Finlayson Christopher; Tolley AnneHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National): It's always good to follow Mr Tirikatene in this House. I acknowledge him and can I also acknowledge his late Auntie Whetū because I think in the old days when there were four Māori seats her seat of Southern Maori started around Māhia Peninsula and went all the way down the west coast and then took in all the South Island. So when her nephew complains about all the work that he has to do all I say to him is Get real! Auntie had far more territory to cover." But Whetū was a great woman and I thoroughly enjoyed her company as I got to know her in later years. This is the final stage of the legislative process for this legislation. It was introduced on 20 December 2016 and Mr Korako was then the chair of the Māori Affairs Committee and steered it through the committee stages after it was referred to the select committee on 14 March 2017 and now it's back in the House for its third reading.Can I begin by also acknowledging the negotiators over the years for Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa John Whaanga and Tāmati Olsen. They always had a very commercial approach to matters but at the same time were adamant that the cultural component of the settlement had to in some way acknowledge the degree of land loss. It's very easy with Treaty settlements simply to talk about the money or the commercial opportunities; there's so much more to a Treaty settlement than that. I've said on many occasions that Treaty settlements are not mere commercial deals; they are a lot more important than that. John and Tāmati did a great job especially with the difficult negotiations over Te Urewera and I acknowledge them and thank them for their service to their iwi.I also acknowledge the Crown representatives—my old friend Pat Snedden. I'm sure Pat won't mind my saying this—he's an old lefty. He phoned me shortly after I became the Minister because he'd been involved with Te Tira over the years and also with the iwi of the Far North. He said "I suppose you want my resignation." and I said "Oh no Pat. Just carry on." He did a great job for me over the years as a Crown negotiator and I greatly appreciated getting to know him and working with him. He certainly has a heart as big as the rohe of Te Tira and I acknowledge him and what he's done for his country over the years. I also acknowledge John Harbord for his work as the Crown negotiator. I think the Deputy Prime Minister once said that I only appointed "my mates" as Crown negotiators. Well Pat Snedden's many things but he ain't my mate. But that having been said—well he ended up my mate I suppose. He's a very nice guy. Like so many of the statements that Mr Peters made that was scrambled and off the mark.It's been a tremendous pleasure to work with the various large natural groupings (LNGs) of Ngāti Kahungunu over the years. They're a magnificent iwi that are going to play their part not only on the East Coast of New Zealand but throughout the country in the years to come. So on 17 December 2010 I signed a deed of settlement with Ngāti Pāhauwera—a wonderful group of people in the northern part of the bay—and of course I've been dealing with them over their foreshore and seabed arrangements. Then on 25 May 2013 I signed a deed of settlement on behalf of the Crown with Maungaharuru-Tangitū. They too—and I think of Bevan Taylor and all the wonderful people there—have contributed so much to the region. Mana Ahuriri hapū and the Crown signed a deed of settlement on 13 June 2017 and I very much look forward to when their legislation can be introduced to the House. I'm sure Mr Nash won't mind my saying so: he and I have been anxious about that. I'd like to see that legislation introduced. Their leadership has compromised to great extent and has been dealing with some pretty strong opposition. Financially they've suffered as a result of delays and I think it would be good if the Crown could recognise that. Heretaunga Tamatea and I signed a deed of settlement on 26 September 2015 and of course their legislation only recently had its third reading. They are a fantastic bunch of people as well. This deed of settlement as has been said was signed at Tākitimu Marae on 26 November 2016.So all that leaves is Wairarapa and I'm surprised that they haven't got there because Ron Mark's in Cabinet and should be jollying them along. They signed an agreement in principle with me on 7 May 2016 and I think they're going through the ratification work now.So when you add up the cumulative total of the various LNGs of Ngāti Kahungunu normally two sets of comments are made to me. The first from many mean-spirited people is "Why have they got over $350 million all up?" and I have to say to them "Well just look around you. Look at the extent of the land loss. Look at the history." The extent of the land loss in Wairoa alone is massive and that is why they have a Treaty settlement of that order. The other comment that's made—best exemplified by our old friend Hekia Parata who is a Ngati Porou person to her fingertips—is "Why did they get so much? We never got that." I have to say "Well bad luck. Their land loss was greater."So I acknowledge all the LNGs of Ngāti Kahungunu and this is an appropriate time to congratulate each and every one of them for their huge contribution as I say not only to the East Coast of the North Island but to New Zealand. I truly do believe that their very best days are ahead of them.In question time there was a scrambled question that I think came from Mr Peters related to Ngāpuhi—why can't they settle and the "glacial" pace. Well I think probably part of the problem with Ngāpuhi is that so many of the Ngāpuhis are related to him which explains the problems. But I think the reality of the matter is that they simply haven't had the leadership that one would see in great iwi like Ngāti Kahungunu. I would say to Mr Peters and one of his henchmen sitting there Mr Jones who along with Mr Peters wants to abolish the Māori seats—I tell that to Ngāti Kahungunu: they want to abolish the Māori seats. I would say to them that if they look at the leadership—the outstanding leadership—of Ngāti Kahungunu and all the great people who have come up through the LNGs when the moment was needed to show that leadership then I suggest that they could look to Ngāti Kahungunu and learn a thing or two from them.Finally I want to wish Ngāti Kahungunu and all the LNGs that make it up all the very best for the future. Can I say I'll be keeping a very close look on the relationship with Tūhoe. Wira Gardiner did a tremendous amount of work to bring the various groups together over the arrangements for Te Urewera. If there's anything that simply has to succeed in the years to come it's Te Urewera. I know that there's tremendous goodwill on the part of Tūhoe and Ngāti Kahungunu to make sure that that happens. With goodwill and with the kind of leadership that we've seen over the years with negotiations I have no doubt at all that that will happen.So congratulations to Ngāti Kahungunu. It's wonderful to have you in this House. I very much look forward to seeing you in the years to come as this great iwi grows and continues to contribute to New Zealand.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just before I call the Hon Shane Jones I just point out to the House that we have turned out the lights at the end there. There was one that was flickering and we know how that drives people crazy. It's not that we're turning out the lights on you."