Crown and Ngati Whare sign agreement in principle

The Crown and Ngati Whare have signed an agreement in principle to settle all outstanding historical Treaty of Waitangi Claims, the Government said today.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson said the Crown and Ngati Whare would now start work on a detailed deed of settlement.

The agreement outlines the broad settlement package that will settle the iwi's claims.

It is a combination of cultural and historical redress and includes a Crown apology.

Ngati Whare, an iwi with between 1500 and 3000 members, has interests based around Te Whaiti, Minginui and the Whirinaki Forest Park.

Its claim included post-1865 land alienation, the impact of the Native Land Court, Crown purchasing and the effects of the Urewera District Native Reserves Act 1896.

Redress includes recognising Ngati Whare's special relationship with natural resources in the area and a high-level governance role over the Whirinaki Forest Park.

The Crown will contribute $200,000 towards the restoration of Te Whaiti Court House.

"With negotiations throughout the central North Island either completed or well under way, this agreement takes us one step closer to the Government's goal of settling all claims by 2014," Mr Finlayson said.

- NZPA