Te Arawa signs treaty settlement

Te Arawa people turned out in their hundreds to see iwi leaders sign a deal returning lakebeds to them, which many believe marks a new beginning for the tribe.

Witnessed by more than 500 people at Saturday's ceremony at Tamatekapua, the iwi's premier meeting house , government officials and iwi leaders signed a deed of settlement returning ownership of 13 lakebeds.

The deal also includes cultural and financial redress and an apology from the Crown.

Legislation is expected to be tabled in Parliament next year confirming the settlement.

Te Arawa Maori Trust Board chairman Anaru Rangiheuea said many people had fought for the lakes to be returned to Te Arawa over the past 125 years.

"This settlement is the culmination of an enormous amount of work by many dedicated Te Arawa over many, many years," he said.

"Through this settlement Te Arawa will be able to develop and maintain effective and meaningful relationships with the lakes."

Te Arawa negotiator David Tapsell said the negotiation process had not always been easy with public and the tribe's interests to be considered.

"Negotiations are always difficult but it is fair to say nothing good comes easy," he said.

"There are public interests to balance up but I believe this settlement takes everyone's interests into account."

After consultation with iwi, 93 per cent had voted in favour of the deal, he said.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Margaret Wilson said the return of the lakebeds meant Te Arawa and the rest of country could move into the future on a positive note.

Nothing would change for anyone wanting to use the lakes for recreational purposes, she said.

"This is the beginning of a new era for both Te Arawa and the Crown."

The 1922 Fenton Agreement, which saw ownership of the lakes vested in the Crown and Te Arawa granted cultural fishing rights and an annuity of 6000 pounds, was "not justice done, but justice delayed", Ms Wilson said.

She handed over three trees for planting around the lakes, saying they would represent the growing relationship between Te Arawa and the Government.

"Te Arawa has never allowed its relationship with the lakes to be lost... these trees will represent healing as they grow," she said.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said reaching an agreement had not always been easy, with strong opposition at times, but the tribe should be applauded for reaching "this historical milestone".

"This has been a year of testing times," he said. "These testing times have highlighted the constructive, amicable and sheer courageous manner in which these negotiations have progressed, with a real effort to understand, respect and provide for a broad myriad of sometimes complementary, and sometimes competing, interests."

The Government had not always recognised and protected in law Maori customary values to resources but that was changing, Mr Horomia said.

"New Zealand owes much of its wealth and its lifestyle to lands and natural resources once held by Maori. This is clearly evident in the extensive recreational and commercial use of the Te Arawa lakes.

"Where such resources have been acquired or managed in ways that breach the Treaty... the Crown has accepted a moral obligation, rather than a legal obligation, on behalf of all New Zealanders to put right those wrongs to the fullest extent that it possibly can.

"In doing so, the Crown hopes to lay the basis for a positive and constructive future relationship with Maori."

But some Te Arawa members were unsure if it was the best deal.

Imelda Ngaropo from Te Puke said the settlement was not a satisfactory resolution for past grievances.

"The biggest hurt for us is that the lakes are polluted. It's going to cost us more than $10 million to fix them up," she said.

Wharehuia Rota from Tapuwheka and Mataatua said Te Arawa should not have accepted the deal given the condition of the lakes.

"All this government has done is take what it wants and then turned around and dirtied everything by putting as much crap as it can into the lakes. Give the lakes back clean is what we want," he said.

Meanwhile, National Party leader Don Brash released details at the weekend of a letter which he said proved the lakes were legitimately sold to the Crown in 1922.

"A deal is a deal... Never has the ownership of a lake been handed back to Maori after a legitimate sale. The Labour Government is departing from usual practice for Treaty settlements."

But others at the signing were positive about the settlement, including Rawinia Isaac, from Tonohopu. She said reaching a resolution on the longstanding issue was a great achievement for her people.

"This is a good result and I know it will work. A lot of people who have worked on this for years have now passed on but I'm sure they would be proud it has finally been resolved so our people can move on," she said.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)