Far North Treaty settlement edges closer

Settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims lodged by the  five most northern Maori tribes  about 23 years ago  has come significantly closer with the signing of an Agreement in Principle between the Crown and Te Hiku Forum.
Te Hiku Forum represents Ng?ti Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ng?i Takoto, Te Rarawa and Ng?ti Kahu, which have around 40,000 members in total.

People holding protest placards were at Roma Marae at Ahipara on Saturday when the agreement was signed, but the ceremony went smoothly with ministerial protection staff and security company personnel on the marae and police on nearby roads ensuring opposition was orderly.
The loudest dissent came from 82-year-old Te Paatu chief Selwyn Clark, who spoke on the marae, telling Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples the Crown was out of order in not including his tribe in the settlement negotiations.
The agreement provides for commercial redress of $120 million between the five forum iwi.
It includes the transfer of the 22,000ha Aupouri State Forest along with accumulated rentals of $9.9 million, and the transfer of seven Landcorp and Crown agency farms to Te Hiku iwi for a fixed price of $25 million.
The farms are: Te Paki Station, 2800ha; Cape View Station, 915ha; Te Raite Station, 1850ha; Sweetwaters Station, 2479ha; Te Karae Station, 1968ha; Rangiputa Station, 3691ha; and Kohumaru Station, 945ha.
 The agreement also provides for:
A co-governance arrangement with the Crown over Ninety Mile Beach (Te Oneroa a Tohe) to protect and improve conservation values while retaining public access and recreation.
Acknowledgment of the iwi as kaitiaki (guardians) over Te Ara Wairua (the spiritual path), and the vesting of 75ha at Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua) as a historic reserve.
An accord between the Crown and Te Hiku Forum to address and prioritise social issues.
In general, all existing public access rights in relation to areas affected by the settlement will be preserved. But public access to Aupouri forest will be for the new landowners to decide.
Mr Finlayson said the agreement would provide the basis for economic development for iwi and the region, and better conservation management of iconic sites.
Te Hiku Forum chairman Haami Piripi said iwi were looking forward to managing iwi-owned forestry and farming, as well as investing in fishing, tourism, education and training on behalf of iwi, hap? and whanau members.
Five individual deeds of settlement - one for each iwi - and a Te Hiku deed of settlement covering collective aspects of the settlement will be drafted this year.
If ratified, and settlement legislation is passed,  the deeds of settlement could be signed late this year or next year.
 
If passed into law, both parties agree it would be a final settlement of all Te Hiku iwi Treaty claims relating to events before September 21, 1992.
But the settlement packages would still allow Te Hiku iwi to pursue claims against the Crown for acts or omissions after that date, including claims based on the continued existence of aboriginal title or customary rights.