Members of Te Arawa iwi Ngati Rangiwewehi say a much better relationship with the Rotorua Lakes Council has been instrumental in helping settle a long-standing grievance around Hamurana Springs.
Iwi representatives were in the public gallery yesterday when councillors voted unanimously to go ahead with a process to hand back land surrounding Hamurana Springs, at a meeting of the council's Strategy, Policy and Finance committee.
According to an agenda report, the title to the Hamurana Springs Recreation Reserve - approximately 47ha - was transferred to Ngati Rangiwewehi as part of its Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown, but this did not cover a small portion - 0.2ha - of land held under a water supply easement.
The council plans to hand back the rest of the reserve, saying it will not affect the water supply, as it has a resource consent to take from the spring until 2026.
As the spring is held under the Reserves Act, the final decision to hand back the land will be made by the Minister of Conservation after public consultation.
The Rotorua Daily Post spoke to Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi Iwi Authority chairman Joe Tuhakaraina and kaumatua Toro Bidois after the meeting.