Jones Dail: Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Jones Dail: Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:625;Page:20207] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 Dr Mapp was not in the Chamber when I spoke on this bill a short while ago but I am now speaking again. I note the interest that Dr Mapp has in the use of the words “or the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi)” in clause 14(a)(i)(A). I appreciate his concern and Mr Franks’ concern about that. Of course Mr Franks’ previous amendment to a whole clause rather than to a part was ruled out of order. Just to be consistent I am putting forward an amendment to delete the words “principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi)” and we will see whether the National Party supports it. I got the impression from the previous speaker Georgina te Heuheu that National was quite happy with what I said a little while ago. But perhaps Dr Mapp was not listening to what I said and now he is saying “All right let’s put it in.” So I am putting in an amendment and we will see where we go with Dr Mapp on that particular issue. 
The issue does not make any difference either way to me or to New Zealand First in the context of only this legislation. As I said this legislation brings something to an end and whatever the people of Ngati Tuwharetoa Bay of Plenty are getting—on the basis of whatever principles may exist on the basis of the Treaty of Waitangi on the basis of this confiscation or that confiscation or on the basis of whatever somebody said 100 years ago 50 years ago or 25 years ago—we really do not know what finally drove people to come to this decision. One has a negotiation and one ends up with a compromise. I doubt whether anyone who sat around the committee table in coming to this conclusion said it had to be worked out on the basis of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. I am sure that when people look at the settlements set out in the schedules they will see that none of those settlements relate to anything to do with the so-called principles of the treaty. It came down to people making a decision reaching a compromise and saying that at the end of the day they have argued about the issues for 100 years and finally the Government and the various political parties have decided to do something about them. So those people have reached this decision. 
It is really academic and a matter that is in the past tense to go into the reference to the principles of the treaty in this particular bill. However I appreciate the concern that other members have expressed so I have asked for the words “or the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi)” in clause 14(a)(i)(A) to be deleted. I really look forward to receiving the support of Georgina te Heuheu and Dr Mapp on that. 
This bill has had a considerable amount of time spent on it already and New Zealand First wants to bring all these matters to an end and have the issues resolved. That is the basis of our policy. I do not intend to take any further time on this issue and look forward to the clause being dealt with at the appropriate time. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich) 
: I call Stephen Franks.