The Deed of Settlement includes an apology from the Crown to Ngāti Paoa for its failure to protect them from the rapid alienation of land in the decades after the signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi, the loss of life and the devastation caused by hostilities, and the enactment of laws and policies that have led to the loss of whenua and te reo Māori.
"The Crown seeks to atone for these injustices and hopes that through this settlement it can rebuild the relationship that it established with Ngāti Paoa in 1840, begin the process of healing and enter a new age of co-operation and partnership," Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little said.
Ngāti Paoa has more than 3500 members and is part of the Hauraki, Marutūāhu and Tāmaki collectives.
"The Crown acknowledges that until today it has failed to deal with the long-standing grievances of Ngāti Paoa and that recognition of, and redress for, these grievances is long overdue," Little said.
The settlement redress will be administered by the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, the post-settlement governance entity elected by iwi members.
- RNZ
