Moriori Treaty settlement passes
Moriori were filled with relief and emotion as the first reading of their Treaty settlement was passed in Parliament. The settlement will include an agreed account of their history, a Crown apology, and $18 million.
Chief negotiator for Moriori, Maui Solomon said the first reading, on Tuesday, was the sign of amore prosperous future ahead for Moriori. ‘‘After Moriori suffered loss of life, land, liberty, language, the ultimate insult was then our history and our very existence was either buried or was taught in schools as mythology.’’
He said it had been a long time coming but they carried their ancestors with them.
Members from all political parties spoke of the oppression Moriori had experienced and were unanimously in support of the bill.
Treaty ofwaitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little acknowledged the harmcaused to the Moriori people and the faults of the Crown. He said that for many years the Crown failed to act on Moriori subjugation.
‘‘Many karapuna continued to suffer greatly and died in oppressive conditions, including some who died of an illness known to Moriori as kongenge: deep despair of the spirit. Today I think back to the Moriori deed of settlement signing ceremony ... it was painful, profound and brought home the true magnanimity of Moriori,’’ Little said.
The Green Party and ACT Party were also in favour of the bill.
National Partyma¯ori-crown relations spokesperson Simon Bridges said addressing the settlement was key to forming a resolution for historical grievances.
‘‘It is ... a remarkable, poignant, painful story.’’
Ma¯ori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi acknowledged the story of resilience belonging to Moriori that had been kept alive by their ancestors. He said the colonial misconception about Ma¯ori and Moriori needed to be corrected in narratives.