Eleven Te Arawa iwi and Hapu to receive $1 million cash distribution

Press Release: Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Date: July 2, 2009

The 11 iwi and hapu who make up Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Trust are set to receive a one million dollar cash allocation following the return of settlement cash and assets.

The distribution will follow a ceremony at Owhata marae, in Rotorua, today to mark the return of assets from the 2008 Affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu land settlement.

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Chairman Eru George said the celebration was a momentous day for Te Arawa, one that would bring significant benefits for iwi and hapu members, and the communities they share.

“The distribution will provide much needed funding for marae, to build infrastructure within iwi and hapu, and to work to build the social, economic and cultural opportunity for members.

“Our 24,000 members have been the rock that has supported the trust through what has been a lengthy costly and at times fractious settlement process. The focus of the settlement has always been to achieve the best for iwi and hapu members.”

Mr George said iwi and hapu groups had prioritised developing and implementing robust and transparent governance and management structures to manage cash and assets post settlement.

“There has and will continue to be a strong focus around protecting and growing our assets for present and future generations.

Today’s ceremony will mark the return of around $85 million in assets and cash.

“The settlement provides closure for the losses endured by the Te Arawa people. It is also a day of sadness and remembrance for the generations of tribal members, many of who did not live to savour this day, who committed their lives to righting the injustices and losses inflicted on Te Arawa.

He said it was also a day of reverence for Te Arawa with the restoration of its mana over a number of sacred taonga taken over generations.

Following today’s ceremony, settlement assets and cash will be transferred to Te Arawa Group Holdings (TAGH) , the trust’s commercial arm, which is tasked with managing and growing the value of tribal assets.

Where: Owhata Marae, Hinemoa Point Rd, Hannahs Bay, Rotorua
When: Thursday July 2, 2009
Powhiri begins at 10am, with lunch at midday.

Assets returning to Affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu..

* Commercial redress of $38.6 million.

* More than $40 million returned from accumulated rentals from Crown forestry land.

* The ongoing income from rental of forestry lands is estimated to be around $2.1 million per annum.

* The return of land situated under five schools within the Rotorua region, and four geothermal wells.

Taonga also returned:
• Rangitoto Site
• Punaromia Site
• Moerangi Site
• Kakapiko Site
• Site on Horohoro Bluff
• Sites on Paeroa Range
• Site adjacent to Orakei Korako
• Lake Rotokawa Site
• Site adjacent to Lake Rotomahana
• Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve
• Beds of Lakes Rotongata and Rotoatua
• Land under the Okataina Outdoor Education Centre
• Pateko Island
• Te Koutu
• Te Wairoa
•
The Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve, Wai-o-Tapu Site, and Okataina Lodge Site will be transferred subject to the existing leases. The 2008 Deed will also provide for an acknowledgement by Te Pumautanga that the Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve and Roto-a-Tamaheke will subsequently invest in a joint trust to be established by Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao and Ngati Whakaue, along with certain other adjoining reserve land on which the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute is located (in final stages of legislative process).

An undivided half share of the 45 hectare Te Ariki site will be transferred to the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi/Hapu.

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. Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa settlement claim settles 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. A revised Deed of Settlement was signed at Pakira marae in June 2008.

ENDS

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