Ngāti Rangi tēnā koutou, tēnā tātau.

Tākiri ana te rā ki runga o Ruapehu tāngata, ki a Ngāti Rangi e mea ana:
Kia hiwa rā!
Kia hiwa rā!

Katahi tonu nei a Ngāti Rangi ka whakaae, ka waitohu i tōna whakataunga Tiriti kua whakaingoatia, ko Rukutia te Mana. Tēnei te pō, nau mai te ao.

A small group of representatives from Ngāti Rangi gathered on Thursday, 17 August 2017, at Parliament to witness the initialling of a Deed of Settlement (Deed) in respect of Ngāti Rangi’s historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi claims. The claims relate to Crown breaches of the Treaty that occurred prior to 21 September 1992.

The Deed is subject to ratification by the members of Ngāti Rangi. This is likely to occur in late September and early October. If there is sufficient support from Ngāti Rangi for the Deed it will be signed on behalf of Ngāti Rangi and the Crown and settlement legislation will be introduced to Parliament to give effect to the Deed.

Ngāti Rangi Lead Negotiator, Che Wilson, said after the initialling ceremony: “Today we have taken another important step in our journey to have the Crown both recognise and right the Treaty breaches Ngāti Rangi suffered.

“However, it is just the next step following on from our Agreement in Principle signing in March this year.

“There are still a few more steps to take before the process is completed, including, most significantly, ratification by uri before it becomes legislation and we can celebrate.

“There is still work to be done but we are delighted to be at Parliament today to celebrate this achievement in order to release the Deed to our people for their consideration,“ Mr Wilson said.

Ngāti Rangi will also be part of collective negotiations in respect of the Tongariro National Park, which are due to commence next year.

He oranga ngākau, he pikinga wairua.
Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea, tihei mouri ora!

ENDS

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