More Discussions on Waitara Endowment Lands

17 June 2014

New Plymouth District Council has decided to conduct further discussions with representatives of Te Atiawa before considering the future options of the Waitara endowment land.

“This is a complicated issue that will take a lot to unravel but the necessary first step is for us to talk further with Te Atiawa and try to find a solution that benefits the whole community,” says Mayor Andrew Judd.

“We will wait until Te Atiawa’s Deed of Settlement has been ratified, then we will talk with Te Atiawa Iwi Authority and the iwi’s new post-settlement entity about how we can move forward.”

Tonight (Tuesday) the Council considered a report on the implications of a Deed of Settlement initialled by Te Atiawa and the Crown. The deed includes provision for any proceeds from the sale of endowment land to be freed from the existing statutory trusts and restrictions if the Council sells to the iwi, but not if it sells to a third party.

A proposal to draft a local bill would have aimed to free up the uses of any rental income or sales proceeds earned from the Waitara endowment land regardless of who the purchaser was.

The Deed of Settlement is yet to be voted on by the iwi.

In 2004 the Council offered part of its Waitara endowment lands to the Crown for use in Te Atiawa’s historical claims under the Treaty of Waitangi, subject to conditions.

Te Atiawa has elected to not take ownership of the land as part of its settlement with the Crown.

Tonight, the Council instructed the Chief Executive to write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to confirm the Council will cancel the agreement for the sale and purchase of the lands between NPDC and the Crown.

ENDS

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