Hon Christopher Finlayson
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
10 August 2017

Two Treaty settlement bills passed

The House of Representatives sat through extended sitting hours this morning to pass the Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā (Wairarapa Tamaki nui-ā-Rua) Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngāti Pūkenga Claims Settlement Bill through their third readings.

“The passing of this legislation enables the people of Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-ā-Rua and Ngāti Pūkenga to enjoy the benefits of settlement and look forward to a stronger future,” Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson said.

Both settlements provide acknowledgements, apologies and redress for past breaches of the Treaty.

“The government is committed to concluding Treaty settlements with all willing and able iwi and is making excellent progress,” Mr Finlayson said.

“Settlements with all of Rangitāne are now complete and today’s third reading of Ngāti Pukenga’s settlement bill is an important step towards completing Treaty settlements in Tauranga and Hauraki.”

Further information about these settlements is set out in their settlement summaries:

• Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-ā-Rua settlement summary
• Ngāti Pūkenga settlement summary.

Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-ā-Rua represents approximately 3000 people. This settlement includes:
• financial redress of $32.5 million;
• transfer of eight sites of cultural significance; and
• vesting of two reserves at Pukaha/Mount Bruce that will then be gifted back to the Crown and the people of New Zealand.

Ngāti Pūkenga is a small and dispersed iwi with kāinga in Tauranga, Maketu, Whangārei and Hauraki. This settlement includes:
• financial redress of $7 million;
• transfer of four sites of cultural significance and a cultural redress payment of $500,000; and
• Otanewainuku and Puwhenua mountains to be vested jointly in Ngāti Pūkenga and five other iwi.

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