Ngāti Mutunga Claims Settlement Act passed
Ngāti Mutunga Claims Settlement Act passed
The Ngäti Mutunga Claims Settlement Act was passed by Parliament today.
The Act provides for the full and final settlement of all of Ngäti Mutunga’s Taranaki-based Treaty of Waitangi claims and enables the transfer of settlement assets and other redress agreed in the 2005 Deed of Settlement.
The settlement includes a formal Crown apology for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, cultural and commercial redress, and a total package of $14.9 million.
Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Mita Ririnui welcomed the passage of the Act.
"This is an important milestone in the process to address historical grievances and a particularly important landmark in the achievement of Treaty settlements in Taranaki," he said.
"New Zealanders can be proud that such grievances are being recognised, and addressed in a peaceful and constructive way. It is part of a growing momentum to address historic Treaty grievances. This is the second claims settlement bill to pass through Parliament this year, while a third bill is set for introduction before year's end.
"Treaty settlements strengthen the relationship between the Crown and iwi and lay the foundations for us to build a strong and confident sense of national identity.
"While the Crown could not possibly compensate Ngäti Mutunga for all the iwi has lost, I believe this settlement will provide Ngäti Mutunga with the chance to develop an important asset, which will contribute significantly toward a sustainable future for the iwi," Mita Ririnui said.
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