Some twelve years after the release of the Muriwhenua Lands Report, the iwi of Muriwhenua have signed an Agreement in Principle (“AIP”) at Roma Marae, Ahipara, on 16 January 2010.

The AIP was signed between the Crown and Te Hui Topu o Te Hiku o Te Ika (“Te Hiku Forum”) which represents Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto, Te Rarawa and Ngati Kahu.

It is reported that the agreement provides commercial redress of $120 million between the five iwi.

It also includes the transfer of Aupouri Crown Forest along with accumulated rentals and the transfer of seven farms in the region from Landcorp and other Crown agencies.

The seven farms that are proposed to be transferred to Te Hiku Forum for a fixed price $25 million are:

• Te Paki Station;
• Cape View Station;
• Te Raite Station;
• Sweetwaters Station;
• Te Karae Station;
• Rangiputa Station; and,
• Kohumaru Station.

The AIP provides for a co-governance arrangement with the Crown and Te Hiku Forum over Te Oneroa a Tohe (Ninety Mile Beach) to protect and improve conservation values while retaining public access and recreation.  The AIP also vests seventy five hectares of land at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) as a historic reserve. 

Other aspects of the AIP include:

• a social accord between the Crown and Te Hiku Forum to address and prioritise social issues.
• an agreement to explore the possibility of place name changes in relation to Te Oneroa a Tohe.

The Crown will now work with Te Hiku Forum representatives to draft five separate Deeds of Settlement for each of the iwi.  A separate Deed of Settlement will also be required for Te Hiku Forum to include collective aspects of the settlement such as the transfer of Aupouri Forest.