The cleaning-up of the Waikato River is a priority. Photo / Herald on Sunday
Tainui's parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of an agreement in principle to settle its Waikato River claim.
Cabinet ministers put the Crown's deal for a new river co-management structure to representatives of 61 marae at the tribal headquarters beside the river in Hopuhopuyesterday.
It was negotiated by
Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen and Waikato-Tainui co-negotiators Tukoroirangi Morgan and Lady Raiha Mahuta.
"We usher in a new era of co-management and partnership at the highest level in restoring health and wellbeing of the longest river in the country," said Mr Morgan after the vote result was announced.
Signing the agreement in principle for the Crown, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said: "We have a responsibility to ensure the waters are clean and that food returns and that the mana of Tainui is recognised."
Neither the minister nor Mr Morgan would talk about a final settlement figure.
The Crown offers to pay for an independent scoping study to establish clean-up priorities and identify operational costs for the Guardians of the Waikato River and the Waikato River Statutory Board.
The scoping study will guide the Crown's setting up and paying for a clean-up programme with a guaranteed minimum annual sum for a specified number of years.
Asked about the cost to the Crown of cleaning up the river, Mr Horomia said: "The final figures have not been broached ... It's business we should get on with."
Mr Morgan told the Herald no monetary amount was put to Tainui.
"There are a number of issues that require scoping work - for example, the fund to clean up the river will span a long period and that is to be determined by good science."
Lady Mahuta said there were still financial aspects to be negotiated and recalled that in the $170 million deal in 1995 compensating Tainui for confiscated land, the figure was not reached until the end.
"So we want to be careful that we have the best value because we are not only talking about Tainui here."
She said the figure for a financial package from the Crown to provide for cultural and economic loss and clean-up funding would be arrived at before taking the next step - the deed of settlement.
The agreement in principle is not binding until embodied in the deed.
