Ririnui Mita: Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
Ririnui Mita: Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:635;Page:6379] 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
 on behalf of the 
Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 
: I move  
That the Ngati Mutunga Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time 
. In doing so I would like to say that this bill is an important milestone both for Ngati Mutunga and for the Crown. The bill addresses the significant and longstanding grievances suffered by Ngati Mutunga as a result of actions of the Crown. The bill enables both parties to move forward together in a positive Treaty relationship. 
I encourage each and every member of this House to read the preamble to the bill with care. The bill sets out a formal Crown apology to Ngati Mutunga for the Crown’s past dealings with Ngati Mutunga which breached the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. The preamble records that the Crown profoundly regrets and unreservedly apologises for the confiscation of Ngati Mutunga land. This confiscation was unconscionable. The preamble also records that the Crown profoundly regrets and unreservedly apologises for its unconscionable actions at Parihaka. I note that it was 125 years ago on 5 November that Crown troops occupied Parihaka and arrested its peaceful inhabitants. I would also reiterate the comments of my parliamentary colleague Mahara Okeroa in his first reading speech when he stated that the Crown did not come alone. 
The deed of settlement and this bill will enable Ngati Mutunga to build a stronger ongoing relationship with the Crown and will help to dispel the sense of grief and loss Ngati Mutunga has suffered. In summary as well as a formal apology to Ngati Mutunga the settlement provides for financial redress of $14.9 million and cultural redress. That includes the vesting of 10 sites of cultural significance totalling approximately 168 hectares with relevant provisions to protect the natural values of the sites and public access where appropriate and an acknowledgement by the Crown of the unique and enduring relationship that Ngati Mutanga has with its land in its area of interest. 
The Maori Affairs Committee has considered the bill and has submitted its commentary on it to the House. The committee has recommended that the bill be passed with minor amendments of an editorial and a technical nature. I note that the committee heard two submissions both of which were in support of the bill. In its commentary on the bill the committee highlighted two key concerns expressed by Ngati Mutunga’s submissions to the committee. In terms of the fairness of the quantum the committee noted the concerns expressed by Ngati Mutunga about how the Crown valued Ngati Mutunga’s claim and how it arrived at a quantum figure. The committee said that it did not believe that the settlement was a fair assessment of the severity of the breach. First and foremost I would like to acknowledge that it is not possible to fully compensate Ngati Mutunga for all the losses and prejudice that Ngati Mutunga has suffered. If claimant communities insisted on full compensation for what has been lost there would be no settlements and there would be no resolution to historical grievances. 
I acknowledge that the people of Taranaki and of New Zealand generally have benefited from the land and other resources confiscated and otherwise alienated from Ngati Mutunga. However what has been negotiated and agreed with Ngati Mutunga is a figure that is based on the severity of the breaches suffered by Ngati Mutunga and relativity with previous benchmarks for other similar claims. I respect the committee’s view but do not agree with it. The Crown’s redress package as a whole is an offer that is fair in the circumstances and it has been developed and agreed with Ngati Mutunga. Ngati Mutunga said in its submission to the committee that it is a pragmatic iwi and that settling this claim is another part of Ngati Mutunga getting on with life so that the iwi can grow. 
The committee referred to Ngati Mutunga’s concern about the costs it had incurred related to the disestablishment of the Ngati Mutunga Iwi Authority and the transfer of its assets to the newly established Te Runanga o Ngati Mutunga. The process of establishing and disestablishing private trusts is not an appropriate use of public legislation. Settlement legislation addresses matters necessary to achieve the settlement that cannot be achieved with certainty under non-legislative processes. The Crown’s funding policy has recently been reviewed to include a sum for costs associated with governance and Ngati Mutunga has benefited from the review receiving an additional $34000. This Government will continue to take opportunities as appropriate to consider ways in which to make the settlement process and associated costs for claimants more efficient. 
In conclusion I say settlement negotiations have occurred between Ngati Mutunga and the Crown over a number of years in order to reach this important point. The Crown considers the settlement to be a fair and reasonable settlement in the circumstances. The people of Ngati Mutunga have ratified it with some 95 percent of them in favour of it. The public have now had the opportunity to make submissions on the bill through the select committee process. I encourage all members to support the passage of this bill through the House. Kia ora.