Reti Shane: Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeReti Shane: Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 April 2016. Volume:713;Page:10588. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei):Ā e rau rangatira mā tēnā koutou e ngā iwi katoa nau mai haere mai nō reirā kia ora mai tātou.[And so acknowledgments to you esteemed ones; welcome come hither all tribes; my appreciation therefore to us collectively.]It is a pleasure to speak to this the first reading of the Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill. I want to start by commending Minister Finlayson the Office of Treaty Settlements and ngā iwi katoa for getting this bill here today to its first reading. I have had the pleasure many times of enjoying the natural bounty that this settlement recognises primarily in the Whangaroa and Mangonui harbours. To that end I want to remind us of the area of geographical interest within which the overall settlement is located—the rohe area—and many of these placesare of course included in the settlement itself. We start at Taemaro an important starting place when one looks at the attention Taemaro gets in the settlement itself. You then move up the coast to Te Whata around the corner to Hīhī and then down into Mangonui Harbour. Then the boundary actually heads through Oruaiti the head of the stream there and passes inland bordering Ngāti Kahu and Ngāpuhi making its way past Maunga Taratara Otangaroa. Then it reaches back into Whangaroa Harbour at Waihapa Bay makes its way up past Totara North Taupo Bay and back to Taemaro.Within the overall settlement within this area the Minister has commented that the return of the Stony Creek Station 2275 hectares is a key part of this settlement. We know that this has been challenging but it is important and it comes now to a resolution. I want to observe that if one stands today on the ground of Stony Creek Station it could be considered that one is metaphorically standing on an island—an island of negotiation collaboration and leadership that is returning the land to iwi through the process of settlement. I use the metaphor somewhat as a segue to my colleague Pita Paraone who also raised this issue. I used the metaphor of an island because all around the rohe iwi land remains in limbo and it is our hope that others will observe the realness of Crown intent and the tangible benefits that will accrue to Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa and that they will also come to the table with pure intent. I commend the leadership of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa for getting us again here today.In detailed documents like this I have particular interest in the final statements the closing statements in some of the major sections for the overall substance that they might convey to me and the guidance they might give me. The closing statement in the acknowledgments clause 9(8) reads thus: “The Crown acknowledges that the cumulative effect of its acts and omissions including Crown purchases public works takings and the operation and impact of the native land laws left Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa virtually landless. The Crown’s failure to ensure that Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa retained sufficient land for their present and future needs was a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.” I think the closing statement under “Apology” clause 10(e) is also important: “The Crown seeks to atone for past injustices it has inflicted upon you. Through this settlement the Crown hopes to restore its honour and relieve Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa’s justified sense of grievance. The Crown looks forward to forging a new and enduring relationship with Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa based on good faith mutual respect partnership and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi.” I have talked about the realness of Crown intent and I think in these statements that realness is laid bare.In this then the first reading I want to conclude as I basically started by commending the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations the Office of Treaty Settlements and ngā iwi katoa for getting the settlement to its first reading. I look forward to its progress through this House. Thank you. Kia ora.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Māori Affairs Committee.Waiata