Another key step in takutai moana negotiations

The Chairman of Te Runanga o Ngati Porou, Dr Apirana Mahuika, said the hapu of Ngati Porou are now a step closer to having the mana long exercised over large sections of coastline where they live legally protected and recognised.

Dr Mahuika and the Attorney General, the Hon Dr Michael Cullen, today initialed the Foreshore and Seabed Deed of Agreement at Parliament.

Ngati Porou has maintained ownership of the land right down to the sea along much of the coast in its tribal territory and individual hapu have always exercised their mana along these stretches of coastline.

In February a Heads of Agreement was signed which set out the framework of the instruments and redress now contained in the initialed Deed.

“Over the last five months we have made solid progress in refining the draft deed that was agreed in February.

“Now it is time to take this proposal back to the people again to seek their approval,” Dr Mahuika said.

The Runanga has been the facilitator in this process. The hapu themselves will exercise any rights which are reconfirmed in any final agreement.

Dr Mahuika said that it is important to reiterate that Ngati Porou are not backing down from their opposition to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

“We have agreed to disagree with the Crown in the interests of moving on and obtaining the legal protection and recognition required by our hapu of their longstanding rights,” he said.

ENDS

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