April 17, 2014
Ta Tau Ihu settlements passed into law
All historical treaty claims in the South Island are now considered settle with the passing of four bills giving effect to the final deeds of settlement for the eight iwi of Te Tau Ihu.
In Parliament yesterday Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau Claims Settlement Bill; the Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu and Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Claims Settlement Bill; the Ngati Toa Rangatira Claims Settlement Bill, and the Ka Mate Haka Attribution Bill were passed through their third readings.
The Ngati Toa bill also settles the tribe’s North Island claims.
The Haka Ka Mate Attribution Bill was introduced after Ngati Toa was refused a trademark on the haka, and acknowledges the haka as a taonga of the tribe and requires users to acknowledge Ngāti Toa rangatira Te Rauparaha as its composer.
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson says the settlements will allow the iwi to build a strong base for their people, and allow them to participate fully in the economic, social and cultural life of their regions.
The use of extended sitting hours on Thursday mornings has allowed nine bills to be passed, enacting 13 deeds of settlement signed between claimant groups and the Crown.
The bills include apologies, historical acknowledgements and cultural redress including the return of land.
Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō will get financial and commercial redress of $28.374 million, Ngati Kuia will get $24.874 million, and there is $25.374 million for Rangitāne o Wairau.
Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui will get $11.76 million each, and there is $12.06 million for Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu.
Ngāti Toa Rangatira will receive financial redress of $70 million, including opportunities to purchase and lease back Crown properties and a right of first refusal over surplus Crown properties.
Cultural redress includes the vesting of part of Mana Island and Kapiti Island in Ngāti Toa Rangatira which will be gifted back to the people of New Zealand.
Ngāti Toa will also receive a ‘Poutiaki’ or guardianship package over the Cook Strait comprising a Crown acknowledgement of Ngāti Toa’s role as kaitiaki of the coastal marine areas of the Cook Strait, Porirua Harbour, Port Underwood and Pelorus Sound.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd