$6.2m Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa settlement bill passes third reading

Part of the Stony Creek Station has been given to Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa as part of its Treaty of Waitangi settlement. Photo/File

A Far North iwi's $6.2 million Treaty of Waitangi settlement was brought to an end as it passed its third and final reading in Parliament.

The Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa settlement includes a financial redress of $6.2m, and will give the iwi ownership of 15 cultural sites, including 2275ha of the Stony Creek Station, south of Mangonui.

The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement with the iwi in December 2015 after 15 years of negotiations.

The bill passed its first reading in April last year, its second reading in September last year and the final reading was passed on Wednesday. Many members of the iwi were in Parliament for the historic occasion.

"Reaching this milestone is a testament to the determination and mana of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa. The settlement provides a foundation for the future prosperity and wellbeing of the iwi, hapu and whanau of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa," said Chris Finlayson, Minister for Treaty Settlements.

The 15 cultural sites which will be vested to Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa total about 3422.3ha and include Kowhairoa Peninsula property (about 282.9ha).

A cultural fund of $300,000 will also be given for the development and implementation of a historic reserve management plan for the property.

David Manuel, chairman of Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa's post-settlement governance entity, Kahukuraariki Trust, said the settlement gave iwi the chance to move on.

He said it would help the iwi to create training opportunities and scholarships for whanau and hapu.

''It's never enough, based on how long the land had been in Crown ownership. But it is an opportunity for us to step forward and to move forward for future generations," he said.

Since the signing of the settlement the Crown had released $3m of the funds.

The iwi will conduct a feasibility study on Stony Creek Station farmland to determine what it could be used for in the future.

"We also hope in the future to set up training services and scholarships for college students. That's the sort of vision we want for our people," he said.

Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said the settlement recognised the Crown's failure to properly investigate pre-Treaty land transactions within the Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa tribal area.