Finlayson Christopher: Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFinlayson Christopher: Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 04 November 2014. Volume:694;Page:578. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):I move That the Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Māori Affairs Committee to consider the bill. To my friends from Te Hiku o Te Ika—the tail of the fish—welcome to this House. It is a real pleasure to welcome you at Parliament today in repayment of the manaakitanga that you have extended to me over many years in my visits to your rohe. Your journey to settlement has of course been much longer than that and I have really been honoured to play a part in these final stages.Can I begin by acknowledging the new member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau Kelvin Davis. I thank him very much for being here today notwithstanding the family bereavement that he has suffered and on behalf of the Government I extend our sympathy to his wife.Can I also acknowledge in the gallery today ambassador Shane Jones. It is great to see him back here. I want to acknowledge the great help that he provided to me over a number of years in the north. I do not think we would have got to this stage without a few quiet chats with “His Excellency” the ambassador from time to time. So it is great to see him back here.As we embark together on the next phase of the relationship between Te Hiku iwi and the Crown I certainly hope that our guests feel welcome here today. When your ancestors and the Crown signed the Treaty in Kaitāia in April 1840 Panakāreao famously stated that the shadow of the land could go to the Queen with the substance remaining with Māori. As we know by the following year he was very concerned that the Crown would have the substance of the land and so sadly it came to pass.Te Hiku leaders however have always been vigilant in monitoring the Treaty relationship and in taking action when required. They have a long history of petitioning challenging and protesting against injustice. The abiding image that we all have is that of Dame Whina Cooper leading the land march from Te Hāpua. It is something all New Zealanders are familiar with. It signifies a turning point in our history. So I want to acknowledge the work of her eldest son Joseph (Hohepa) Cooper that generous and kind rangatira who has worked to guide Te Rarawa though negotiations over the last 14 years.Every step of this journey has been made possible by the work of those who came before us. I have made the following statement to Te Hiku iwi in the past but I want to it say again today so that it is written into the parliamentary record that we are together in this House continuing on a pathway to justice that was first laid by Matiu Rata one of the many great leaders who have hailed from the far north. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal and next year it will be 40 years since that tribunal was established. This contribution to the Treaty settlement framework is still so very important today. Mr Rata spent many years in this House working on behalf of all Māori and as an advocate for the people of Te Hiku o Te Ika. It is really a great honour to stand in this House today and acknowledge his work for his nation. His legacy lives on in the spirit of chieftainship that remains very strong in this most northerly part of our land.Negotiating a settlement makes the Crown recognise the harms inflicted on the people of Te Hiku and the hurt that has been carried over many generations. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that the people of Te Hiku have endured some truly hard times as a result of the Crown’s breaches of the Treaty. The collective actions and omissions of the Crown left all Te Hiku iwi with insufficient land for their needs undermined their economy and frayed the social fabric of the far north. This caused many to leave their rohe and left those who stayed with too few opportunities. It impacted on the ability of Te Hiku whanau hapū and iwi to pass on language tikanga and mātauranga to younger generations.As we enter into the final stage of settling their grievances I want again to acknowledge the injustices of the large-scale loss of the best and most productive lands; the Crown’s surplus land policy; the impact of land laws in the 19th and 20th centuries which diminished tribal authority; and the resultant hardship that permeated through this area of our country. I want also to acknowledge each and every member of Te Aupouri Te Rarawa Ngāti Kuri and NgāiTakoto—past present and future. The Crown’s breaches have affected and will affect all members of the iwi of Te Hiku. This has been a journey towards redressing those wrongs. It has been a journey towards the meaningful recognition by the Crown of the mana of Te Aupouri the mana of Te Rarawa the mana of NgāiTakoto and that of Ngāti Kuri.Today with the reading of the settlement legislation we take the first stage in the final part of the journey. We walk on this path together in acknowledgment of our shared history and we move forward together toward our shared future. This bill will give legislative effect to the agreements that have been breached between the Crown and Te Aupouri Te Rarawa NgāiTakoto and Ngāti Kuri.I want to take some time today to acknowledge those who have been instrumental in those four settlements. I look to those who led the iwi negotiating teams over the last 14 years and I apologise if I inadvertently omit the names of some who should be mentioned. But I particularly want to mention the late Matiu Īhaka George Wītana Winiata Brown Raymond Subritzky Gloria Herbert Haami Piripi Paul White Rangitane Marsden and Harry Burkhardt. Thank you very much for the huge contribution you have made. You only have to mention those names to see that the future of the north is in very very good hands. They have been ably supported by many many others during this time. Acting as the interface between the Crown table and the people is no easy task. Negotiating these settlements has really been a test of leadership of resilience and of endurance. We here in this House know the importance of representing constituents and my colleagues and I have been very impressed by the way these great leaders have always had the interests of their people at the forefront of their strategy.The package will be examined in great detail by the Māori Affairs Committee. It is so important that I mention some of the cultural redress—for example the leaping place of spirits Te Rerenga Wairua will be returned to Māori ownership an event that is hugely significant. The important connection Te Hiku have with Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe as a place of custom spirituality and sustenance is recognised in this settlement and I am really excited to see the establishment of a unique and meaningful governance arrangement for that most important part of New Zealand.There is a lot more that I could say because this is a piece of legislation that brings together four settlements. Ngāti Kahu are not ignored; their day I hope will come but in the meantime adequate safeguards are provided for them. It is so good to have the representatives of these great iwi here today; I acknowledge them.Can I conclude by acknowledging Pat Snedden for his great work over many years as my negotiator. He did a fine job. I am sure he will be watching this debate today with great interest and we send him our best wishes. I particularly want to acknowledge the Office of Treaty Settlements staff. I never normally mention individuals but it would be remiss of me were I not to mention Maureen Hickey who has been working on this for so many years and is utterly and completely dedicated to the task at hand.With those comments as I say it is almost an injustice to say so little about such an important settlement. I commend the bill to the House.