Te Whakatōhea will sign its Treaty claims settlement on May 27, 2023, the 183rd anniversary of seven of its rangatira signing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Opotiki.
Whakatōhea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust chairman Graeme Riesterer told Waatea News.Com it will be a day of remembrance as well as celebration for the iwi, which has been battling for justice for 135 years.
Riesterer said the $100 million settlement will be transformational for Whakatōhea and the Ōpōtiki community, enabling much-needed financial investment, increasing employment opportunities and improving living conditions for everyone in the rohe.
Outside of the financial redress, the settlement provides a platform to support the growth and protection of whānau, whenua and moana.