Tahu-Whaoa celebrate Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill passing

The Ngati Tahu – Ngati Whaoa Runanga Trust congratulates Ngāti Tūwharetoa on achieving its comprehensive Treaty of Waitangi claims settlement.

The Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Bill passed its third reading in Parliament today.

Roger Pikia, chair of the Tahu-Whaoa Runanga Trust, says Tūwharetoa has just cause to celebrate after waiting since July 18 last year, when it signed a Deed of Agreement with the Crown, for the Bill to be passed ready for Royal Assent.

“With the passing of this Bill, the Crown has averted the creation of tension over mana whenua status over Rotokawa,” Mr Pikia says. “The Environment Court also said it would not rule on mana whenua status for Rotokawa in a case earlier this year. This reaffirms Tahu-Whaoa’s status as mana whenua.”

A commentary to the Bill by the Maori Affairs Committee says there was extensive consultation over the Lake Rotokawa Conservation Area. In September 2016 the area was removed from the Bill by the Crown.

The committee’s commentary says advice received from the Office of Treaty Settlements was the overlapping claims process has been robust and overlapping claims have been resolved to the Crown’s satisfaction.

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