Ngati Porou agrees to settle for $110 million

Ngati Porou agrees to settle for $110 million

Dec. 22 (BusinessDesk) – Members of New Zealand’s second-largest iwi (tribe), Ngati Porou, have voted overwhelmingly to support a $110 million cash settlement of all historical claims under the Treaty of Waitangi.

Ngati Porou leaders initialled a draft settlement in late October, and 90% of registered members of the iwi who attended subsequent hui (open forums) to discuss the issue supported it.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson signed a Deed of Settlement on behalf of the Crown for the settlement of all Ngāti Porou’s historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

Ngāti Porou is New Zealand’s second largest iwi with 72,000 members, 58 hapu and 48 marae on the East Coast of the North Island. “I am very happy to bring this settlement to a conclusion,” Mr Finlayson said. “The settlement of such a major claim will put longstanding historical grievances to rest and bring significant benefits both to Ngāti Porou and to the East Coast region.”

The settlement includes financial redress of $110 million and the return of sites of high cultural significance in Ngāti Porou totalling approximately 5,898 hectares. It also provides Ngāti Porou with input into the strategic governance of specific conservation sites and relationship agreements designed to facilitate good working relationships between specific Crown agencies and Ngāti Porou.

“The settling of historical Treaty claims marks the beginning of a new relationship for Ngāti Porou and the Crown,” said Finlayson. “With settlements on the verge of completion with Turanga iwi, all historical claims in the East Coast region will soon be settled.”

Legislation will be introduced to finalise the settlement in the New Year.

The settlement comes as the country’s largest iwi, Ngapuhi, begins its settlement negotiation process.

(BusinessDesk)

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