Three Hauraki iwi have reached a major milestone in their Treaty settlement journey after Parliament passed the final readings of the Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Tara Tokanui and Ngāti Hei Claims Settlement Bills.
The legislation marks the culmination of more than 15 years of work and formal negotiations that began with the Crown in 2011, addressing longstanding historical grievances linked to breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith said the settlements recognised the persistence and commitment shown by the three iwi over more than a decade of negotiations.
“All three Hauraki iwi entered formal negotiations with the Crown in 2011 and have worked persistently and in good faith over many years to reach this point,” Goldsmith said.
“The passage of this settlement legislation reflects the commitment, resilience and determination of Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Tara Tokanui and Ngāti Hei.”
Representatives and whānau from across the wider Pare Hauraki Collective travelled to Parliament to witness the final readings, while others watched online from across the Hauraki and Coromandel regions.
Goldsmith said the settlements formally acknowledged the cumulative impact of historical Crown breaches of the Treaty, including the loss of whenua, environmental damage and the impact on iwi development across generations.
“While no settlement can fully compensate for the Crown’s injustices, I sincerely hope this redress will support these Hauraki iwi to strengthen their economic, cultural and environmental aspirations,” he said.
The settlements include historical accounts, Crown acknowledgements of wrongdoing and formal apologies to each iwi, alongside financial, cultural and commercial redress packages.
Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, whose rohe stretches across Te Aroha, the Kaimai Range, Hauraki Plains and parts of the Coromandel Peninsula, will receive $5.5 million in financial and commercial redress, the right to purchase two commercial properties and ownership vesting of 17 individual and two jointly held cultural sites.
Ngāti Tara Tokanui, based around Paeroa, will receive $6 million in redress, the right to purchase the Paeroa College land site subject to lease-back arrangements with the Crown, and the vesting of seven individual and two jointly held cultural properties.
Ngāti Hei, whose rohe covers much of the eastern Coromandel coast from Onemana to Whangapoua and includes Ahuahu and offshore islands extending to Cuvier Island, will receive $8.5 million in redress, the ability to purchase three commercial properties and ownership vesting of 15 cultural sites alongside two jointly held properties.
All three iwi will also enter into formal relationship agreements with the Department of Conservation and hold protocols with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The settlements form part of the wider Hauraki Treaty settlement process, which has involved complex negotiations over overlapping interests and customary connections across the region.
