Te Arawa face 'greatest' challenge

The money's in the bank and the assets have been handed over. Now Te Arawa faces its greatest challenge - managing its Treaty of Waitangi settlement.
Yesterday's official hand-over by the Crown of more than $85 million in cash and assets marked a monumental day for Te Arawa.
Its chief negotiator, Rawiri Te Whare, said it had been a long and sometimes challenging journey but he was confident about what was in store for Te Arawa.
"The greatest challenge is still ahead of us, how we now manage and grow the assets, and we look forward to that challenge," he said.

Eru George, the chairman of Te Arawa's treaty negotiating body, Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa, said it was fitting the handover ceremony was held at the same marae where it all began six years ago.
"It marks a conclusion in a process that has spanned generations of our tupuna [ancestors] who committed their lives to righting the wrongs and seeking resolutions for injustices on our people."
Te Arawa's settlement forms part of the Central North Island $400 million-plus treaty settlement that has been dubbed the "Treelords" deal as it incorporated forests, including Kaingaroa Forest.
The deal sees Te Arawa receive commercial redress of $38.6 million in cash, more than $40 million returned from accumulated rentals from Crown forestry land, ongoing income from rental of the forest lands which is estimated to be about $2.1 million per annum, the return of land situated under five schools within the Rotorua region and four geothermal wells.
Mr George said the trust had used past treaty settlements to plan how they would invest in Te Arawa's future.
"Te Arawa are fortunate to have the example of other iwi to guide our development and we have learned from the mistakes and successes of those who have come before us."
The trust yesterday also launched its package deal for the 11 iwi groups linked to the trust. Each group will receive $1 million provided criteria are met. The initiative drew a favourable response from members of the public at yesterday's ceremony.
Te Pumautanga trustee Roger Pikia said it was the first time in the history of settlement deals that money had been made available to iwi members straight away.
Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said yesterday was a special day for all of Rotorua.
"I feel this is much a deal for Pakeha as well as Maori, because the Rotorua District Council has been there right from the word go," he said.
As part of the settlement deal the iwi will also receive a Crown apology, which will be delivered on August 28 at Te Pakira Marae, Whakarewarewa.