Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister of Mäori Affairs
22 August 2008 Media Statement
Waikato taniwharau– He piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha
“The late Sir Robert Mahuta once said ‘The River belongs to us just as we belong to the river. The Waikato tribe and the
River are inseparable. It is a gift left to us by our ancestors and we believe we have a duty to protect that gift for
future generations.’ Today both the Crown and Tainui enacted the sentiments of Sir Robert with the signing of a Deed of
settlement on the iwi’s claims to the Waikato River.” Minister of Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia said
today.
The Deed of settlement between the Crown and Tainui was signed at Turangwaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia today.
"This settlement will give new strength to the way the river is managed on behalf of all New Zealanders while
recognising the special relationship and significance of the river to Waikato-Tainui."
“The clean up of the Waikato River to follow today’s Deed of Settlement with Waikato-Tainui will be one of the most
important environmental undertakings in New Zealand’s history”
The Deed will create a contestable ‘clean up fund’ to which the Crown will contribute $7 million a year for 30 years.
“The Deed of Settlement will allow for an unprecedented era of co-management of the river, with a Guardians committee
to include equal numbers of Crown and iwi representatives, with important contributions from local government. I thank
Waikato-Tainui for their leadership in getting us to this milestone today and look forward to taking the next steps in
our work to clean up the Waikato.”
The Waikato River claim was explicitly excluded from Waikato-Tainui’s 1995 raupatu settlement, with the Crown and
Waikato-Tainui agreeing to pick up the claim at a later date. Formal negotiations began in 2005 and an Agreement in
Principle was reached in December last year.
This agreement affirms the Crown’s commitment to its relationship with Waikato-Tainui and I would like to recognise the
work of Co-Negotiators Tukoroirangi Morgan and Lady Raiha Mahuta, and their role in leading the negotiations on behalf
of their people” Mr Horomia said.
--
22 August 2008
Media Statement
Waikato taniwharau– He piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha
“Naa Taa Robert Mahuta, kua mate, ngaa kupu, ‘Naa maatou te Awa peeraa naa te Awa maatou. E kore e taea te wehe i te iwi o Waikato me te Awa. He taonga tuku iho i
waihotia mai e o maatou tipuna, me maatou e piripono ana, kei runga i a maatou te mahi ki te tiaki i taua taonga moo
ngaa reanga kei mua.’ I te rangi nei i whakatinanatia e te Karauna me Tainui ngaa wawata a Taa Robert, i te waitohutanga i teetahi Tuhinga
Kirimana Whakataunga moo ngaa kereeme a te Iwi ki te Awa o Waikato,” i kii te Minita moo ngaa Take Maaori, a Parekura
Horomia i te rangi nei.
I waitohutia te Kirimana Whakataunga i waenga i te Karauna me Tainui ki Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia, i te rangi
nei.
“Maa teenei whakataunga e tuku raukaha hou, moo ngaa aahuatanga tiaki i te awa moo ngaa taangata katoa o Aotearoa, me te
tautoko i te honohononga me te piringa motuhake a te awa ki Waikato-Tainui.”
“Ko te whakamaa i te Awa o Waikato, whai muri mai i te Kirimana Whakataunga o te rangi nei, koia nei teetahi o ngaa
mahinga taiao tino whakahirahira i roto i te hiitori o Aotearoa.”
Ka hangaia e te Tuhinga teetahi ‘tahua whakamaa ake’ i runga i te takoha, e $7 miriona ia tau, moo te 30 tau.
“Ka whakaaetia e te Kirimana Whakataunga teetahi reanga hou o te whakahaere ngaatahi i te awa, ki raro i teetahi komiti
Kaitiaki, e oorite ana ngaa maangai mema Karauna me ngaa maangai mema iwi, me ngaa takoha whakahirahira mai i ngaa
kaunihera aa-rohe. Ka tuku mihi ahau ki Waikato-Tainui moo taa raatou kaiaarahitanga kia tae ai maatou ki teenei tikanga
i te rangi nei, me te titiro whakamua ki te mahi e whai ake i a taatou mahi ki te whakamaa i te awa o Waikato.”
I whakawehea tuturu mai te kereeme moo te Awa o Waikato ki te whakataunga raupatu a Waikato-Tainui i te tau 1995, i
runga i te whakaaetanga a te Karauna me Waikato-Tainui ki te hiki i te kereeme aa-muri mai. I tiimata ngaa whakawhitinga
korero i te tau 2005, noo te marama o Hakihea i te tau kua huri, ka oti te tuhinga Whakaaetanga aa-kaupapa.
E whakamana ana e te kirimana nei te piriponotanga a te Karauna i toona honohononga ki a Waikato-Tainui, naa reira ka
mihi whakanui ahau i ngaa mahi a ngaa Kaiwhakawhitiwhiti-Ngaatahi, a Tukoroirangi Morgan, me Kahurangi Raiha Mahuta, me
taa raaua tuuranga aarahi i ngaa whakawhitinga korero moo taa raaua iwi,” i kii a Horomia.
ENDS