Treaty of Waitangi settlements move forward

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Treaty of Waitangi settlements for three iwi took their first collective step to becoming law, in a rare show of bi-partisan agreement in Parliament yesterday.

The bills - the Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Bill, the Ngati Porou Claims Settlement Bill, and the Ngati Pahauwera Treaty Claims Settlement Bill - all passed their first reading and will now be considered by the Maori Affairs select committee.

Parliament can consider bills concurrently - known as cognate bills - but it is understood this is the first time it has been used for treaty settlements.

The bills were debated together but voted on seperately, and the select committee will report them back to the House individually.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson thanked Labour's chief whip Rick Barker for suggesting the idea of treating treaty settlements as cognate bills for the first reading.

"That does not mean to say [the bills] will be rushed through. They will be dealt with individually, they will be dealt with carefully," Mr Finlayson said.

"This is a sensible way of treating treaty bills so people can enjoy the fruits of their labour as quickly as possible."

Under the bills:

* Maniapoto would co-govern and co-manage the Waipa River, ensuring the iwi has a say in environmental concerns with the aim of ensuring the long-term health of the river

* Ngati Porou would have partnership over conservation lands, receive 5898ha of land of cultural significance, and receive a financial settlement of $110 million

* Ngati Pahauwera would receive $20 million, five Wairoa District Council properties, 16 cultural redress properties and some land within the Mohaka forest, Hawkes Bay

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said the settlements were a first step to addressing injustices of the past that had seen the theft of lands and lead to poverty.

The Crown's failure to honour its treaty promises had deprived Ngati Porou of collective control of their land, she said.

"The east coast one of the most socio-economically deprived areas of New Zealand."

In the case of Ngati Pahauwera, land alienation had begun in the 1850s.

"By the mid 20th century Ngati Pahauwera was virtually landless, and ever since they suffered economic, social and cultural impoverishment," Mrs Turia said.

"Redress can never compensate for what has been lost ... [but] this bill signifies the closing of one door and the opening of another."

The Act Party opposed the bills.