Treaty Settlements Update 2003

Three Deeds of Settlement were signed this year. The first, in March, was with Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Ngäti Awa, who will receive more than $42 million in cash and Crown-owned land. In June Kawerau based Ngäti Tüwharetoa signed a settlement worth a total $10.5 million. Southern Taranaki iwi Ngä Rauru signed their Deed of Settlement, for $31 million, in late November.

Each settlement contained a Crown apology and significant cultural redress allowing each iwi to protect wähi tapu on Crown-owned land, achieve recognition of their traditional relationships with the natural environment of their rohe and take part in its management.

Each is also a comprehensive settlement of all the historical claims of each iwi against the Crown for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.

Legislation implementing earlier comprehensive settlements for Te Uri o Hau, Ngäti Ruanui and Ngäti Tama was passed by Parliament this year.

Negotiations of settlements with other claimant groups are also making strong progress. Ngäti Mutunga from Taranaki are in active negotiations and expected to reach agreement on settlement details early in 2004.

Negotiations of Te Arawa Lakes claim, the Whanganui River claim, and with Te Rarawa from the Far North are also underway.

Claimant groups are continuing to enter negotiations at a steady pace.

Far North iwi, Ngäti Kahu and Ngäti Whätua o Öräkei from Auckland have recently begun negotiations, while Moriori, and Ngäti Whare and Ngäti Manawa from the central North Island have had their mandates recognised and will begin negotiations in early 2004. Other iwi from the central North Island, Wellington, Manawatu and Gisborne are currently undertaking or have completed discussions to mandate representatives to negotiate settlements of their historical claims with the Crown.

The Office of Treaty Settlements would like to thank all claimant representatives and communities, as well as the officials from other agencies for all their assistance in achieving these results.

Completed Settlements
Claimant group Redress Year
Commercial Fisheries $ 170,000,000 1992
Hauai $ 715,682 1993
Ngäti Whakaue $ 5,210,000 1994
Waikato-Tainui raupatu $ 170,000,000 1995
Waimakuku $ 375,000 1995
Rotomä $ 43,931 1996
Te Maunga $ 129,032 1996
Ngäi Tahu $ 170,000,000 1997
Ngäti Türangitukua $ 5,000,000 1998
The Pouakani People $ 2,650,000 1999
Te Uri o Hau $ 15,600,000 2000
Ngäti Ruanui $ 41,000,000 2001
Ngäti Tama $ 14,500,000 2001
Ngäti Awa $ 42,390,000 2003
Ngäti Tüwharetoa $ 10,500,000 2003
Ngä Rauru $ 31,000,000 2003

Information on the settlement process and current negotiations is available through the OTS website: http://www.ots.govt.nz

A detailed guide to the negotiation of a comprehensive Treaty of Waitangi settlement, Healing the past, building a future has been published. This is available on the OTS website or from the Office of Treaty Settlements at 04 494 9800, PO Box 919, Wellington or reception.ots@justice.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media