Hapu gains $5m as Government hands back forest block

11.45am


Hot on the heels of the Rotorua lakebeds being handed back to Te Arawa, one of the tribe's hapu has agreed to another $5 million historic Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Ngati Wahiao agreed at the weekend to sign a deal with the Government over Haparangi A4, a forestry block south of Rotorua.

The settlement package includes the return of 698ha of forestry land known as "table mountain", off the Atiamuri Highway towards Tokoroa.

About 150 people at a hui at the Wahiao meeting house at Whakarewarewa on Saturday also agreed to a $1.6 million cash deal as part of the package.

The settlement means the estimated 2500 owners can plan to harvest the trees within the next two years.

Rotorua-born lawyer Donna Hall, who acted on behalf of the owners, said it was hoped the settlement would be signed before Christmas.

She said the "extraordinary" settlement had followed years of litigation and friction.

"This has been a long time in the making and has been very carefully researched, not only by us but by the Crown," Ms Hall said.

"It is a nice, neat little settlement."

Serious negotiations with the Government began in 2001 and the matter had been before four different courts.

A charitable trust will be formed to work out how to distribute the cash settlement and manage the forest.

Ms Hall said the money would be used to alleviate poverty, for education, health and maintaining Ngati Wahiao's cultural values.

The land had been taken by the Crown in 1931 for the purpose of a development scheme.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)