Macindoe Tim: Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMacindoe Tim: Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 19 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:16165. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Tēnā koe e te Mana Whakawā kia ora e te Whare tēnā koutou e te iwi ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. For reasons that others have explained and largely revolving around the lingering fog at Wellington Airport—of course fog is a meteorological condition with which we in the Waikato are totally unfamiliar—I find myself here rather unexpectedly. We have not had much fog in recent times I have to say. For those reasons I am rather unexpectedly taking a call. Nevertheless as a Waikato member of Parliament albeit from the western side of Kirikiriroa I am particularly pleased to be able to support this Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill which is of such significance and interest throughout the wider Waikato region.Other speakers this morning have already traversed the background to the Raukawa Claims Settlement Bill and the considerable work that has been undertaken by all parties in bringing this bill to its second reading today. That is in itself a matter to welcome warmly. Could I as other speakers have done acknowledge very sincerely the outstanding leadership and work of the Hon Christopher Finlayson the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations who has been doing an outstanding job in that role for more than 5 years now. It is worth pointing out that under his stewardship we have signed 42 deeds of settlement. Minister I congratulate you on that and thank you for the huge work you have been doing in this area.The Raukawa grievances include the Waikato and Tauranga wars of the 1860s and the confiscation of Raukawa land following that conflict. The introduction and implementation of native land laws that facilitated the alienation of Raukawa land and the Crown’s failure to ensure that Raukawa had adequate lands to ensure for its present and future needs contributed to the considerable economic social and cultural detriment of Raukawa. That is at the heart of the process that we have been undertaking and the major basis of the Crown’s apology.I believe that the settlements process in New Zealand is now being seen for the considerable benefits that it can convey. As others have mentioned some people around the country have been dubious about them. There have been some cynical comments but now as we see in my own area of Waikato where the Tainui settlement was of course the historic trendsetter—that Tainui settlement of nearly 20 years now is havinga huge and enduring impact for the good throughout the Tainui region. It is a model that others have followed and that we are seeing unlock iwi economic potential and boost regional and provincial areas. In keeping with our priority as a Government to build a more productive and competitive economy it is absolutely part and parcel that we want to ensure that iwi are in a position to be a leading part of that process.I also want to acknowledge as others have done the inimitable style and leadership of the Hon Tau Henare in his chairing of the Māori Affairs Committee and the contributions of all members of that select committee who have done very good work.This second reading debate represents another significant step on another important journey. The process has been a long and often arduous one. It is in everyone’s interest for the destination to be reached and I look forward to the day when that occurs for Raukawa. I thank all speakers for their contributions to this debate and especially all who have been a part of this important Treaty settlement negotiation. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa.