Field Taito Phillip: Treaty of Waitangi (Final Settlement of Claims) Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
Field Taito Phillip: Treaty of Waitangi (Final Settlement of Claims) Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Volume:618;Page:13907] 
Hon TAITO PHILLIP FIELD (Minister of State) 
: 
 I am very disappointed in some of the comments that have been made by members on the Opposition side of the House. I think the intention of this bill is quite clear: it is to try to short-circuit the treaty negotiations process. Although Mr Hide makes every effort to be a statesman he continues to expose himself as someone who really is quite cynical about a legitimate process that New Zealanders need to go through if we are to deliver justice to tangata whenua. This bill is poorly drafted and it is flawed. I want to compliment our United Future colleagues on the speeches they made because I think they identified an important aspect of the treaty process: the generous spirit of Maoridom in accepting some of the compensation which falls well short of what true compensation should be for tangata whenua in terms of the loss of land and resources. I think it is an indication of good faith by tangata whenua the Maori people of this country that they are prepared to negotiate something that is truly short of the real compensation that should be considered. 
I think that if there is good faith on both sides on the sides of those who negotiate on behalf of the Crown and on behalf of Maori the timetable of 10 to 15 years that this Government has identified is a realistic goal for achieving settlement of the historical claims. I believe that the intention of the bill is to play upon some of the frustration that exists out there in the community. I accept that justice delayed is justice denied. There is a feeling within the community that the process has been too long but we are also talking about a period of nearly 160 years since the treaty was signed. Over that period of time significant injustice has been experienced by Maori. I think that most fair-minded New Zealanders would understand that to resolve those sorts of injustices up and down this country over 160 years will take time and that for the sake of future generations due process should be allowed in order to achieve fairness and sustainable resolution of grievances. 
I believe that the Government is doing a good job in terms of resolving the issues in negotiating with tangata whenua in relation to reasonable settlements and in acknowledging that the compensation falls well short of a realistic assessment of the loss of resources and land. I support the Government’s programme. The indication in relation to treaty settlements of the process lasting up to 15 years is a more realistic timetable than what has been proposed in this poorly drafted bill by someone who has just taken the leadership of the ACT party and is trying very hard to transform himself from a perk-buster a caterpillar into a butterfly as my colleague previously mentioned. The transformation is not succeeding and I am afraid that Rodney Hide’s true colours continue to show. I oppose this bill. 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 It is very clear that the Labour Party has a view of Maori as a people beholden to the Labour Party no matter what; as a people whose vote it can take for granted no matter what; and as a people who the Labour Party believes will vote for it as long as it dangles a carrot out no matter what. I have to say that the Labour Party is in for a wake-up call both ways because it has trampled Maori rights by denying a group of New Zealanders the opportunity for their day in court. I do not know how members of this Government can stand up and say that they have to go through due process when halfway through judicial proceedings the Government rushed through legislation to deny Maori their day in court. They talk about the proper process of the tribunal and claimants and what happened with the oil and gas finding— 
Gerrard Eckhoff 
: Canned! 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Canned and they killed it dead and where were the Maori warriors from the Labour Party then? If those Labour Party members were honest with themselves if they were honest towards the people of New Zealand and if they were honest with Maori they would be saying: “Yes we can’t go on forever and a day; let’s settle on a time frame.” 
I am happy with New Zealand First’s suggestion to move this bill to the Maori Affairs Committee. I think that is a good idea. I am happy with Taito Phillip Field’s suggestion that it be made 15 years. I think we should send it off to a select committee consider whether we can do it in 15 years and think about what resources would be needed to do it so we can pick up Taito Phillip Field’s proposal of 15 years. I agree with United Future which said: “Yes we need a time line.” But the members said that they needed to think about it. Well that is what the select committee process is for—having a think about it. 
I say this: I did not agree with anything that Nandor Tanczos said. No I could not agree with him that we are sort of psychologically unbalanced and that I am somehow a Pakeha with a tenuous grip hanging on to New Zealand. No I could not agree with the Greens. But I do agree with Taito Phillip Field; let us have a look at 15 years. I do agree with New Zealand First and with the Maori Affairs Committee. 
I tell the United Future members that I know they had their instructions from Helen Clark this morning not to vote for this bill. I heard the speech and United Future members were in favour of it. This is what they said: “We agree with the intent of this bill. We agree with time lines but Helen Clark has said in her own godly way that we can’t vote for it.” So United Future members come down here like lambs to the slaughter put their heads on the voting chopping-block—chop chop chop Helen Clark has spoken! But I say this. Who are we doing the favour to by dragging this process out forever and a day? 
Hon David Carter 
: No one. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Absolutely no one. Larry Baldock said he looked forward to the year 2040. 
Jim Peters 
: What year? 
RODNEY HIDE 
: 2040. 
Hon David Carter 
: He won’t be in Parliament. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh he will not be in Parliament next year. United Future will be long forgotten. He said he looked forward to 2040 when this would be all settled and behind us. Well I tell him this. For what possible reason could he think given his Labour Government’s woeful performance that these claims will be settled by 2040? None. He is making it up. But I tell Larry Baldock that it is not too late. Vote for it and we will look at a time line of 2040 if he wants the public to have a say.