Te Arawa signs for two claims

Treaty of Waitangi claims for two Te Arawa hapu have been settled at a signing in Te Puke.

The Crown signed deeds of settlement for all outstanding historical treaty claims with Te Arawa hapu Ngati Rangiwewehi and Tapuika at Ngati Moko Marae. Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson said Ngati Rangiwewehi and Tapuika suffered greatly when the Crown brought war to the region in the 1860s.

"The Crown later established the Native Land Court which created unfortunate consequences for both iwi. These settlements will help right the wrongs of the past. Today Ngati Rangiwewehi, Tapuika and the wider community can look forward to a stronger future," he said.

Ngati Rangiwewehi and Tapuika will each receive financial redress of $6 million included in their specific cultural redress packages.

This includes a co-governance arrangement for the Kaituna River for Tapuika and the return of culturally significant sites such as Hamurana Springs to Ngati Rangiwewehi.

"The government is committed to resolving all historical treaty grievances in a timely and durable way," Mr Finlayson said.

The deeds were ratified by Ngati Rangiwewehi and Tapuika with legislation to be introduced into Parliament next year to give effect to the settlements.

When the Crown brought war to Tauranga in 1864 members of both hapu went to assist their traditional allies. The Crown regarded Maori who fought against it in the Tauranga battles as rebels and confiscated 118,000ha of land around Tauranga including land in which Tapuika and Ngati Rangiwewehi had customary rights or interests.

Later, the Crown retained 20,200ha and returned the remainder to Maori. However, the two hapu, regarded as unsurrendered rebels, were generally excluded from this process and were awarded none of the land they claimed.