Ngati Porou negotiators recently initialed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown at Parliament.

The Deed of Settlement includes a historical account of the interaction between the Crown and Ngati Porou, an acknowledgement that the Crown has breached the Treaty of Waitangi in its dealings with Ngati Porou, and a formal apology from the Crown.  It also includes a $110 million redress package from the Crown, and an additional $13 million in accumulated forestry rentals.

The initialing ceremony is the result of over two years of negotiations between the Ngati Porou negotiators and the Crown.  The negotiations have been conducted on behalf of Ngati Porou by a group called Te Haeata, a sub committee of Te Runanga o Ngati Porou made up of representatives of the  Ngati Porou hapu and the Runanga.

The next stage in the process is for members of Ngati Porou to ratify the Deed of Settlement and associated governance entity to look after the settlement assets.  All registered members of Ngati Porou over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in the ratification process.  If sufficient support is given during ratification, then the Deed of Settlement will be signed.

If the settlement package is ratified and signed, then it will be the full and final settlement of all Ngati Porou historical Treaty of Waitangi clams against the Crown.

Lead Legal counsel James Johnston acknowledged the many efforts of those involved in the negotiations including the Te Haeata negotiators lead by Dr Apirana Mahuika, Chief Negotiator Rob McLeod and the team of Rainey Collins lawyers who had worked closely with Te Haeata throughout the negotiations.

For more information on the settlement see www.tehaeata.co.nz/ratification.

James Johnston & Dr Mahuika at a recent meeting at Rainey Collins offices.