Mr Tawhiao said organisers would cater for 500 to 1000 guests at the marae, to mark the important milestone in the treaty settlements process for Tauranga Moana.
Separate settlements would be signed between the Crown and Ngai Te Rangi and the Crown and Nga Potiki, a hapu of Ngai Te Rangi.
Mr Tawhiao said the signings represented years of work - a lot by people who had not lived long enough to see it through to completion.
"Our people have come a long way in the 150 years since our tipuna were dispossessed of our tribal lands and resources. Lives were also lost in that war and the impacts are still felt by our people today. This weekend will be the start of a healing process that is long overdue. For those of us who grew up with the stories from our elders of that time the events of this weekend will be a fulfilment of their wishes that the wrongs of the past are righted.
"I am looking forward to seeing our mokopuna, our rangatahi and our elders join together to mark this significant occasion," he said.
Celebration of the settlement would begin with prayers on Mauao at 5.30am tomorrow. On Saturday the 11.30am signing ceremony would be followed by a whanau day at the marae and concert at Papamoa Tavern.
Sunday would celebrate the tribe's relationship with the sea, and include a harbour cruise, waka ama and paddle boarding.
On Monday, the tribe would hold a business workshop for their youth where the focus would be on doing business in a global economy, followed by a celebration dinner.
"Our Treaty settlement will add to an already significant presence of Maori investment in the local economy. Wise local investment is vital if we are to continue to fulfil the wishes of our elders that we resume our rightful role as leaders of our Tauranga Moana community," Mr Tawhiao said. Saturday's signings are the final stage before legislation is passed to fully implement the settlements.
