By ALISON HORWOOD
The long-running dispute over Moutoa Gardens has been resolved by an agreement between the Crown, the Wanganui District Council and local iwi.
Last night, Prime Minister Helen Clark was welcomed onto the land, site of a 79-day occupation almost six years ago.
She was flanked by Tariana Turia - who returned as Associate Maori Affairs Minister but was a leading protester in 1996 - and Local Government Minister and %Mana Motuhake leader Sandra Lee.
%The deal signed by Helen Clark, Wanganui Mayor Chas Poynter and Maori representatives Te Manawanui Pauro and Julie Ranginui gives the Crown, the council and the iwi Atihaunui-a-Paparangi joint management of the gardens.
Ownership of the land goes to the Crown, and the gardens keep their historic reserve status.
A board made up of one crown representative and three each from the council and iwi will manage the gardens.
The statue of Prime Minister John Ballance, damaged during the occupation, will be reinstated and a second sculpture symbolising unity has been commissioned.
Last night, hundreds of people gathered in the small 9105 sq m gardens behind the district court.
It was probably the largest turnout since the 1995 occupation, when Maori reclaimed the land they call Pakaitore and said that, despite an 1880 document vesting it in the council, it was rightfully theirs.
Yesterday evening, locals wandered through the gardens while children played in the twilight.
During the ceremony, Mr Poynter, adorned with his mayoral chains, stood alongside one of the occupation leaders, Ken Mair, wearing pounamu (greenstone).
Whanganui iwi representative Archie Taiaroa told the crowd the agreement was a time for celebration and a signal to move forward.
"Let's not do the haka at each other, let's do the haka together.
"Maori are getting whiter and whiter and Pakeha are getting browner and browner. I think we'll get on eventually."
Helen Clark said the Moutoa agreement could be used as a model for settling other issues.
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