Maniapoto takes step closer to concluding Treaty of Waitangi settlement

Monday, 21 June 2021

Keith Ikin, initialling the deed of settlement on behalf of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board at Parliament Building in Wellington, December 2020.

Maniapoto is approaching the final step in its 30-year quest to resolve its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

People affiliated to the North Island iwi are expected to vote on whether to accept the Maniapoto Deed of Settlement and its proposed Post Settlement Governance Entity Trust Deed.

The settlement deed was initialled by the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and the Crown on December 17, 2020, and it outlined details of the proposed Treaty settlement.

The Post Settlement Governance Entity Trust Deed proposed who would be responsible for administering the settlement on behalf of the iwi.

Minister of Treaty Negotiations, Andrew Little, initialled the deed on behalf of the Crown in December 2020.

* Round the clock security for abandoned psychiatric hospital has cost more than $1 million

Maniapoto iwi members celebrate the initialling of the deed of settlement in Wellington in December.

* Ngāti Maniapoto initials its Deed of Settlement with the Crown

Both will be presented to iwi members for approval at a series of hui over the coming weeks.

Voting then opens from July 5 to August 16 when those affiliated to Maniapoto, or direct descendants of Maniapoto tūpuna 18 years or older, could have their say on whether they wanted to accept the proposals.

If approved by the iwi, the settlement will then go through a process of legislation, which may carry through to the end of 2021.

The Maniapoto rohe was also known as Te Rohe Pōtae (the King Country) and it bounds Raukūmara in the north to Waipingao Stream and Taumarunui in the south and the Wharepuhunga and Hauhungaroa ranges in the east.

The Maniapoto Māori Trust Board was leading the Treaty negotiations for the iwi.

Its chairman Keith Ikin said it would be the people who made the final decision on whether the proposed settlement was agreed to.

The financial and commercial redress of the proposed settlement was close to $180 million.

The settlement and historical redress included an historical account, Crown acknowledgements and apology, cultural redress, relationship redress, financial and commercial redress.

The existing assets of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board would be transferred to the new governance entity which was proposed to have 14 elected trustees.

“This is a significant time for our people. It is the most important decision we will make in our generation,” Ikin said.

“A key focus of Maniapoto Māori Trust Board has been to take an inclusive approach with all, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to have their say throughout this journey.

“It is really important that our whānau who whakapapa within Te Nehenehenui, are fully informed and participate in the decision to approve, or not, the proposed settlement.”

Details of the Post Settlement Governance Entity Trust Deed and the initialled Deed Of Settlement were available on www.maniapoto.iwi.nz