Paraone Pita: Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) — Second Reading 
Paraone Pita: Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) — Second Reading 
[Volume:646;Page:15679] 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Engari i mua i te haere tonu o tenei kaupapa e tika ana ki te tautoko i nga mihi i mihia e taku tuakana mai i Te Tai Tokerau ki nga hunga tokorua i pa mai Te Ringa Kaha o Aitua i te ra nei. Na reira e te rangatira e Alec te tuahine kourua hoki na kourua i te ra nei i para te huarahi i kawe atu i a korua ki te kainga e ki nei te kainga tuturu mo tatou mo te tangata. Na reira ka nui nga mihi ki a korua ka ea ka ea ka ea. 
Ka huri ki a tatou te hunga ora na reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou. Tena hoki koutou te mangai mai i te iwi o Tuwharetoa e noho nei i roto i te Whare i te po nei. E tika ana kua tae mai koutou ki te hakarongo ki nga korero e pa ana ki to iwi i hakahua nei i roto i tenei pire. 
[ 
Greetings to you Mr Assistant Speaker. Before I continue to address this bill it is appropriate that I endorse the tributes by my elder relative of the north to the two who were struck down today by the great hand of misfortune. And so to you Alec the leader and to the sister both of you who lie wasted as though in battle upon the pathway that will take you two home the home referred to as that eternal one for mankind. So huge greetings to you. It is satisfied fulfilled and done.  
I turn now to the living: greetings greetings greetings. Greetings as well to you representatives of the people of Tuwharetoa who are seated here in the House tonight. How fitting it is for you to be present to listen to the speeches about your people who are mentioned in this bill. 
] 
I prefaced my contribution to this discussion tonight by acknowledging the passing of two important people within Maoridom—Miss Mahinarangi Tocker a renowned singer in her own right and Mr Alec Phillips a spiritual leader from Manu Ariki. It is only correct that I acknowledge them. I have also acknowledged the presence of representatives of the Tuwharetoa tribe. I acknowledged that given that this bill we are debating at this time makes reference to the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board and an annuity payment they should be here. 
I want to say from the outset that New Zealand First supports the Maori Purposes Bill (No 2). It is an omnibus bill that has four particular issues. One is the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board. During the hearings by the Maori Affairs Committee we heard the reasons for the change of name from “Te Mauri o Maniapoto” to “Te Kaumatua Kaunihera o Maniapoto”. The name certainly reflects the task of that group. It is a council of elders and therefore holds a significant place in the tribe of Maniapoto. An earlier speaker made reference to the important contribution that that particular tribe has made to New Zealand. In relation to the King movement and the history surrounding Kingitanga I have no hesitation in supporting those sentiments. 
The bill also proposes amendments to formalise the establishment of a seventh regional management committee for Kawhia Harbour region. As we progress as a nation the importance of consultation and the representation of the total community not just some members of the community is a very important issue. In this regard the people of Maniapoto recognise that this is a vehicle by which they can be represented in regard to their harbour region. 
The bill also makes some amendments to the Maori Trust Boards Act. When this matter was raised at the select committee some concern was expressed by some members in terms of the retrospective effect that this particular legislation had and whether it affected any decisions that may have impacted on particular trust boards. We were assured by officials from Te Puni Kokiri that this was not the case. I think the defining point for me as a member of that committee in terms of supporting this particular section of the bill is that clearly there was a conflict between the Maori Trust Boards Act and the Maori Fisheries Act. It is important that there is some cohesion and we certainly support the new voting age of 18. 
People talk about them being rangatahi—being young people. They may be young in terms of some members of this House but the fact that they have been given the suffrage—the opportunity to vote at that age—certainly suggests that they are more than just rangatahi. 
The other part of the bill that I want to refer to is the amendments to the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. This bill proposes an increase in the membership of the tribunal from 16 to 20. Of course this amendment is made in anticipation of the increased workload that the tribunal will have to deal with given the closing date for the lodging of historical claims. However I suggest to the House that the demand for extra members of the tribunal will be relevant only if the claims themselves are ready to proceed by which I mean that the required research has been done and those groups responsible for carrying out that research have the resources to do so. 
This House may recall that a few weeks ago we debated the bill about conflicts of interest. On behalf of New Zealand First I argued that there was no need for the Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court to hold consecutively the position of chairman of the tribunal. Given that we are now suggesting that we increase the number of members of the tribunal to 20 perhaps the need to have one person fill two positions may not be as strong as the original reason for appointing the one person to the two positions. 
The other point I make is in respect of the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board. Here the amendments are made to accommodate the paying of annuity. During the select committee stage we in the Maori Affairs Committee heard that the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board certainly supported the amendment so as a select committee we had no reservations about supporting them also. 
So all in all this Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) is an omnibus bill and the changes that have been recommended certainly reflect that. I say once again on behalf of New Zealand First that we support the passing of this bill. Kia ora.