Saturday marked the signing of the Deed of Settlement following three decades of negotiations between Te Whakatōhea and the Crown.
For both, it signals the start of a new relationship founded on trust, co-operation and partnership, just as it was meant 183 years ago.
“He rā maumahara ia rātou i mate i roto i te raupatu, mai tērā wā taenoa atu ki tēnei rā kōtahi rau rima tekau mā waru tau, ratou katoa i tātari mo tēnēi rā,” hei tā Te Kāhautu Maxwell.”Today we commemorate those lost in the land confiscation. From then to today, they have waited 158 years for this day to arrive,” said Te Kāhautu Maxwell, Te Whakatōhea.
Te Whakatōhea Settlement 2023. Photo / Maori News
Project manager Whakatōhea Iwi Settlement Arihia Tuoro says, “The tears, the sadness but also the elation, that we made it, they (dearly departed) may not be here with us but we’ve done it for them.”
Minister of Treaty Negotiations Andrew Little delivered an official apology to Te Whakatōhea. On behalf of the Government, he agreed to historical accounts and financial and cultural redress for historical breaches of the Treaty that caused harm to Whakatōhea.
The redress package includes:
The reservation of 5000 hectares of marine space for aquaculture - a first in Treaty settlements to date.
More than $100 million financial, cultural, and commercial redress.
The transfer of 33 sites of cultural significance, bespoke natural resource and conservation arrangements.
Relationship agreements with core Crown agencies.
Tuoro spoke about the process, “For almost a year, we did a round for hui a rohe (meeting around the country) to talk to our whānau about their aspirations and what they want to see in the future. We hold fast to that memoria (aspirations). Some, we’ve been able to weave it directly into key settlement negotiations.”
For some Te Whakatōhea descendants, it was a time to mourn.
“Maumahara hoki au ki taua kuia, Eva Rickard. Ko ia anake, e whakatūtū ana i te pūehu, i tū tai ana i te wā e whakatau ai a Waikato, Tainui i tō ratou kerēme. Nā ratou ano te tauira mo mātau,” hei tā Sharon Cambell.”I fondly remember the late Eva Rickard. She stood alone to oppose the Waikato-Tainui settlement and she is an example for us today,” said Sharon Campbell, Te Ūpokorehe spokesperson.
“E mate parekura ana, mai taua wā ki tēnei wā, kāre he rerekētanga tai noa ki tēnei wā. Kei te aupēhi tonu tātou te iwi Māori, ka noho kāinga kore, kai kore, whenua kore.””Our loss has been catastrophic, from then to now, we have seen no change. Māori are still being oppressed, they are homeless, hungry and landless.”
During the formalities, Maxwell acknowledged some of his relatives’ opposition to the settlement and highlighted flaws in the process. He asked for unity moving forward.
Te Whakatōhea Settlement 2023. Photo / Maori News
“Ko aku moemoea mo te āpōpō kia mōhio ai taku iwi, ko wai rātou, kia tūtoherauariki, ki te kake rātou i ngā tiketike katoa,” hei tā Maxwell”My aspiration for the next generation, is that my people know who they are and stand strong, so they can achieve anything and everything,” said Maxwell.
Tuoro also focused on the future, “One of our aspirations, is that whānau will be able to learn in the school curriculum the histories of our people.”
As the formalities ended, there was one call sent out to Te Whakatōhea, “Tāwharautia, Te Whakatōhea, Tāwharautia.” Unite Te Whakatōhea!
