Crown signs settlement with Ngati Pukenga

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for historical Treaty claims with Bay of Plenty's Ngati Pukenga.

The deed settles claims specific to Ngati Pukenga in the region.

Ngati Pukenga is also negotiating redress relating to its shared and overlapping interests in the region as part of the Tauranga Moana Collective, along with Nga Hapu o Ngati Ranginui and Ngai Te Rangi.

"Crown initiated military conflict in 1864 and subsequent actions including confiscation left Ngati Pukenga without sufficient land in Tauranga to meet their economic and cultural needs," Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson said.

"We can never fully compensate for these wrongs. However this settlement will enable the people of Ngati Pukenga to look forward to a stronger future."

The settlement includes financial and commercial redress of $5 million; the return of culturally significant properties, $500,000 for cultural revitalisation and $180,000 for marae revitalisation in Manaia.

"Signing this deed of settlement with Ngati Pukenga is an important step towards settling all historical grievances in the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand as a whole," Mr Finlayson said.