AARON GILMORE (National) : I rise to support the Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Bill as well, and it is really good to see such a collegial attitude across this House towards this bill. This settlement bill represents another step in the right direction towards our Government’s target of resolving all Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014, and I am really pleased that it represents an agreement across this House. We are a Government that is committed to the settlement of claims, and I am pleased that one year since the signing of the deed of settlement we are having the second reading of this bill.

As a young Treasury analyst about 10 years ago, I recall aspects and issues of the Wellington Tenths Trust coming across my desk and passing various issues and concerns over to the relevant Minister at that time. It is quite strange that today I stand to speak in support of this bill in its second reading as a result of that. This settlement will see some significant redress being made to the descendants of the Māori people in Wellington and the Hutt Valley generally. We should be thankful for the sound guidance of the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, the Hon Chris Finlayson, who has picked up this bill from a previous Labour Government bill, and also for the stewardship of Tau Henare, who pushed this bill through the Māori Affairs Committee with good guidance and some interesting comments that a number of earlier speakers touched on and that I would like to touch on.

Some minor changes to this bill that the select committee made following the first reading have been mentioned. The big issue that has jumped out at me is around the opt-out clause that exists for one group in particular. It is really interesting; I have not seen such an opt-out clause in any deed of settlement. As other speakers have mentioned, it is an aspect that we should not encourage in future deeds of settlement. It is also interesting that the opt-out clause allows for only one particular group to opt out, and some people in that group have chosen to do that. I understand their decision, but I think it is disappointing that they want to negotiate what they perceive might be a better deal for their people, given all the work that has been done to date to get to where we are today by people on both sides of this House and by people who are no longer in this House. That aspect is contained in the select committee report, and, interestingly, it is touched on in some changes to clause 9(1) of the bill. This opt-out clause places the Crown in a difficult position and causes a lot of uncertainty, not only to the people of Ngāti Tama who have opted out but also for people who may have some other aspects, like Ngāti Toa—and they have been mentioned today, as well.

I hope that all Māori who will benefit from this legislation see this settlement as a method for them to move on and a potential position for them to move on from together. We have approximately $20 million in cash being passed over to the various iwi groups under this settlement, but, more interestingly, so are a number of very iconic land sites that exist across Wellington. I know the very important aspects include former canoe landing sites, Pipitea Marae, and other sites. Some of those things will hopefully provide a sustainable position for Wellington Māori to go forward from in the future. I note that other iwi, when they have been awarded similar types of amounts, have gone on to be very successful in sustaining their own economic and financial position.

I cannot stand here without pointing out how successful Ngāi Tahu were in getting their $170 million to grow to well over $600 million within a 10-year period. I encourage the people who will benefit from this legislation to learn from the experience of Ngāi Tahu. Perhaps they can go and get some understanding of what may have happened around that. I encourage people to share their experiences, because if Wellington Māori can go on to grow and be successful, as Ngāi Tahu have done, that would be a wonderful thing. I am sure that the people of Ngāi Tahu would be very happy to share their experiences—for a fee, of course.

I think this is a momentous occasion for the people of Wellington. They have waited since 1839 for this settlement bill to come to this House. It is a wonderful occasion, and I look forward to the people of Ngāti Tama thinking more carefully about what they have been offered. Maybe they could think very carefully about what that might mean for them, about what may arise for them in the future, and about not having to have a large amount of renegotiation, which could occur from a further deed of settlement and set of negotiations, and which might take a significant period of time.

I will leave it there, but I commend this bill to the House. It is an excellent step, and I think it is wonderful that this House is in agreement on this settlement. Hopefully it leaves Wellington Māori in a good position to go forward from for the long-term future.