Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister for Maori Affairs

25 June 2008 Media Statement
Embargoed till 12pm

The CNI Collective Inspires

“We should all be proud of what the iwi of the Central North Island have achieved with this settlement” Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia said today.

“Their co-operation and discipline in forging a group that was far sighted enough to propose this settlement and strong enough to see it through should inspire us all.

“This example will be used by other Maori who have yet to enter or complete the historical settlement process.

“If Ngati Rangitihi is able to satisfy the Crown their people want to join the settlement too, within the next six months, we would welcome their participation as well.

“We all know what settlements can achieve. Tainui, Ngai Tahu and many others have taken the resources settlements provide and increased their independence and ability to act on behalf of their people. I am confident that the iwi that make up the Collective will also follow that pathway.

“When the settlement is completed they will be the largest single land-owner in the forestry sector in this country and one of the largest investors. Their future role in the industry will be positive for their members, industry participants and the wider region.

“I am also proud of the role this government has played in making this settlement work. We have been determined to do everything we can to get resources to where they can do the most good.”

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E Whakaawe ana te Ohu o Waenganui o Te Ika a Māui

“Me whakahīhī rā tātou katoa ki ngā whakatutukitanga a ngā iwi o Waenganui o Te Ika a Māui ki tēnei whakataunga” i kī te Minita mō ngā Take Māori, a Parekura Horomia, i te rangi nei.

“Ko tā rātou mahinga tahi, me ngā herenga pūmau, e kawea ana i te rōpū i titiro atu ki pae tawhiti hei whakarite i tēnei whakataunga, me te tū pakari ki te whakatutuki, koia katoa nei ngā āhuatanga me whakaawe i a tātou katoa.

“Ka whakamahia tēnei tauira e ētahi o ngai Māori kahore anō kia tīmata, kei te whakaoti rānei, i a rātou whakaritenga kerēme whākataunga hītori.

“Mehemea ka taea e Ngāti Rangitihi te whakarata i te Karauna, e hiahia ana anō rātou ki te hono atu ki te whakataunga, i mua o te hipatanga o te ono marama, ka tautokona e mātou tā rātou urunga mai.

“Kei te mōhio tātou katoa he aha mahinga tōrunga ka taea e ngā whakataunga. Ko Tainui, ko Ngaitahu me ētahi ake, kua whakamahi i ngā rawa whakataunga hei whakawhiwhi, hei whakakaha i a rātou mana motuhake, me ngā raukaha o a rātou tāngata. Me taku maia ka whai anō ngā iwi kei roto i te Ohu nei i taua huarahi.

“Hei te whakaotinga o te whakataunga nei, kā tū ko rātou te kaipupuri whenua kotahi tino nui, ki roto i te rāngai rākau ngahere o tēnei whenua, me tētahi o ngā kaiwhakahaumi tino nui. Ko tā rātou tūranga ki roto i tēnei wāhi ahumahi he tūranga tōrunga mō a rātou mema, mō ngā kaiwhaiwahi a te ahumahi rākau ngahere, me te rohe whānui ake.

“Me taku whakahīhī anō ki te tūranga a tēnei kāwanatanga, kua mahi kaha nei kia oti pai ai tēnei whakataunga. I te whai kaha rawa atu mātou ki te whakamau atu i ngā rawa ki ngā wāhi kia puta mai ngā painga tino nui.”

ENDS

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