Govt and iwi set to ink largest ever treaty deal
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Seven iwi will ink the $400 million "Treelords" deal that will carve up the bulk of the Crown's Central North Island (CNI) forest blocks.
It is part of a historic week for Treaty deals, which includes today's first reading of legislation enshrining Affiliate Te Arawa's settlement, the first reading of a bill legislating the CNI deal, the signing of terms of negotiaton with Raukawa and the initialling of a deed of settlement with Taranaki Whanui.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen said it was "an extraordinary week in the history of claims settlements".
He said the process was gathering a head of steam, but it wasn't because of the upcoming election.
Problems with Affiliate Te Arawa's settlement had triggered negotiations over the central North Island forests, which had in turn generated interest with Raukawa.
"These things become ... a self-feeding momentum. People see progress. They realise things are happening. It's time therefore to get on with things."
Dr Cullen said the forests which had been held in trust by the Government since 1989 were worth about $200 million. However accumulated rentals worth about $220 million would also be handed over.
At the heart of proposed settlement are nine central North Island forests -- Kaingaroa, Horohoro, Whakarewarewa, Crater, Waimihia, Marotiri, Pureora, Waituhi and Taurewa.
Under the proposed deal, Tuwharetoa will also be offered the opportunity to buy the Lake Taupo and Lake Rotoaira forests from the Crown.
It has taken 20 years for the iwi to agree on the plan, with three previous attempts made to hammer out a deal over Kaingaroa forest since 1990.
The Central North Island Iwi Collective, is made up of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Whare, Ngati Manawa, Raukawa, and the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu, which collectively have more than 100,000 members.
National leader John Key today said his party would support both Treaty bills in Parliament this week.
The settlements were an important step for Maori and it was important to resolve the central North Island claim which had been around for a long time.
He said the fact so many treaty settlements were coming up now was a result of Labour's "hopeless" record on progressing them over the past eight years.
Dr Cullen had been brought in at the last minute after previous ministers Margaret Wilson and Mark Burton "failed abysmally" to advance the process, he said.
Dr Cullen last week said he expected four pieces of settlement legislation before Parliament by the time of this year's election.
He was confident the Government could meet its target of settling all historic claims by 2020.
From what I've heard through someone involved in the issue, this won't have any effects on access or riding in Rotorua. A tad scary though, I'm not sure if Pureora access will be affected at all, I love riding in there too.
Last edited by Friendly Llama on Wed 25th Jun 11:36am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: Aug 04, 2003 Posts: 9,442 Location: Hamilton
Posted: Wed 25th Jun 9:35am Post subject:
They're hoping to have it all settled by 2020 now, originally that date was 2000, then 2010. Who else wouldn't be suprised if that date keeps slipping?
So the redwoods is going to turn into another money making enterprise?
I remember going up Mt Tarawera a few years ago on a school trip there was a guy parked at the bottom to take a $5 "koha" to walk up the mountain.
I went backa couple of years later, the "koha" is now something crazy like $50 to walk up it
here's hoping the same thing doesn't happen to the redwoods.
Of course it could swing the other way, and have a similar scenario to what happened to National park.
But more than likely not.
Joined: Aug 04, 2003 Posts: 9,442 Location: Hamilton
Posted: Wed 25th Jun 10:26am Post subject:
Jono wrote:
Mmm...plenty of racism going down in this thread.
Would these responses be the same if the company the land is being transferred to wasn't associated with maori?
They'd be similar on my behalf - I would be worried if the forest was changing ownership no matter who the new owners are. I just thought I'd let people know that we could still ride and not to worry
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