KEY POINTS:
Waikato-Tainui have signed a draft agreement in which the Crown recognises its 1860s confiscation of the iwi's rights in the Waikato River and which will make them joint "guardians" of the river.
Tainui in 1995 signed a $170 million deal over historic land grievances with the Crown but the claim was set aside for later work.
Now a draft "Agreement in Principal" has been signed off on behalf of the Crown by Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton and for Tainui by negotiators Tukuroirangi Morgan and Lady Raiha Mahuta.
In it, Tainui and the Crown agree to "co-management" of the river, with a board of 10 representatives - five from Waikato-Tainui, four appointed by the Government and one from regional council Environment Waikato - to decide on permanent "guardians" of the river, with the same balance of representation.
The parties say the redress contained in the agreement differs from any previous Treaty of Waitangi settlement and so had been released for consultation and was yesterday presented to Te Kauhanganui - Waikato-Tainui's parliament.
The guardians will have responsibility for the river from Huka Falls to the sea at Port Waikato, and also the lower Waipa River and its catchment.
Environment Waikato will be responsible for implementing the guardians' policy over the river. The parties expect the agreement to be signed off following consultation.
"We have got to a place where we can confidently say to the Crown we can work together in a significant way," Morgan said.
He said the river would be cleaned up for the benefit of the region, the iwi and all New Zealanders.
Burton said the proposed settlement recognised Waikato-Tainui's special relationship with the river and was a milestone in the iwi's relationship with the Crown.
"The intention of the proposed settlement is to provide for the Crown and Waikato to enter into a new era of good faith engagement and consensus decision-making over the Waikato River.
"The proposed settlement is an opportunity for both parties and others to address the issue of pollution of the river and create a management strategy that takes into account the interests of the many and varied users of the river."
Tainui have previously rejected two Crown offers. The second, made last December, is understood to have been turned down because of river management issues.
- NZPA
