Hon Dr Pita Sharples, Minister of Maori Affairs Notes for opening Kokiri Ngatahi Treaty settlement hui

· Mihi

o Ki nga tangata whenua o Te Upoko o te Ika

o Ki taku hoa Minita ki a Chris Finlayson

o Ki nga iwi, nga hapu, nga kaitono katoa kua tae mai ki te manaaki i te karanga o te ra

o Ki nga apiha a te Karauna e whakahaere ana i te hui



· He mea nui ki te Karauna kia wawe tatū nga take Tiriti, kia kaua e tōroa nga whiringa korero, kei pau te hau i te hoha, i te mauiui, i te mate.



· No reira he pai kia huihui tatou ki te titiro whanui, titiro arorangi ki nga whetu arataki, ki te pae tawhiti, kia kaua to tatou waka e kotiti haere.



· Otira me titiro ano hoki tatou ki a tatou ano, ki nga kaihoe o to tatou waka, ki te whanau kua eke mai ki to tatou taha.



· Ko taku patai i te ra nei, kei te pehea te wairua o nga mahi whakapumau i te Tiriti o Waitangi?


· Ko nga take Tiriti, he take e ahu mai ana i te noho tahi a nga iwi e rua i tenei whenua, kanohi ki te kanohi.

· Me pehea tetahi e manaaki i tetahi, me pehea tetahi e whakarangatira i tetahi, me pehea tetahi e aroha ki tetahi, hei painga mo nga uri e whakatipu ngatahi ana?

· Tuatahi, me totika te kaupapa o nga mahi, me haere i runga i nga tikanga.

· Engari ki au, ka tutuki nga wawata o o tatou tipuna, ka whakatinanatia nga matapono o te Tiriti o Waitangi, e nga iwi e tutakitaki ana, e korero ana, tetahi ki tetahi, ia ra, ia ra.

· I tenei wa, kei runga tatou i te waka kotahi, kaore ranei?

· E tika ana kia hui nga iwi me te Karauna, te rangatiratanga me te kawnatanga, ki te tamoko i nga kawenata whakatau take.

· Ka mutu tera, ka takihoki nga Minita o te Karauna ki Poneke, ka noho tonu nga iwi i o ratou turangawaewae. Kaore tatou e tupono ki tatou, i a tatou e noho tahi ana i te wa kainga.

· I nga wa o mua, ka whakatuma te tokomaha o te iwi Pakeha i nga take Tiriti, he kuware pea, he kaikiri ranei te take, aua hoki.

· No reira ka waiho ma te Karauna nga take tiriti e kokiri, ahakoa rangirua nga whakaaro o te marea. Ko nga mea e whakahe ana, ka riri i te kawanatanga.

· Nawai ra, nawai ra, ka tau te puehu, ka rata te iwi whanui ki nga whakataunga take Tiriti.

· Tera pea, kua tae ki te wa, me kaha ake taua, te kawanatanga me nga iwi, ki te toro atu ki nga tangata me o ratou rangatira kei nga wa kainga e noho ana, kia whakatata mai ratou ki te tautoko i te kaupapa.

· Me karangatia pea nga koromatua me nga kaikaunihera; nga tumuaki o nga kura wananga nunui; nga rangatira o nga umanga nunui, o nga hahi, o nga ropu-a-iwi, kia haere mai ratou ki nga hui tamoko kawenata, ki te tutaki ki o ratou hoa Tiriti, ki te korero tahi, ki te kai tahi.

· Tera e kiia, he taumahatanga mo nga iwi e whakapau kaha ana kia oti a ratou mahi me te Karauna. Ka tika pea. Engari whakaarohia nga hua a nga wa e heke mai nei, whai muri i te whakataunga o nga take.

· Tera ka pai ake kia eke ratou ki runga i te waka i mua i te whakaterenga ki te pae tawhiti, kia haere ngatahi ai tatou.

· Heoi ano, he whakaaro noa iho tenei, kia hoki mai te wairua pai, te ngakau aroha ki roto i nga mahi whakatau take Tiriti, kia tutuki ai i runga i te whakapono, te tumanako me te aroha o tetahi ki tetahi.

· It is a pleasure to be here today to open this year’s Te Kōkiri Ngātahi alongside my colleague, Chris Finlayson. This is the third year now that we have met together in this forum and I think we can look back on the progress we have made over this time with some satisfaction.



· The momentum has increased this year, and we can expect this to continue as we work towards the completion of Treaty settlements.


