Robertson Grant: Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
Robertson Grant: Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:656;Page:5341] 
GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Tena tatou e te Whare. Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika nau mai haere mai. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. It gives me great pleasure to stand here today as the member of Parliament for Wellington Central to welcome the final stage of a very very long journey. It is a great day for Wellington it is a great day for the Taranaki Whanui and it is a great day for everybody in this House to be able to witness one of the final steps in this journey. 
Twenty-one years ago Ralph Heberley Ngatata Love and Makere Rangiatea Ralph Love submitted a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal. To stand here today 21 years on and respect that effort that bravery that leadership that wisdom and that vision is a fine thing. To all of those gathered here in the gallery today and to those who have passed this is my respect and the respect of this House for all the work that they have done. To all of the officials to all of those who have worked hard on this on both sides I pay my respect. 
Also I pay respect to the Ministers who have worked on this claim on both sides of this House and I particularly want to mention Margaret Wilson Mark Burton and especially the Hon Dr Michael Cullen. When I was at the Pipitea Marae last year to see the deed of settlement signing it was a tremendous occasion. I know that Dr Cullen felt very personally and very deeply that he wanted to see this settlement pass through into legislation as quickly as possible. I acknowledge the Maori Affairs Committee for the excellent work it did on ensuring that this bill comes to us today. 
The 21-year delay since the tribunal claim however pales in comparison with the years of hurt alienation loss of mana and access to resources that Taranaki Whanui have felt here in Wellington. This bill gives effect to the deed of settlement that will finally deal to those injustices. I give a commitment today as the MP for Wellington Central that I will be sending this deed of settlement to every school in this city. This is the kind of thing that every person growing up in the city of Wellington Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara needs to understand and know. If we do not learn from our history we are destined to repeat further injustices on other people throughout our lives. I hope this deed of settlement will be seen and understood for its historical account—which is a moving account—of the injustice that was visited upon the Taranaki Whanui. But also I hope it is seen and understood for what else it contains for the apology from the Crown and moreover for the statement of forgiveness—the remarkable and unique statement of forgiveness that is being given today by the Taranaki Whanui. 
This deed of settlement also includes the redress. It will help a lot of people in Wellington to understand the fact that this is a positive forward-looking settlement. It is a settlement that acknowledges the injustices of the past. But it ensures that in the lands the sea and the islands that are returned to Taranaki Whanui today there is an ongoing partnership in their management and an ongoing role for Taranaki Whanui and for all the people of Wellington to ensure that those assets those incredibly important islands lands and seas continue to be enjoyed by all people in Wellington. I particularly want to support the importance of Pipitea Marae its place in this city its place as an important cultural icon for Taranaki Whanui but also as a place for all Wellingtonians where we come together on special occasions. I am glad that has been given a special role in the settlement. 
In the short time remaining to me I reflect again that this is a day that is a cause for celebration. It is also a day to reflect on the injustices of the past and ensure that we the people of Wellington work together in the future to continue our harmonious and great city. Thank you.