Iwi begin treaty talks over Mt Taranaki

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

There are more than 100 sites of cultural significance to Maori within Mt Taranaki's Egmont National Park.

Iwi want Mt Taranaki to be recognised as a member of its family.

The region's most notable landmark plays a key role in the history and whakapapa of Taranaki's eight iwi groups.

Jamie Tuuta said the mountain is of importance not only to Māori but all people in Taranaki.

Formal recognition of this relationship is one of the factors on the table as Treaty of Waitangi negotiations get underway between Maori and the Crown about Mt Taranaki.

Fast tracked for settlement, it is hoped an agreement in principle will be reached by August this year.

Taranaki Maori view the maunga as their ancestor.

The goals of the settlement include the recognition of the mountain as an ancestor, the development of a governance and management approach which involves iwi, government and the community along with establishing a 'whole of mountain' strategy, with regards to all activity on Mt Taranaki.

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Cultural redress and an apology are being sought, but the claim does not provide for any financial or commercial compensation.

Nga iwi o Taranaki's lead negotiator Jamie Tuuta said the group wanted to achieve 'meaningful redress' for its people.

Tuuta said a key focus was to create opportunities for iwi across Taranaki to strengthen their ties with the mountain, which is viewed by Maori as a tupuna or ancestor.

Tuuta said the mountain was at the centre of Treaty of Waitangi breaches endured by Taranaki Maori at the hands of the Crown.

'The treaty settlement claims of the eight iwi of Taranaki are the most severe in the country, reflecting wholesale confiscation of our lands. And, at the heart of our grievances is our tupuna maunga Taranaki,' he said.

The Waitangi Tribunal's Taranaki Report, released in 1996, said the mountain had 'extraordinary significance' to Maori.

Under the Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978, the mountain was returned to the region by vesting it in the Taranaki Maori Trust Board.

It was then immediately passed back to the Government by the board as a 'gift to the nation'.

However, the tribunal said there had been little evidence provided to it which verified there was agreement from Taranaki hapu to do this. There had also been no valid basis for Mt Taranaki's confiscation from Maori in the first place, the tribunal ruled.

Treaty negotiations related to Mt Taranaki were put on hold until all iwi in the region had entered into negotiations with the Crown regarding settlement claims.

The last iwi in Taranaki to do so was Ngati Maru, which embarked on its process late last year and also hoped to come to an agreement with the Crown by August.

Mt Taranaki's link to the economy and the tourist dollar is already being realised by iwi around the region.

Ngati Ruanui owns the Stratford Mountain House, which offers meals, accommodation as well as conference facilities.

In October 2016, Te Korowai o Ngaruahine bought the Dawson Falls Mountain Lodge and Cafe.

Roughly 15,000 people make the climb to the Mt Taranaki summit each year and during peak season, from November through to March, between 50 to 150 visit each day.