Legislation to enact the deed will be introduced to Parliament later this year, Minister Andrew Little says
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Ngāti Rangi and the Crown have signed a deed of settlement, ending 28 years of negotiations over Treaty of Waitangi claims.
Signed at the Raketepauma Marae in the Ruapehu District on Saturday, the settlement involves an official apology from the Crown to the iwi and financial redress.
“Today is significant for the people of Ngāti Rangi, and for all of New Zealand. I would like to acknowledge the enormous amount of work that has been achieved by the Central North Island tangata whenua and the government to get us to this point,” said Minister Andrew Little, who holds the Treaty of Waitangi negotiations and justice portfolios.
“Ngāti Rangi say that they have always been a friend of the Crown. Through this settlement the Crown aims to rebuild its relationship with Ngāti Rangi, and reinforce that it is based on mutual respect and honour,” he said.
Legislation to enact the deed will be introduced to Parliament later this year, Little said. He also noted that Ngāti Rangi is one of the iwi that will take part in the collective negotiations over Tongariro National Park, due to commence later this year.
“The Ngāti Rangi deed of settlement outlines a range of redress to be provided to the iwi, including a Crown acknowledgement and apology, cultural redress including a statutory recognition and governance arrangements for the Whangaehu River, and financial and commercial redress with a total value of $17m,” Little said.
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