Finlayson ChristopherRANGITĀNE TŪ MAI RĀ (WAIRARAPA TAMAKI NUI-Ā-RUA) CLAIMS SETTLEMENT BILL Third ReadingHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations): I move That the Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā (Wairarapa Tamaki nui-ā-Rua) Claims Settlement Bill be now read a third time. E Te Mana Whakawā o Te Whare tēnā koe e ngā hoa mema tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou Kurahaupō waka me ngā uri o Hāmua rāua ko Rangiheuea e karanga ana tonu te huia i roto i ō koutou ngākau maha rau rangatira mā ā tēnei mihi atu ki a koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa.[Thank you Mr Speaker and salutations to you collectively fellow members. Acknowledgments to you the canoe of Kurahaupō and the descendants of Hāmua and of Rangiheuea the call of the huia continuous to summon within the hearts of your vast number esteemed ones of a hundredfold. So I pay a tribute to you collectively. Greetings accolades and congratulations to all of you.]Can I begin by extending a very warm welcome to the members of Rangitāne who have travelled from Wairarapa and Tāmaki nui-ā-Rua and from further afar to witness the third reading of this bill. This is a hugely significant day for Rangitāne and for the Crown and I am pleased that we do not have to wait any longer to see the third reading of this bill.Today is actually a very important day because we settle the Treaty grievances of the Wairarapa and Tāmaki nui-ā-Rua but I am conscious having been Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations for almost 9 years that during my period we have also settled the claims of Rangitāne in the Wairau and of course over the hill Rangitāne in the Manawatū. I have to say that over the years and throughout all these negotiations I have encountered the same drive determination and principled approach to negotiations in all Rangitāne groups. Although I have to say the sense of humour exhibited by a certain person in Wairau is unique—Richard Bradley's form of humour is not replicated across other parts of Rangitāne. You are all very very worthy descendants of Whātonga. Just before I came down here I was having a look at a book by Jock McEwen the former Secretary of Māori and Island Affairs who had a very special affection for Rangitāne and wrote that wonderful text in 1986 that tells the story of Rangitāne and its interactions with various iwi over the centuries.Can I acknowledge those who have suffered the grievances and those who obviously cannot be with us today but began this journey many years ago—obviously they are in our thoughts as they are in the thoughts of all of us whenever we have a third reading. To those of you who have worked so hard to make today possible I offer you my most sincere thanks. Throughout the negotiations the negotiators for Rangitāne displayed great commitment dedication and high standards and I have to say cut to the chase on the big issues very very quickly. I want to acknowledge the lead negotiator Jason Kerehi the trust negotiation team—Mavis Mullins Richard Jones Tīpene Chrisp and chair John Sproat for their very astute oversight of the settlement. I acknowledge all of you for your hard work and your commitment towards a lasting settlement. I also acknowledge as I always do the various Crown agencies and the regional and district councils for their work. I thank the district councils who have been very helpful during the negotiations and have actually made some of the redress possible.The journey to settlement started in the 1980s when Mānahi Paewai lodged Wai 166 and Jim Rimene and others lodged the Wai 175 claim. Tribunal hearings were held in 2004 and 2005 and the Wairarapa ki Tararua report was released in June 2010. From this point on Rangitāne adopted a pragmatic approach to negotiations. The mandate was recognised in October 2011 terms of negotiation were signed in August 2012 and an agreement in principle was signed a couple of years later. Throughout the negotiations the iwi expressed their desire to reach a just and durable settlement swiftly so that they could start growing their assets for the benefit of their people. We all know that Treaty negotiations take some time but we are finally here today—almost a year to the day since we signed the deed of settlement on that very wet Saturday morning not far from Dannevirke.Can I now set out the key aspects of the past relationship between the Crown and Rangitāne—as obviously I want this to be in the permanent record of the House. From the 1840s Rangitāne were among those who welcomed Pākehā to the region and leased land to settlers. The Crown applied pressure on Wairarapa Māori to end the leases and instead sell their land to the Crown. When purchasing land the Crown led the iwi to expect that substantial benefits would accrue. In the course of time however Rangitāne did not experience many of these benefits nor the prosperity that they had reasonably expected from settlement in their region. The Crown also failed to survey or protect from alienation a number of reserves that had been promised. It is such a familiar account which repeats itself time and time again. Throughout the 19th century the Crown continued to acquire areas of land. Communities resisted land sales and fought the breakdown of tribal structures through a number of initiatives including parliaments and indeed also an appeal to the Privy Council but to no avail. By 1910 only 10 percent of the traditional rohe remained in Māori land title and by 1940 that figure had dropped to an appalling one: 3.5 percent. Throughout this process Rangitāne lost many of its traditional food resources and taonga. The environment particularly lakes and rivers suffered degradation in favour of economic development. Being virtually landless by the 20th century compounded with pressures of social deprivation urbanisation and assimilation—these all had a dramatic impact on Rangitāne particularly as Rangitāne communities struggled to maintain their homes customary knowledge and language. The loss that has been suffered can never be fully compensated for by the Crown. Much of what was lost simply cannot be returned. However the people of Rangitāne have graciously accepted the redress contained in the settlement and I acknowledge their generosity in doing so. I think this settlement will contribute to reviving their Rangitānetanga.A very critical aspect of the settlement is the Crown apology. Through the settlement and apology the Crown seeks to restore its honour and atone for its wrongs to Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Tāmaki-nui-ā-rua by easing the burden of grievance that has been carried on for generations. This is of huge importance if we want to develop a new Treaty-based relationship. Another aspect of the redress is the vesting in Rangitāne of two reserves at Pūkaha and their subsequent gift back to the Crown or the people of New Zealand and the overlay classification. This remains one of the last significant stands of native trees from the great domain of Whātonga named by your tupuna as he was travelling up the Manawatū River. The redress acknowledges the special relationship that you have with this area and it symbolises the partnership that exists between the Crown and Rangitāne. You have stressed the importance of a place to stand that you can call your own and the settlement includes the vesting of eight sites of huge significance to Rangitāne. The other important point that I wish to stress is the issue of the lake. It is good to see Mr Mark in the House today because he as a former negotiator for Ngāti Kahungunu is acutely aware of the outline of the redress there. The bed of Lake Wairarapa will jointly be held with Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairarapa Tamaki nui-ā-Rua. It is very good day for Rangitāne and I very much look forward as I am sure Mr Mark does to that day in the very very near future—hopefully by the end of the year—when the deed of settlement can be signed with Ngāti Kahungunu and then it will be a new dawn for both these great iwi in the Wairarapa. Today is about acknowledging the past and looking forward to the future. Everyone can be I think very pleased with what has happened. It has been a long journey but a worthwhile journey. I thank the negotiators once again. I thank Mr Barker who has been the chief Crown negotiator—a very good fellow and a very hard worker. I commend the bill to the House.