Whaitiri Meka: Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWhaitiri Meka: Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 07 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17667. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Tēnā koutou katoa. I too rise in support of the second reading of the Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill. I also want to acknowledge the work of the Koroki Kahukura negotiators the Māori Affairs Committee and the Minister for Treaty ofWaitangi Negotiations—of course well supported by his officials. The Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill gives effect to the deed of settlement signed on 20 December 2012 and the deed to amend signed in October 2013 between the Crown and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura. By signing these documents the Crown and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura agree to the final settlement of the non-raupatu historical Treaty of Waitangi claims for Ngāti Koroki Kahukura.As in previous calls I have taken in this House in acknowledgment of the three Treaty bills before the House I want to draw the House’s attention to the unique qualities of this particular settlement bill. It was touched on by my colleague the Hon Nanaia Mahuta. I do not really want to go over what she said but really to give a bit more emphasis particularly around the acknowledgment of the co-management of the Waikato River the seeking by the people of Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and obviously taking care of the river through the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act of 2010 but in this particular case—and as a submitter shared with us at Karapiro—the absolute desire of these people to assist in the co-management in their catchment area of this magnificent river the awa of Waikato.We heard their submissions and reflected on what was said before the select committee. Like a lot of the iwi up the Waikato River when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of managing their particular catchment areas they are wanting more engagement. But we as the select committee and with the advice of the officials acknowledged Ngāti Koroki Kahukura as a representative on the governance of the Waikato River but I guess the rubber hits the road in terms of being active members along the river where their tribal boundaries are. I do acknowledge the particular submission that came forward and of course the way that the select committee with the advice of the officials has dealt with that. I am trying to get the good parts out of it before I turn to the Arapuni land banking properties and like my honourable colleague mention a certain email.I do want to draw the House’s attention—and it was touched on again by Ms Mahuta—to the lack of mechanisms when we cannot get agreement with cross-claimants on particular properties. It was unfortunate that we could not deal with what Koroki Kahukura were asking around these two land-banked properties in Arapuni. As a result of discussions between both Raukawa and Koroki Kahukura we could not get agreement to ring-fence those properties until a later point to then come back and negotiate how best to claim those properties. I want to add my weight behind Nanaia Mahuta’s claim that we must forge another mechanism for properties that fall squarely in the boundary of Treaty claims—in these cases Raukawa and Koroki Kahukura.I myself as a member of the Māori Affairs Committee could not live with myself if an opportunity to give back property could not be realised simply because the two respective parties could not find a way through. That often happens in Treaty settlements. Parties cannot agree but we cannot then take it and put it on the open market which unfortunately is what is happening with these two Arapuni properties. If there is anything to learn from this particular bill it is about the opportunity to create mechanisms for that very purpose of maybe land banking property that cannot be agreed between two interested parties. I would support the Minister in directing officials to examine that and come back with joint management options that I know are possible and have been used in previous settlements.I want to acknowledge as previous speakers have the hard work of all those concerned. But I want to draw the House’s attention to an email. My colleague did refer to it. She is a lot more diplomatic than me. Like many members in this House I have been both on the side of and the receiver of emails that call into question the commitment of Māori members in this House. I took exception to that email calling intoquestion the desire and the absolute commitment of Māori members of this House to do what is right for their people. I took exception to that email like I said. I am not going to name that person because that person seems to dine out on the fact that their name is bandied around but Tau knows him because I know Tau must be related to him.I just want people to know that not only the members of the Māori Affairs Committee in terms of dealing with Treaty settlements but Māori members in this House work tirelessly as all members of the House do to ensure the aspirations particularly around Treaty bills are dealt with fairly constructively and in good faith. To have somebody who should know better calling into question the decisions of the select committee I think not only does him a disservice but also does a disservice to the people whom he aligns himself with. I have seen plenty of acts where people are prepared to burn bridges and walk away. It is the people and in this case it is the iwi who are left to pick up the pieces. My tip is to say to people in their passion to get things right. A bit of diplomacy goes a long way such as a bit of picking up the phone and having constructive conversations. Firing off open-air emails that call everybody’s mana into question I think is not the way to go. I am going to leave it there in terms of that kaupapa.Coming back it is a great day for Ngāti Koroki Kahukura in this second reading. I support the bill wholeheartedly like all members of this House and look forward to the galleries being filled with people from Karapiro and Waikato-Tainui in support of the third reading of what is a significant bill the Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill. I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora tātou.