Treaty deal with Ngati Whatua

The settlement gives Ngati Whatua stewardship of One Tree Hill Domain and other areas. Picture / Richard Robinson

The Government has settled a landmark Treaty of Waitangi claim relating to parts of central Auckland.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board today signed an agreement in principle with the Crown that will give them $10 million and stewardship rights to several Auckland city public reserves.

It follows a 1991 settlement with Ngati Whatua o Orakei to the high-profile Bastion Point, which was occupied by Maori during land marches in the late 1970s.

The latest agreement includes the transfer of One Tree Hill Domain, part of Mount Eden, Mount Roskill, and the Purewa Creek Stewardship Area.

The sites will be managed jointly with Auckland City Council as public reserves. Public access, current leaseholders' rights and third parties' interests would be protected.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton said the agreement concluded the group's historic Treaty claims.

"The agreement is a major landmark, which will address historical grievances in the Auckland urban area."

He said the settlement included $10 million -- $2 million of which had already been handed over at part of a 1993 agreement.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei will also receive:

* the right to purchase $80 million worth of Crown-owned land on the North Shore, which would be leased back to the Crown;

* a right of first refusal to buy surplus core central Auckland Crown land at market rates; and

* an agreed historical account of events leading to the group's grievance and Crown a acknowledgment of its Treaty breaches.

Mr Burton said the Crown and Ngati Whatua o Orakei would now work towards a detailed Deed of Settlement, which would be subject to ratification by all members of Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

- NZPA