Iwi reach long-awaited treaty milestone

BY DELWYN DICKEY

A signing of agreements in principle on the Treaty of Waitangi settlement claims in the Rodney area has delighted iwi involved in many years of preliminary negotiations.

The separate agreements were signed on December 22 and see the beginning of formal negotiations between the Crown and Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and Ngati Manuhiri.

These, it is envisaged, will lead to settlement packages which include formal acknowledgement of and apologies for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Crown, and cultural, historical and commercial redress.

Some of the settlement areas discussed include significant local landmarks, such as Little Barrier Island, Mt Auckland, Woodhill Forest, the South Mangawhai Forest, conservation land at Pakiri, and land attached to the Goat Island Marine Reserve.

"These signings create a platform of goodwill for other iwi within the region to reach agreements with the Crown," says Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson.

"The region between the Kaipara and Hauraki, including Tamaki Makaurau, is a complex and important one for treaty settlements with many claimant groups, and the signing of these offers show that we are making real progress in the area," says Mr Finlayson.

He hopes to make further positive announcements early this year.

The framework agreements provide for further negotiations.

Ngati Whatua o Kaipara agreement - main points for discussion:

Includes a $22.1 million quantum and the offer to purchase the 12,500 hectare Woodhill Forest, plus accumulated rentals from the Crown forest licence. The licensee is Taumata Plantations, owned by a group of international pension funds and managed by Hancock Forest Management. An obligation for managed public access through various operators including an adventure tree-climbing business, four-wheel-drive park, trailbike park, and an equestrian park, will remain.

Cultural redress to recognise grievances includes part of the site dubbed "the 10-acre block" in Helensville, gifted to the Crown in 1864, but some of which is now no longer used for the purpose intended. Some of that land will be leased back to the Crown.

Several scenic and conservation reserves may be transferred to the iwi, including the 153 hectare Parakai conservation area, all with protection for ongoing public use.

The transfer of ownership of Atuanui-Mt Auckland will be an option, subject to its scenic reserve status being retained with accompanying public access.

The ability to purchase 14 Crown properties is included, as is the sale and lease back of other land. This includes six Education Ministry properties, Auckland Prison and housing land, and the Albany District Court land.

There may also be the right of first refusal to purchase Crown assets in their area of interest for 169 years from a settlement date.

Ngati Whatua o Kaipara has about 6000 members. Their area of interest encompasses the entire southern Kaipara from South Head to Muriwai on the west coast, and from near Wellsford to the upper Waitemata Harbour to the east. The Te Haranui, Puatahi, Arapa-rera, Kakanui, and Reweti maraes in the south Kaipara area make up the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara claiment group.

Ngati Manuhiri agreement - main points for discussion:

Includes a $9m quantum. The transfer of about 1.2 hectares of land on Hauturu-Little Barrier Island, this land to remain a nature reserve.

The Crown also agrees that $500,000 of the quantum settlement will be allocated to a building for customary purposes. The remainder of the island will be transferred to Ngati Manuhiri who will then gift it back to the Crown, leaving the island with an overlay classification. Mt Tamahunga will also have an overlay classification.

The land attached to the Goat Island Marine reserve, much of it in parking, will be discussed along with a 47 hectare conservation block at Pakiri.

The iwi will have the option to buy the Crown's interest in the South Mangawhai Forest at market valuation, with accumulated rentals passed on to them. The forest licensee for the Mangawhai South Forest is Mangawhai South Holdings, a subsidiary of New Zealand Land Trust Holdings.

Ngati Manuhiri will have the option to buy some other Crown properties, including land-banked properties in their area. They may be able to buy and lease back to the Crown three education properties, and also the land the Warkworth District Court sits on.

The iwi has about 1250 members. Its area is based around the eastern coast of north Auckland and Mangawhai to Whangaparaoa.

Ngati Manuhiri is associated with Omaha Marae at Cape Rodney, Leigh.

"Cultural redress for both these iwi is particularly important, and in the case of Ngati Manuhiri the Crown wishes to recognise the cultural and spiritual significance of Little Barrier Island to the iwi," Mr Finlayson says.

In 1895, the Crown passed legislation to acquire Little Barrier Island from those owners who had refused to sell. The remaining residents were later evicted.

"We're very pleased with this milestone which has been a long time in coming," says Ngati Manuhiri head negotiator Mook Hohneck.

"This is the first stage of a work in progress, and we have a long way to go.

"The signing gave us all a huge sense of relief at finally reaching a long-awaited milestone" says
Ngati Whatua o Kaipara claims manager Margaret Kawharu.

Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and Ngati Manuhiri are two of 22 claimant groups involved in negotiations in the Kaipara, Auckland and Hauraki regions.

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