Auckland iwi poised to become owners of prison land

Te Kawerau a Maki spokesman Te Warena Taua said the land Paremoremo is on used to be an old pa site and was included in the tribe's tribunal claim evidence. Photo / Richard Robinson

Two Auckland iwi could become landlords of the land on which Paremoremo and Mt Eden Prisons sit under Treaty deals which will be signed today.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei and Te Kawerau a Maki have clauses in individual settlement offers which will see them explore whether they can first buy and then lease back the land.

The tribes have until the settlements are legislated to make that happen but they won't be the first Crown/iwi rental arrangements. Two other settlements involving the Wanganui Kaitoke and Rimutaka Prisons are in train at present.

A spokesman for Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson said it was important to remember that nothing had been settled with respect to the prisons yet.

Te Kawerau a Maki spokesman Te Warena Taua said the land Paremoremo is on used to be an old pa site and was included in the tribe's tribunal claim evidence.

"Whether there is a prison there or not ... it is Crown land and it is subject to our claim. Being landlords - it goes in line with Maori tikanga."

Ngati Whatua o Orakei declined to comment on its interests in Mt Eden Prison. The settlements are part of a wider push to settle what has been a contentious region because of the layers of competing tribal interests which saw Ngati Whatua o Orakei's 2006 deal delayed when the Waitangi Tribunal criticised the Crown's process in developing that settlement.

This morning 12 iwi and hapu - which include the two iwi - known as the Tamaki Collective will sign an agreement which transfers ownership of 11 maunga to them. The cones will be co-governed by the collective and Auckland Council.

No cash will change hands for that settlement because it deals with overlapping interests, but the constituent iwi are then free to pursue their own individual settlements.

Because of that Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua o Orakei are free to sign their individual agreements today.

Orakei's signing will be at the summit of Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill.

Judge Carrie Wainwright wrote a scathing 2007 tribunal report which is responsible for changing the way two successive governments have approached settlements. It said the Crown's decision to give priority to only one tribe in Auckland was wrong when many had interests in settling.

Since then both Dr Michael Cullen and Mr Finlayson had opened up processes building consensus among iwi in different regions to get settlements completed.

"The business of settling grievances ... is hugely complicated. Were we ever going to get it right the first time? Often the Crown must feel as if they're damned if they do and they're damned if they don't," she said.

"It does seem that things are being handled differently now and my feeling is that will lead to more durable settlements. If you're going to do it once you're going to have to do it right."

WHAT'S ON THE TABLE

DEAL 1: TAMAKI COLLECTIVE

* Ownership of maunga (mountain) transferred to 12 iwi and hapu - Mt Victoria, Mt Eden, Mt Hobson, Mt St John, Pigeon Mt, Mt Wellington, One Tree Hill, Big King, Mt Roskill, Mt Richmond, Mangere Mt.
* Tribes share rights of first refusal over Crown land in Auckland region.
* Public access, reserve status and existing rights protected.

DEAL 2: NGATI WHATUA O ORAKEI

* $18 million.
* Sale and leaseback of Devonport Naval Base.
* Purewa Creek Conservation area.
* Explore the sale and leaseback of Mt Eden Prison land.

DEAL 3: TE KAWARAU A MAKI

* $6.5 million.
* Riverhead Forest.
* Sale and leaseback of Hobsonville's Clark House.
* Explore the sale and leaseback of Paremoremo Prison land.
* Transfer of Scenic Reserves.
* Gifting of the Kopironui Block.