Hill has led Wales earlier than, having been co-captain with Ellis Jenkins for the 2018 summer season tour matches towards South Africa and Argentina.
Gatland says Hill was given the captaincy again for the ultimate recreation of the season after cautious consideration.
“We had a chat about what occurred previously and had a heart-to-heart about that,” stated Gatland.
“Cory stated to me he made a mistake three years in the past and he regrets what occurred. Younger males do make errors.
“It occurred, we had an trustworthy dialogue and Cory was very up entrance with me.
“I have been clear individuals do make errors in life, with some choices or actions they want did not occur.”
Gatland stated he believes individuals should be given a second probability.
“You possibly can’t preserve holding everybody at ransom over that,” stated Gatland.
“At some stage, you have to transfer on and that is what we’re attempting to do as a bunch.
“It is about placing that to at least one aspect and selecting somebody with that rugby expertise and data who has that respect from the remainder of the gamers within the squad.”
Gatland stated he was “not trying on the previous however trying on the future” by giving Hill the captaincy function.
“He is been good within the group with that management and he is been good for this younger group of gamers,” he added.
“When you have got somebody with that type of expertise, individuals take discover of what he says.”