Hon Christopher Finlayson

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
18 August 2017

Agreements in principle signed with Whakatōhea and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua

The Crown has signed agreements in principle to settle the historical Treaty grievances of Whakatōhea and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The agreements outline broad settlement packages which include Crown apologies as well as financial, commercial and cultural redress.

“Negotiations to settle the historical claims of Whakatōhea began in January this year, two decades after previous talks collapsed,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today’s agreement is a great achievement and a reflection of the positive and principled approach to negotiations taken by Whakatōhea’s leaders and negotiators.”

“The long overdue agreement with Whakatōhea addresses serious breaches of the Treaty by the Crown including the confiscation of large stretches of Whakatōhea land which forced many iwi members to move to inadequate reserves.”

It also sets out redress of $100 million which includes specific funding for Te Reo revitalisation, Education Endowments and the development of Whakatōhea’s reserves.

The agreement with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua includes total financial and commercial redress of $7.2 million as well as cultural redress valued at $500,000.

“The majority of the Ngāti Whātua historical claims have been settled through settlements with Ōrākei, Kaipara, Te Uri o Hau and Te Roroa,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today’s Agreement in Principle, together with the Kaipara Harbour Framework Agreement signed in 2014, focuses on resolving all outstanding historical claims of the iwi.”

Copies of the agreements in principle are available at: www.govt.nz/treaty-settlement-documents/.

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