River's health key to accord

A commitment  to the Waikato River's health is the cornerstone of a Treaty of Waitangi accord between the Crown and Waikato-Tainui, Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen says.

A milestone toward settlement of the Waikato River claim had been reached with the signing yesterday of an agreement in principle, at a special meeting of the tribal Parliament for Waikato-Tainui, Te Kauhanganui o Waikato, he said. Dr Cullen, for the Crown, and Waikato-Tainui negotiators Tukoroirangi Morgan and Lady Raiha Mahuta signed the agreement.

The claim arose from the Crown's confiscation (raupatu) in the 1860s which denied the rights and interests of Waikato-Tainui in the Waikato River. The river claim was excluded from the 1995 land settlement with Waikato-Tainui in December 2005 and negotiations have been continuing. A draft agreement in principle was released for consultation in May.

Dr Cullen said yesterday that a shared commitment to the "health and wellbeing" of the river was the cornerstone of the agreement.

"It will give new impetus to the way the river is managed on behalf of all New Zealanders while recognising the special relationship and significance of the river to Waikato-Tainui."

The settlement will provide a new river management structure. It includes "Guardians of the Waikato river" and a statutory board to facilitate the participation of Waikato-Tainui in management of the river within and affecting the area from Karapiro to the sea.

Waikato-Tainui would be joined by other Waikato river iwi and representatives of the Waikato and wider communities to establish a vision and strategy as the foundation for an integrated approach to managing the river.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said the tribe and the river were "inseparable". "It is a gift to us from our ancestors and we have a duty to protect that gift for future generations."

Dr Cullen said there was still much work to be done to put the new arrangements in place but yesterday's agreement affirmed the Crown's commitment to it relationship with Waikato-Tainui.

Guardians of the Waikato river will comprise up to four members to represent Waikato-Tainui and up to four members to represent other iwi with interests; up to seven members appointed by ministers to represent the interests of all New Zealanders; and one member, appointed by ministers after a nomination from Environment Waikato, to represent the regional community interest.

The statutory board will comprise Waikato-Tainui representatives, Environment Waikato councillors, representatives of local authorities covered by the board's functions and representatives of relevant Crown agencies.

The Crown had to acknowledge the confiscation, its failure to protect the relationship Waikato-Tainui had with the river, and the degradation that had occurred while the Crown had authority of it, noting this had caused Waikato-Tainui distress.

The financial package was to include a study to identify clean-up priorities. Additional to the settlement, the Crown must provide an endowment to support Tainui Endowed College at Hopuhopu.

The Crown and Waikato-Tainui were considering the establishment of a trust for the restoration and protection of the relationship of the tribe with the river "including their economic, social, cultural and spiritual relationships".

Dr Cullen said the next steps included the development of a detailed deed of settlement that would have to be ratified by the people of Waikato-Tainui.

A Guardians establishment committee also had to be set up and this would develop a vision and strategy for the river. NZPA

- NZPA