MEDIA STATEMENT

Ngai Te Rangi Settlement Trust

12 December 2013

Ngai Te Rangi prepare to celebrate

Ngai Te Rangi people are gathering in Tauranga for a four-day celebration to mark that occasion starting tomorrow [Friday December13].

Ngai Te Rangi iwi and the Crown will mark an important milestone this Saturday in the Treaty settlements process for Tauranga Moana.

The Deed of Settlement between Ngai Te Rangi and the Crown will be signed at Whareroa Marae.

“More than anything else we are celebrating our Ngai Te Rangitanga – what it means to be Ngai Te Rangi,” said iwi runanga chair Charlie Tawhiao.

“Our people have come a long way in the 150 years since our tipuna were dispossessed of our tribal lands and resources. Lives were also lost in that war and the impacts are still felt by our people today. This weekend will be the start of a healing process that is long overdue. For those of us who grew up with the stories from our elders of that time the events of this weekend will be a fulfilment of their wishes that the wrongs of the past are righted.

“I am looking forward to seeing our mokopuna, our rangatahi and our elders join together to mark this significant occasion.”

The festive activities will begin this Friday at 5:30am with a karakia at the top of Mauao, followed by the Treaty settlement signing ceremony on Saturday followed by a spectacular whanau fun day with entertainment at Whareroa Marae. On Sunday, the tribe will hold a number of water-based activities including snorkelling, surfing, waka ama, paddle boarding and a harbour cruise. On Monday, the tribe will hold a business workshop for their youth where the focus will be on doing business in a global economy.

“Our Treaty settlement will add to an already significant presence of Maori investment in the local economy. Wise local investment is vital if we are to continue to fulfil the wishes of our elders that we resume our rightful role as leaders of our Tauranga Moana community.”

ENDS

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