Ngati Kuia, Crown sign deed of settlement

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today.

The Crown and South Island iwi Ngati Kuia have signed a deed of settlement for historical treaty claims, Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson announced today.

The settlement consists of $24 million in commercial redress, an apology for historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the return of culturally significant sites and other crown properties.

Ngati Kuia are the first of the eight iwi in Te Tau Ihu (the top of the South Island) to complete their settlement, which relates primarily to the failure of the Crown to adequately recognise the customary rights of Ngati Kuia in pre-1865 land purchases.

The Crown also failed to set aside adequate reserves and to ensure that Ngati Kuia retained sufficient land for their future needs.

Most of the iwi - 99 per cent - supported the settlement after it was initalled in August. Ngati Kuia's claims were heard at the Waitangi Tribunal between 2000 and 2004, and they began negotiations with the Crown as part the Kurahaupo ki te Waipounamu collective in 2006.

The Government aims to settle all historical Treaty claims by 2014.

"This settlement represents a significant step towards finishing historical treaty settlements in the South Island," Mr Finlayson said.

"Resolving overlapping claims for the eight iwi in the region has been an enormous challenge for both iwi and the Crown. Today's signing is a testament to the Ngati Kuia negotiators' skills, leadership and patience."

The settlement was the first to be signed with a South Island iwi since the agreement between the Crown and Ngai Tahu in 1997.

The deed was signed at Te Hora Marae in Canvastown, Marlborough.

- NZPA