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An iwi from the North Island took another step to “turn the dial” to provide a better future for her people, after initiating her settlement act at the Parliament Building in Wellington.
The Ngāti Maniapoto Māori Board of Trustees initialed the Maniapoto Settlement Deed on Thursday, representing the next phase in resolving its historic claims of the Treaty.
The agreement proposed by the Treaty, and the proposed entity that will govern the agreement, will now be returned to the people of Maniapoto for their consideration.
That will involve a series of hui in early 2021 and, if approved, the deal will go through a legislative process.
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Keith Ikin, initiating the liquidation deed on behalf of the Maniapoto Māori Board of Trustees.
The financial and commercial compensation for the proposed settlement now approaches $ 180 million.
Other repair courses included the transfer of important sites to the iwi; change the names of certain geographic features and government agencies that form relationship agreements with Maniapoto.
The agreement also offered opportunities to explore how the iwi can have a greater say in decisions related to waterways.
Maniapoto Māori Trust Chairman of the Board of Directors Keith Ikin said it was a time for reflection and recognition of past generations.
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Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little initialed the deed on behalf of the Crown.
“This really goes back to the time of our ancestors, people like Rewi Maniapoto, Taonui Hikaka, Te Wahanui Reihana Te Huatare, to the many generations of the last 30 years, to the last five years of Treaty negotiations.”
Ikin initialed the deed on behalf of the board of trustees, while Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little initialed it on behalf of the Crown.
Ikin said it would be a basis for the new ruling entity to serve two central purposes.
“That’s providing for the current generation and then growing an asset base for generations to come.”
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Maniapoto Māori Trust Board provided transportation for iwi members to be part of the event in Wellington.
More importantly, it was about “turning the dial,” Ikin said, in terms of the tribe’s relationship with the Crown and how to design and provide services for its people.
“For us, this is the most critical aspect of the agreement.
“We have to change the reality of our families in areas such as health, education and employment, that is a real focus for us.”
Ikin said bringing the deal to iwi for approval would take months of hui, in person but also through audiovisuals.
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Politicians such as Andrew Little, Willie Jackson, Nanaia Mahuta and Adrian Rurawhe were among those attending the ceremony.
About 90 percent of the iwi live outside the tribal rohe.
“Connecting with everyone is a big focus for us and in the new governance structure, we have established an advisory role for those who live outside of the Rohe tribes.”
Ikin said he hoped the deal would provide an incentive for people to return home to Maniapoto.
“One of the blessings that has been present among his people in the last 10 years is that he has a very strong sense of the skills, knowledge and experience that Maniapoto has.
“This agreement, if ratified, provides a real opportunity for our whanau to bring their skills home and use them for the benefit of our people.”
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Waiata, in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament, helps celebrate the writing of the agreement by moving to the next phase of the Treaty settlement process.
The Maniapoto rohe was also known as the King Country.
It borders Raukumara in the north with Waipingao Stream and Taumarunui in the south and the Wharepuhunga and Hauhungaroa mountain ranges in the east.
Details of the Agreement in Principle signed by the Crown and Ngāti Maniapoto in 2017 appear online via Govt.nz.
It included a historical account of how the Crown violated the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Overall, Ikin said, the most significant violation involved land alienated from Maniapoto and the economic impact it had on families for subsequent generations.
“Our story is unique,” Ikin explained.
“The Land Wars ended in 1864, but for 20 years later, we had isolated ourselves from the European settlement.
“With the construction of the main [train] trunk, our elders sought to reach an agreement with the Crown, that the railroad could pass with conditions.
Those conditions included that Maniapoto’s leaders maintain authority over the region.
“But all of that developed quite quickly. Land courts were established, the land was alienated in a short space of time.
“Many people were deprived of their rights to their land and that has had a significant impact for many generations.”
A copy of the Deed of Agreement can be found on the website of the Maniapoto Māori Board of Trustees.
The settlement deed
* Several important sites will be transferred to Maniapoto as cultural repair, subject to conditions, to protect existing values, such as public access or conservation, and existing third party rights.
* Renaming certain geographic features and protected areas in the Crown provides visible recognition of Maniapoto. Examples include the name change from Aria to Āria or Benneydale to Benneydale / Maniaiti.
* Legal recognition recognizes the association between Maniapoto and a particular site or area and enhances your ability to participate in specific resource management processes.
* A deed of recognition obliges the Crown to consult with Maniapoto on specific matters and take into account his views, his special association with certain areas.
* An overlay classification recognizes Maniapoto’s traditional, cultural, spiritual, and historical association with certain sites of significance.
* Commitment to explore with Kiwirail and New Zealand Railways Incorporation, installation of information at key locations, support for official name change to Te Ara or Tūrongo and a record of declaration on historical associations.
* The deed provides for government agencies to have relationship agreements with Maniapoto.
* Commitment to exploring greater participation in decision-making in relation to waterways within Taranaki and Waikato, excluding coverage by the Ngā Wai or Maniapoto (Waipā River) Law.
SOURCE: Deed of liquidation of Maniapoto and government entity after the liquidation, information brochure.
