May 25, 2016
First reading for Whanganui Awa Bill
A big morning for iwi with parliament hearing the first reading of the Ngai Te Rangi and Nga Potiki Claims Settlement Bill and the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson says Te Awa Tupua Bill recognises the deep spiritual connection between iwi and the Whanganui River and creates a strong platform for their involvement in its future management.
In a legal first the law will recognise the river as an indivisible whole from the mountains to the sea, known as Te Awa Tupua with its own legal identity and all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person.
The settlement includes $80 million in redress.
The other settlement bill includes financial and commercial redress of $26.5 million for Ngai Te Rangi and $3 million for Nga Potiki.
Cultural redress includes the vesting of two island reserves and statutory acknowledgements over several streams in the Tauranga area.
The two iwi are also part of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective, so they will also share in the collective redress included in a bill first read last month.
Mr Finlayson says the number of Treaty settlement bills before the House demonstrates this government’s commitment to resolving historical Treaty claims with all willing and able iwi.
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