Young Jonathan: Maraeroa A and B Blocks Claims Settlement Bill Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation Bill — Third Readings 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Young Jonathan: Maraeroa A and B Blocks Claims Settlement Bill Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation Bill — Third Readings 
[Sitting date: 25 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:3981. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) 
: 
 E nga reo e nga mana e nga hau e wha tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. I would like to say that I am very privileged to be able to stand here today and speak on these settlement bills for the Maraeroa A and B Blocks the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Claims Settlement Bill and the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation Bill. 
Can I say as a new member of the Maori Affairs Committee that it is a good hard-working committee that seeks to bring the best solution to these settlement claims. Even last week when the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations came in there was very strong support and recognition for his work right across the committee. So I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work that the Hon Christopher Finlayson has been doing in these last number of years seeking to bring durable redress to settle not just claims but hearts. I think that is important to note. I noted his words that these settlements lift burdens. It is not just the burden of grievance but the burden of irresponsibility of the Crown in the past to have seen some of these things take place. 
I believe that today as we go through these third readings it is a wonderful thing a celebration to see those burdens lifted and to see the redress and the acknowledgment and the return of mana and the return of culturally significant wahi tapu areas and also to see commercial redress come to the people of this particular area in the central North Island which I have driven through I would think probably three or four times over the last 3 or 4 months and certainly it is a beautiful part of our nation. 
I think that what we see in the settlement process is not just the redress of the past which is incredibly important. I would like to acknowledge the tipuna who suffered that loss in the first instance and also those who through the years lived in memory of that loss those who are not here today cannot be here today. You here now carry their hearts with you and today you can have that sense of celebration and settlement in your heart as well that things have progressed as they ought to have progressed. 
As to what this does I believe in terms of our nation we are a small nation but we can be a great nation no matter how small or large we may be. That is going to be based upon the partnership of people. That is going to be based upon respect and acknowledgment—acknowledging that people have their place and it is their place—as we are more united with all the differences that make this an intriguing place Aotearoa New Zealand. As we acknowledge one another with respect and give due place and enable people to stand and have economic independence I believe that we will go from strength to strength. Many of the things that we are redressing have caused weakness not only weakness for hapu and iwi but also weakness through the fabric of our nation. So it is with great gladness today that I stand in support of what is happening here. 
I acknowledge the work of the Minister and also the work of the Maori Affairs Committee. I also acknowledge the work of the negotiators both for hapu and iwi and for the Crown. I trust and hope that today will be a great day of satisfaction for all. Kia ora.