Te Ururoa Flavell MP for Waiariki www.waiariki.maori.nz

Tēnā anō tātou katoa.

Te Puke and Tauranga have been in focus in recent weeks as they deal with the results of negotiations for their respective treaty settlements.

Tapuika iwi based around Te Puke have signed their Deed of Settlement agreement which sets out a long-awaited apology by the Crown and provides for full and final settlement of all Treaty claims of Tapuika including an agreed historical account, cultural, financial and commercial redress.

At the same time as the Tapuika signing, Tauranga Moana iwi have just completed a process of voting to approve the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Deed, Collective Entity and the three trusts signing the Deed on behalf of the Iwi Collective – namely Ngā HapÅ« o Ngāti Ranginui Settlement Trust, Te RÅ«nanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust and Te Au Maaro o Ngāti PÅ«kenga. Voting closed on December 12 and the results are now up on their respective websites.

I have stated publically that I do not much like the treaty negotiation process. In most deals I have seen, they can be the cause for splits in iwi and between iwi with shared interest but in the end, no settlements ever come close to the losses incurred by tribes. In fact it is generally acknowledged that settlements will be at best just two per cent of the real value of losses. Despite the denial by both National and Labour Governments and rejections by tribes some 20 years ago, the one billion dollar cap has only recently been exceeded, which is always a source of contention when one sees the Government quick dish out a $1.6 billion pay out to save South Canterbury Finance.

If iwi go into negotiations with eyes wide open then I would accept that – they should do what they have to do to get what they can. Some have done very well since settling and that is their choice. I do hope that their self-determination continues. As some leaders have said though, unless one gets things right for the people and does basic things like hold their own to account for their actions, then settlements are really worthless. So congratulations to my relations in Tapuika – I hope that Santa Claus will be ready to deliver a late present to Tauranga iwi in the new year.

At the start of 2012, I visited Japan to represent the Māori Party at the launch of the Ainu Party, a political movement established for the indigenous people of Japan. It was a privilege to be with them. Some of them were able to connect with the Tauranga/HukaPak delegation which went to Japan recently and I am pleased to say that a delegation will also be travelling to Aotearoa in the middle of January to examine language preservation and protection and other uniquely indigenous initiatives. I am told that the Ainu people also have a special link to the Rātana Church movement through one Reverend Nakata who formed a special bond with Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana many years ago so we are also looking to having the delegation visit at the time of the 140th anniversary of Rātana's birth. They will have a couple of days in Tauranga just before the Te Matatini Festival in Rotorua so we can most definitely look forward to that.

It has been a long year so I am sure there will be others like me just hanging out for the break. I have to make the most of this one even if it will be rather short. The start of the year is looking full on with an early start to Parliament, the Ainu visit, Rātana Festivities, Waitangi Day and of course Te Matatini o te Rā 2013. So as we close in on the New Year can I take this opportunity to wish all of the staff at The Weekend Sun and, of course, all of the readership the very best for the holiday period and I look forward to reporting in at the start of next year.

Mā te wāhi ngaro koutou e manaaki.

I welcome your feedback. Email: mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz Post: PŌ Box 12028 Rotorua 3045 Phone: 0508 924 274