Ka mate, ka ora

Tena tatou.

 

In the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister acknowledged that for New Zealand to move forward as a nation, the settlement of historical Treaty grievances will be vitally important.

 

This is a bold statement which we in the Maori Party will be holding this Government to account to, as we did previous Governments and Governments to follow.

 

We, of the Maori Party stand by our belief that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the starting point for the process of reconciliation between iwi, hapu and the Crown. Settlements are a part of that process of reconciliation provided they are fair and durable in the eyes of both parties. That is a huge challenge.

 

I wish to mihi to Ngati Toa Rangatira; Ngati Rarua; Ngati Koata; Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu; Te Atiawa ki Te Tau Ihu; Rangitane o Wairau; Ngati Kuia and Ngati Apa ki Te Ra To.

 

Congratulations on their signing today. In just day ten of this Parliament, we are celebrating a comprehensive and significant settlement for Ngati Toa Rangatira; Tainui Taranaki ki te Tonga and Kurahaupo ki te Waipounamu.

 

Without making too fine a point Mr Speaker, I remember a particular question time back in August 2007 when the former Minister of Treaty Settlements had to concede that there was only one claim settled from initial negotiation to completion since 1999, and that was for Nga Rauru Kiitahi.

 

And so we welcome the commitment of this Government to the speedy completion of final, durable settlements of historical grievances.

 

The Maori Party has campaigned vigorously for increasing the speed of Treaty settlements by a range of measures.

 

We have promoted the notion of breaking the cap – abolishing the fiscal cap on Treaty settlements. We have always seen this as an artificial and ineffective constraint which impedes the progress we need to resolve outstanding Treaty claims.

 

The $171 million redress package and the additional 128 million dollars allocated for accumulated Crown forest rentals, emission credits and other payments in lieu of Crown forest redress are important and distinctive elements of specific and financial redress for these iwi.

 

We are pleased that the comprehensive settlement of the multiple iwi grouping has been able to be reached in a way which maintains the integrity of their claim without the undue pressure which sometimes comes to reduce or compromise the settlement.

 

We, the Maori Party, also seek also to review the claimant funding. We are acutely aware that uneven and inequitable funding creates barriers to full and final settlement.

 

For anyone who has any familiarity with this cluster of iwi groups in Te Tau Ihu and the lower North Island, there would be an awareness of the complexity of the relationships within this region. It is a region that is highly contested with many overlapping claims.

 

There has been a history fraught with conflict; the scale of the land loss is immense; the impact of settlement upon the area has been extreme.

 

When we look at this area we think of:

· the Wairau and Waipounamu purchases of the 1840s and 50s;

· the alienation of land from the Motueka Native Reserve;

· the perpetual leasing of the reserves in the 1880s;

· the Crown’s failure to set aside adequate reserves;

· the kidnapping and detention of the Ngati Toa chief, Te Rauparahu without trial for 18 months;

· and the accumulated sense of grievance and despair at the profound breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

 

That such injustices occurred; that the customary rights of the iwi were ignored; that the operation of the native land laws served to deliberately undermine the authority of the iwi is only today, being recognised as a failure on behalf of the Crown.

 

But this history does not just reflect on the poor performance of the Crown. It also set a course which threatened the very nature of the relationships between all of the iwi groupings of this area.

 

And so we in the Maori Party take this time to also acknowledge the leadership and the determination of the eight iwi who have come together in the interests of their future generations.

 

They have made a priority of maintaining kotahitanga in and between their own iwi and hapu, as well as promoting kanohi-ki-te-kanohi discussions with the Crown.

 

We honour them for the long and difficult journey they have travelled, and the commitment they have shared to work together, to collaborate and cooperate, for the benefit of all.

 

And it is in that light, that I want to refer to one of the more controversial elements of the package released today, that is the special provision to recognise the significance of the haka, Ka Mate, Ka mate for Ngati Toa.

 

Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira has consistently raised their concerns around the inappropriate and culturally offensive misuse of their tribal haka, Ka mate, Ka mate.

 

While today’s version of this haka is only a few lines, the original chant dates back several centuries, and is intimately associated with their chief Te Rauparaha, it is one of the taonga of their tribal heritage.

 

And so when two New Zealanders decided to teach it to the Spice Girls at a concert in Bali there was some immediate concern from Ngati Toa, about how the cultural integrity of that haka was maintained.

 

Similarly, when an Italian advertising agency decided to film a group of women mimicking the haka’s words and actions, in an effort to sell Fiat cars, one had to wonder what the connection was between that street in Italy and Te Rauparaha.

 

The truth is, the haka has been associated with the pride and passion of Aotearoa throughout the world. Whether it is the Allblacks stirring up the emotion in their prematch haka, or homesick New Zealanders, joining together in a rousing rendition, it is an experience that always conveys the sense of respect we have for our national identity.

 

The words create that feeling of unity, of bringing about the triumph of life over death, of affirming the opportunity for peace and optimism.

 

And so we honour Ngati Toa for the unique ownership and authorship they have for such a significant haka. It is about recognition, it is about respect.

 

If I could just note one irony, it is that the New Zealand Rugby Union could cast aside the New Zealand Maori team, while still being prepared to incorporate this haka as a key part of their marketing strategy.

 

It would seem that the cultural significance of the haka to Ngati Toa has been completely overlooked by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, who fail to make any connection between the use of this haka as a branding tool and the investment of Maori participation in rugby.

 

The pre-match haka – alongside the legendary Maori players who have formed the ranks of the Allblacks over the years – appears to count for nothing by the decision at the end of the last year to cut the New Zealand Maori team.

 

Perhaps the settlement today to record the authorship and the significance of the haka to Ngati Toa might inspire some more careful discussions around the board-table of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union about exactly what benefit Maori receive from the high profile use of Maori culture in the Allblack marketing campaigns.

 

Finally, I want to acknowledge the Minister of Treaty Settlements, Chris Finlayson, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples, and the Prime Minister who have worked together with a Ministerial team, including our colleague Hon Tariana Turia, to ensure that such a significant settlement was able to proceed.

 

As the Chair of Tainui Taranaki, Roma Hippolite, said, today’s signing ceremony is a milestone event.

 

We welcome the focus of Mr Finlayson on achievement – as he said earlier this afternoon – and we are certainly keen to continue to work with him and the Government in building up the momentum in Treaty settlement negotiations.

 

I have been on the road with Mr Finlayson and my colleague, Hon Georgina te Heuheu, and I am pleased that he sees the value in promoting chief to chief negotiation, in listening to the people, in engaging with hapu and iwi, and in making such a strong commitment to the resolution of outstanding claims, as the basis of a strong and secure foundation for our future.

 

We seek justice in the pursuit of reconciliation; and we are determined to do all that we can to improve performance in this regard.

 

That investment is a key means, as the immortal words of Ka Mate remind us, that with courage and with strength, that we can triumph over overwhelming odds; ka mate ka mate, ka ora ka ora.