submissions for their efforts and for sharing their kōrero with the Māori Affairs Committee. I particularly would like to acknowledge Hokotehi Moriori Trust for their generosity in welcoming the submitters officials and the committee to Kōpinga Marae for the hearings. I say to the members of that trust thank you for the manawa reka you extended during this integral part of the legislative process.Again I acknowledge the work of the Māori Affairs Committee for its very robust consideration of the bill and the comments that it made on key issues raised in submissions. The committee reported back to the House on 19 August this year and recommended that the bill be passed. The committee has recommended a small number of technical amendments as well as amendments to ensure the fair operation of matters relating to customary fisheries in line with what is in the deed of settlement with Moriori. The committee also engaged with submissions on the bill's historical account summary noting the connection between the historical account the Crown acknowledgments and apology forming part of the Moriori settlement.The committee's commentary also focused on key issues raised through submissions primarily the recognition of ta rē Moriori and the protection of sites of significance. I acknowledge the committee's position encouraging ongoing collaboration between the relevant Crown entities Moriori and the wider Chatham Island community to progress these important matters and it's my hope to see this work progress into the future.By way of conclusion today marks another step closer to renewing the relationship between Moriori and the Crown. I thank the members of Moriori for their continued patience and commitment to the settlement noting that this second reading has been delayed due to the current COVID-19 outbreak. I will of course speak in more detail in the third reading which is always an occasion of great celebration for the relevant iwi or imi in whose interests the legislation is being passed. At that point we will be able to join together with Moriori to fully celebrate the settlement. But until then I commend this bill to House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.