Crown-Tuhoe push towards Treaty settlement

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More than a year after the Crown-Tuhoe settlement negotiations imploded both parties are committing to a "relationship agreement" this weekend.

In May last year Prime Minister John Key pulled the plug on a deal - which was languishing before cabinet - because of its provision to hand back the 212,672ha Te Urewera National Park to the iwi. Return to iwi ownership had been a Tuhoe bottomline in negotiations.

It is an important albeit provisional step on the path back to settlement because the relationship was in bad shape immediately following Mr Key's announcement that the deal wouldn't go ahead. Bad jokes were made by Mr Key - he said he would have been Tuhoe dinner if he'd been dining with them - and Tuhoe accused him of losing his nerve in the face of political pressure.

The agreement will be signed on Saturday in Ruatahuna at Mataatua Marae - it will reflect broad acknowledgement of the tribe's grievances with the Crown, acknowledgement of the mana of both parties and a commitment to develop redress for a comprehensive settlement.

A statement from Treaty Negotiations minister Christopher Finlayson said the agreement would allow a "fresh start" and allow the parties to begin to move on from 140 years of "difficult relationships."

A draft had been considered by Tuhoe over the last month. Once the agreement is signed work will concentrate on improving the provision of social services to the community. A social services taskforce made up of senior representatives of state sector agencies has been formed and has begun work with Tuhoe to develop a plan for better delivery of services to meet community needs in the area.