Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri - Press Release

Proposed Treaty Settlement Package for Te Aupōuri

After a treaty settlement journey of over 25 years Te Aupōuri has today finalised a proposed package with the Crown to comprehensively settle its historical Treaty grievances. The next most important step will be for Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri to present this package to the Te Aupōuri people seeking their agreement to ratify.

“Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri believes it has negotiated the most comprehensive package that it can achieve with the Crown and it is now up to our people to tell us if they agree” said Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri Chairman Mr Raymond Subritzky.

• The proposed settlement package attempts to address historical iwi grievances with the Crown while looking forward to creating a foundation for future Te Aupōuri development. It includes commercial assets that will provide a solid economic base for Te Aupōuri and the return of culturally significant land and taonga. There is also the opportunity for shared decision-making relationships to occur between Te Aupōuri and the Crown in specific areas.

• Te Aupōuri acknowledges the cooperation and collaboration of other Te Hiku Iwi that have worked together in developing solutions to address overlapping-claims in areas such as the Aupōuri Forest, Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē/Ninety Mile Beach and lands currently held by the Department of Conservation . Te Aupōuri look forward to planning and developing these shared settlement assets with other Te Hiku Iwi for the benefit of Te Aupōuri and the wider Te Hiku ō Te Ika community.

• “The mana now rests with our people about whether or not Te Aupōuri accepts or rejects this package” Mr Subritzky added. Te Aupōuri will shortly be distributing an information booklet to iwi members about the proposed settlement package to enable its people to make a considered and informed decision. The proposed Deed of Settlement will be available to registered beneficiaries on the Te Aupōuri iwi website wwwteaupouri.iwi.nz and Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri trustees will be presenting details of the proposed package during a series of hui beginning at Te Kao on 19 November 2011, Christchurch on 1 December 2011, Wellington 2 December 2011, Auckland on 3 December 2011 and at a Special General meeting of Te Rūnanga Nui in Te Kao on 10 December 2011. The results of the ratification process are expected to be announced to iwi members prior to Christmas.

• Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri encourages all of its iwi members to check that their contact details are up to date and that their whānau are individually registered with Te Aupōuri so that they can receive the necessary ratification information and have their say.

ENDS

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