June 11, 2008

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa

Continued unity and support the key to today's historic deed of settlement.

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa chairman Eru George today praised the unity and support of affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu members, essential to achieving the revised Deed of Settlement, signed at Rotorua's Pakira marae today.

Mr George said the journey to conclude the settlement process had been a lengthy, costly, and at times turbulent one for Affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu and members.

We would not have been able to reach this point had it not been for the continued commitment of our people. This was further demonstrated by the more than 97 per cent support from affiliate members to the revised deed of settlement.

Mr George said the revised Deed of Settlement marked a turning point for affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu.

The priority for our iwi and hapu has been to address the serious historic injustices our people have endured.

This settlement will add real momentum to our aspirations to assist in meeting the economic, cultural and social needs of our iwi and hapu members.

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa chief negotiator Rawiri Te Whare said enhancements to the revised settlement provided some compensation for the lengthy delays the trust had endured. Te Pumautanga began direct negotiations with the Crown in 2002.

The revised settlement has been enhanced as a consequence of further negotiations. This is a good outcome for our people, and provides some value for the patience shown in delaying the progressing of settlement legislation to allow fresh CNI iwi negotiations to take place.

Mr Te Whare said the Crown's commitment to introduce the revised settlement to legislation later this month, demonstrated a shared appreciation for the value to Affiliate Te Arawa, the region, and the country in concluding the settlement process, and allowing affiliate iwi and hapu to focus on accelerating economic development.

We now have real progress. This will assist in allowing affiliate iwi and hapu to move from grievance to a focus on economic and social development.

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa is a collective of eleven Te Arawa iwi and hapu, representing more than 24,000 members, or around 62 per cent of the Te Arawa peoples. The revised Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa settlement claim will settle more than 80 outstanding land claims. Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown on September 2005. Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa agreed to defer the introduction of settlement legislation in 2007 to allow the Crown to enter into fresh discussions with the CNI Iwi Collective.

ENDS

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