Iwi forests deal could trigger further demands

A spokesman for Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen says it is too early to speculate on the impact a proposed $400 million "Treelords" deal will have on other Treaty settlements.

Central North Island iwi representatives will present their proposal for the handover of several forests, which if accepted will represent the largest ever Treaty deal, to Dr Cullen today at the Waihi Marae on the shores of Lake Taupo.

However, if the deal is settled it could trigger a top-up clause in Ngai Tahu's historic Treaty settlement.

That 1997 settlement contains a relativity clause that gives the tribe the right to return to the negotiating table if total Treaty settlements between 1994 and 2044 exceed the $1 billion fiscal envelope set by the previous National government. Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon said if the Government accepted the claimants' terms it would take total Treaty settlements "well over $1 billion".

"We'll be invoking our relativity clause if this deal goes ahead. We've been told the current Treaty total payout figure stands above $700 million."

But Dr Cullen's spokesman said no settlement had yet been reached with the North Island iwi collective.

"It is too early to speculate on its impact on the relativity clause negotiated as part of the Ngai Tahu Deed of Settlement," he said.

He said the Crown reported every October to Ngai Tahu on the total amount spent on Treaty settlements in "1994 dollars".

At the heart of proposed settlement are nine central North Island forests - Kaingaroa, Horohoro, Whakarewarewa, Crater, Waimihia, Marotiri, Pureora, Waituhi and Taurewa.

Under the proposed deal, Tuwharetoa will also be offered the opportunity to buy the Lake Taupo and Lake Rotoaira forests from the Crown.

The forests are administered by the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, which holds about $240 million in rental revenue collected from foresters renting land in the nine forests.

Carbon credits are also understood to be on the negotiating table as part of the deal.

Tainui, the first iwi to complete a Treaty settlement with the Crown, also has a relativity clause like Ngai Tahu's.

- NZPA