The Role of Te Kōkiri Ngātahi

· Te Kōkiri Ngātahi provides a space for us to reflect on how we are doing. For us, it is a chance to test our ideas with you about how we might improve the Treaty settlement process.



· I wonder if the settlement process is becoming formulaic, with a focus on ticking boxes, rather than an engagement between partners in a relationship, exploring the differences and similarities that make the relationship rich and rewarding?


· We are keen to hear your views and to have your input into how the process works.



· Te Kōkiri Ngātahi provides an opportunity for dialogue, Crown and iwi, and a space for you to talk with one another. There is an enormous amount of knowledge and experience here in this room. This hui is a chance to come together to share that wealth of information.



· I am really pleased with the emphasis this year on iwi talking with iwi. This is a real opportunity for you to learn from each other, and to put your collective minds together and develop your thoughts and proposals for how settlement negotiations should run. We are always willing to hear about better ways to do things.


Moving to post-settlement

· This is only going to become more important as we move into the post-settlement environment. It can be difficult when in the midst of negotiations to really focus on what lies ahead.



· The people here, who have been through the settlement process, can talk about the shift of focus that follows a settlement. And they will no doubt tell you that achieving settlement is just the first step along the path.



· As those in regions where iwi have had settlements know, iwi can become significant players in the economy. That said, I do sound a cautionary note.



· The Māori asset base has recently been valued at nearly $37 billion, but settlement redress is a small part of this. Rather, this asset base is the result of your own stewardship, determination to hold assets for future generations, and sheer hard work. The point is that your settlement entities hold the key to iwi generating their own wealth. Ngā mihi ki a koutou!



Iwi engagement



· Since we have been in government, we have had a big push on improving iwi engagement with government and in the policy process. This is most evident with the Iwi Leaders Forum.



· I know there are some who are critical of the forum, but these iwi leaders have established a rangatira ki te rangatira relationship with the Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet Ministers. The government has looked to the forum for advice on some key policy issues of concern to iwi.


· This is not the only way for iwi to engage with the government. I expect that this engagement will continue to develop in different ways as we move into the post settlement environment.


Negotiations over natural resources and social disparities

· The Iwi Leaders’ Forum has gathered to consider such vital concerns as the foreshore and seabed, water, aquaculture, emissions trading, forestry, resource management and whānau ora. These issues are often also raised by claimant groups in Treaty settlement negotiations.



· Concerns about our natural resources will always be high on the agenda of iwi. Ongoing social disparities between Māori and non-Māori is another central concern.



· I have said before, I feel strongly that these are areas the government needs to address outside the Treaty settlements framework.



· The government is obliged to address the socio-economic disparities that persist. This is simply a matter of good and effective government for all citizens.



· The law provides opportunities for Māori to participate in decision-making over natural resources but these legal provisions are not consistently given effect to.



· Improving whole of government effectiveness for Māori is one of the priorities in my portfolio. I intend to work hard on my colleagues to improve the transparency and accountability of their departments’ performance for Māori.


Funding changes

· An increase in Crown funding for claimants is welcome. In this time of recession, increased funding shows the importance to the Crown of completing settlements. By now, you should be noticing the increase, particularly if you are not Crown Forestry Rental Trust clients.



· I also welcome the approach being taken to the old legal aid funding to make it more available for mandating.



· It usually takes significant effort to bring together diverse groups and interests to speak with a single cohesive voice. Often, groups need a major outlay to achieve this.



· Funding of up to $50,000 for eligible groups during pre-mandating is better than the current system of reimbursement on recognition of a Deed of Mandate, especially for groups with limited resources.



· And maintaining a mandate throughout negotiations is no easy task. A tailored fund to meet the costs of legal and facilitation services when mandate issues arise is also very welcome.



· This fund can be accessed by mandated groups working together as collectives, which recognises the increased use of the regional approach. Funding policies need to keep up with changes in the approach to negotiations.


Conclusion

· In the two years since the first Kōkiri Ngātahi, your advice and input into this policy-making has ensured we develop a strong platform from which to progress to the completion of Treaty settlements.



· The path to a successful Treaty settlement is arduous, and navigating this path requires an approach that is both steadfast and visionary. It is important to stay focused on the successful and sustainable completion of negotiations.



· The significance of reaching that point cannot be overstated. This process of reconciliation, and its potential to contribute to the future economic, social and cultural prosperity of the iwi, remains foremost in my mind as we tread this path together.



· Throughout it all, relationships remain paramount. Gatherings such as this provide an opportunity to foster these good relationships, both between iwi and Crown and amongst iwi. The future of our Treaty partnership depends on it.