Ngati Porou court iwi in Australia on Treaty deal

Chief negotiator Apirana Mahuika will travel to Australia. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Ngati Porou's chief negotiator is going to Australia to get iwi there to vote on a unique Treaty settlement which he says would set the record straight for the iwi which has had to battle against the label of "kupapa" - or traitors - for fighting alongside the Crown in the land wars in 1865.

Ngati Porou, the second largest iwi, recently signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown, which includes $110 million in cash for financial and cultural redress.

It also includes the largest amount of conservation land ever handed over in a settlement, and a unique recognition of Ngati Porou's role both in the land wars and for the armed forces in wars such as World War II.

The iwi is now asking its 72,000 members to vote on the deal. For the first time, voting by text message and online is offered.

Chief negotiator Apirana Mahuika will travel to Australia today for hui in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to gather the votes of the 10,000 to 15,000 Ngati Porou in Australia before the mid-December cut-off.

Dr Mahuika said it was important to keep Australian-based Ngati Porou up to date with the settlement.

Many were professionals and business people who could help the iwi.

"They will be our eyes and voices to look at possible investment opportunities."

He said while the settlement would give Ngati Porou greater economic weight for the future, it also acknowledged the past. "The record needed to be set straight" on Ngati Porou's involvement in the land wars.

Ngati Porou have sometimes been labelled "kupapa" - traitors - because they fought with the Crown in fighting against the Hauhau in 1865 as well as subsequent wars.

The settlement documents set out the history, saying Ngati Porou fought the Hauhau for their own security and lands - not the Crown - and had refused payment because they saw it as their own battle.

Dr Mahuika said Ngati Porou had also paid the price for military service overseas.

About 1000 of the 3600 in the Maori Battalion were Ngati Porou. Most were in C Company in World War II, of which 70 per cent were killed.

The settlement provides for Ngati Porou personnel on officer training scholarships or studying at higher level defence courses to have 'Ngati Porou' listed on their certificates.

The settlement also acknowledges the Crown breached its Treaty obligations by taking Ngati Porou land with minimal or no compensation.

As well as financial redress and forestry land rentals, almost 6000ha of the Crown conservation estate, including Whangaokena Island, Pukeamaru and Te Puia Springs reserve, would be restored to Ngati Porou.

They would also get three of the guardian maunga of Mt Hikurangi (Taitai, Whanokao and Aorangi) and forest park land in the Raukumara mountains. The iwi would purchase Ruatoria and Tokomaru Forest lands for a price of $11 million.