Crown progresses Ngāti Ruapani settlement at pace

The first reading for the Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana Claims Settlement Bill has passed today, just weeks after the deed of settlement was signed, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

"It is good we can move forward with the Ngāti Ruapani settlement, after signing their Deed of Settlement in Tūwai on 25 February.

"It was an honour to welcome and host the people of Ngāti Ruapani today, so that they could witness Parliament passing the first reading of their Bill.

"After six years of negotiations with Ngāti Ruapani, this is a significant and long-awaited milestone to reach.

"No settlement can fully compensate for the injustices of the past, which Ngāti Ruapani experienced in full, but this settlement represents a way forward. I hope it will contribute to the support of future generations of Ngāti Ruapani to come."

Key elements of the redress include:

• $24 million financial redress.
• Undivided half share of Patunamu Forest Ltd.
• Four commercial redress and two cultural redress properties.
• Approximately 12,000 hectares of land added into Te Urewera.

Ngāti Ruapani are based in and around south Waikaremoana. A copy of the Deed of Settlement is available online at: Te Tari Whakatau - Ngāti Ruapani Settlement Documents.