Submissions on river settlement bill heard

Nine members of the Māori Affairs Select Committee hear submissions in Whanganui. Monday, August 15, 2016 Wanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley

Most submitters support the legislation for the Whanganui River Settlement - which is no surprise given the "innovative and inclusive" approach to its negotiation, says an iwi leader.

A crowd of at least 120 were in Whanganui War Memorial Centre's Pioneer Room on Monday morning as Parliament's Māori Affairs Select Committee heard eight submissions on the bill. Pupils of Te Kura o Kokohuia and Cullinane College had to sit on the floor because there were not enough seats.

The submitters included Whanganui District Council, the Uenuku Charitable Trust and Taranaki iwi Ngāti Maru, which has interests in the upper river.

The nine members of the committee were MPs Tutehounuku Korako, Marama Fox, Joanne Hayes, Chester Borrows, Adrian Rurawhe, Kelvin Davis, Metiria Turei, Nanaia Mahuta and Pita Paraone.

The Whanganui River Settlement was signed at Ranana Marae on August 5, 2014. Its settlement bill, Te Awa Tupua, has had its first reading and is being considered by the committee.

Only two submissions did not fully support the bill, but the differences were on minor matters, Ngā Tangata Tiaki solicitor Jamie Ferguson said.

One of those was a submission from the Uenuku Charitable Trust, which said Uenuku and Tamahaki wanted to be categorised as iwi rather than hapū. Mr Albert said the same could apply to a number of tribal groupings, once known as hapū and now thought of as iwi.

Another change was requested by Whanganui River Maori Trust Board chairman Brendon Puketapu. The board's role has been to progress the river settlement. Now that it's signed the board's work and resources are reduced.

Because the terms of the current board members ended on October 17 last year it is obliged to hold another election. Mr Puketapu asked for a clause in the bill, making current membership valid until Ngā Tangata Tiaki has officially become the governance entity for the settlement.

The board's previous employees were suitably cared for, he said, with many now working for Ngā Tangata Tiaki.

Mr Albert gave a brief history of the Whanganui River Claim, and named many who played a role.

He said the river was a physical and spiritual entity. Whanganui iwi were connected with it but didn't expect the bill to give them total control of it.

Two people will be able to speak for the river - the Pou Tupua. One is to be appointed by iwi and the other appointed by the Crown.

Everyone will be involved as the settlement rolls out, Mr Albert said.

"No one has an opt out clause under this. We all live, use, affect and impact the river."

He said Whanganui iwi have shown forbearance, compromise and generosity in their approach to the settlement.

Nga Tangata Tiaki deputy chairman Rawiri Tinirau asked the committee to report back to Parliament quickly and implement the bill without delay. The river's many stakeholders were all involved in the "innovative and inclusive" negotiations that formed the settlement, he said.

The committee's report is due out by November at the latest. After that the Te Awa Tupua Bill will have its second reading in Parliament.