Hon Christopher Finlayson
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Minister for Maori Affairs
9 September 2011
Deed of Settlement signed with Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara
The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement to settle Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara’s historical Treaty of Waitangi claims at
Aotea/Shelley Beach today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.
The Deed was signed at a ceremony at Aotea/Shelly Beach on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour. The Crown was represented
by Mr Finlayson and Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples.
“Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara lost virtually all of their land, which had devastating consequences for their social, cultural,
spiritual and physical wellbeing,” Dr Sharples said. “Those consequences are still felt today.”
Components of the settlement include commercial and financial redress worth $22.1 million, including the transfer of
Woodhill Forest. Cultural redress includes the return of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara’s ancestral mountain, Atuanui/Mount
Auckland, and eight other significant sites.
The Crown and Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara initialled a draft Deed of Settlement on 24 June 2011, which was then ratified by
the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara claimant community with support of over 90%.
“Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara has a long tradition of commitment to and support for the Crown, dating back to the signing of
the Treaty,” Mr Finlayson said. “This relationship flourished for a while but in time the Crown’s actions fell short of
the promises made in the Treaty. This settlement will breathe new life into the relationship between us, to the benefit
of all New Zealand.”
“Today’s signing also shows the progress being made towards resolving historical grievances in the greater Auckland
region, which accounts for around a third of all remaining Treaty settlements. It is also a result of the greater
momentum in settling claims towards the Government’s aspirational target of settling historical claims by 2014.”
ENDS