Horomia Parekura: Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill — First Reading 
Horomia Parekura: Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:644;Page:13929] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I move  
That the Mauao Historic Reserve Vesting Bill be now read a first time. 
 At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be considered by the Maori Affairs Committee that the committee report back to the House on or before 27 March 2008 and that the committee have the authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting except during oral questions during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Orders 192 and 195(1)(b) and (c).  
This bill transfers ownership of the fee simple estate in the Mauao historic reserve generally referred to as Mount Maunganui to the iwi of Tauranga Moana—Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga—in recognition of the significant cultural traditional historical and spiritual importance of Mauao to them. It also recognises the relationship between Waitaha and Mauao and the importance of Mauao to the wider public.  
I would like to acknowledge the initiative of Kiri Toha Tangitu in the mid-1990s who started discussions on Tauranga Moana and with my colleague the Hon Mita Ririnui regarding Mauao. Mike O’Brien and Wi Parera Te Kani who have both since passed over should also be mentioned because of their energy in progressing the proposal on behalf of iwi for the Crown to consider returning Mauao to the ownership of tangata whenua.  
I would also like to recognise the kaumatua of Tauranga Moana Iwi and the trustees of the Mauao Trust who have demonstrated considerable patience while the technical aspects of the bill have been finalised. I recall meeting the trustees and iwi representatives on 11 August 2007 in Tauranga when we signed an agreement to introduce this bill. That in itself was a significant milestone after many many months of discussion negotiation and finalising the finer points of the transfer proposals to return Mauao to the iwi.  
The bill transfers the fee simple estate to iwi. Like other maunga tapu the hapu and iwi of Tauranga Moana are bound to their ancestral mountain Mauao. The whakatauki “Ko Mauao te maunga ko Tauranga te moana” reflects the central part of Mauao in their collective identity from times gone by and into the future. This bill gives effect to the agreement that was signed by the Crown Tauranga Moana Iwi the trustees and Waitaha representatives on 11 August 2007 to introduce vesting legislation.  
The bill will transfer the fee simple estate of the Mauao historic reserve to Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga. Mauao will retain its historic reserve status under the Reserves Act 1977 but as the Act does not provide for the transfer of reserves enabling legislation is necessary. The bill guarantees that the public will continue to enjoy access to Mauao and the Tauranga City Council will continue to administer the reserve. The increased involvement of iwi over time will complement and enhance the already iconic status that Mauao has for the country. This bill and the agreement it seeks to implement are not consideration of any Treaty settlement nor will the bill affect any historical Treaty negotiations in the future.  
The bill is not long with 16 clauses. Its brevity however should not be seen to overshadow its significance. The vesting of the fee simple estate in iwi recognises the mana of Mauao. It is not concerned with determining ownership or mana whenua at 1840. It recognises that each of the four iwi have through the ages had significant ties to Mauao that are enduring for those iwi and hapu today. The Waitangi Tribunal understands that all the hapu of Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui Ngati Pukenga and Waitaha have associations with Tauranga Moana and Mauao. This bill fulfils the initiative of those representatives of Tauranga Moana and makes good on the agreement brokered by the body mandated by the iwi to progress the proposal through to legislation—Te Runanganui o Tauranga Moana.  
For these reasons I consider that the bill should proceed without delay to the Maori Affairs Committee and be reported back on or before 31 March 2008. This will allow the Maori Affairs Committee sufficient time to receive submissions on the bill after the Christmas break. I commend the bill to the House.