August 18, 2017
Maniapoto gets foundation for growth
The lead negotiator for Ngati Maniapoto says an agreement in principal should set the King Country iwi up for a sound future.
Negotiators will now flesh out the detail arounf the $165 million quantum, including deciding the fate of the former Tokanui Hosptial site and the ownership of Waikeria Prison.
Nanaia Mahuta says every iwi which does a settlement feels the financial redress does not match what they lost.
"But what I have seen over time is you can have a lot of money and a poor governance structure and it all go down the toilet, or not much money but a really smart and agile governance structure and it continues to grow so it is what the iwi makes of it. It is certainly how iwi get involved in growing the opportunities from their settlement and we certainly believe we have positioned Ngati Maniapoto in a strong space to grow what we have achieved so far," she says.
Ms Mahuta says while settlement follow a well-established framework, there is room for innovation in cultural redress and the relationships that can be formed with government and local government agencies.
As the settlement is being finalised Maniapoto will also work on what its post-settlement body will look like.
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