Longrunning Te Whakat¯ohea claim settled

OPOTIKI: Te Whakato¯hea signed their deed of settlement on Saturday exactly 183 years on from their rangatira (chiefs) signing the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Treaty settlement has been long running and contentious, with an initial $40 million offer rejected in 1996.

The process languished for a decade before beginning again in the late 2010s.

This time, the Crown offered $100 million, 5000ha of marine space and the return of 6000ha of land, as well as cultural and commercial redress.

At the end of last year the majority of the iwi voted to accept the offer.

Some members remain opposed to the settlement.

Earlier this month, one hapu¯, Nga¯ti Ira, filed an application with the High Court in Wellington, seeking interim orders to delay the signing of the deed.

The Crown invaded and ransacked the rohe of Te Whakato¯hea following the killing of missionary Carl Volkner in 1865, which the Crown held Whakato¯hea responsible for — a false allegation.

A year later, the government confiscated 144,000ha across the O¯ po¯tiki district, forcing hapu¯ on to poorly resourced reserves and fuelling intraiwi conflict.

The Waitangi Tribunal described the Crown’s actions around O¯ po¯tiki as ‘‘among the worst Treaty breaches in this country’s history’’.

Whakato¯hea PreSettlement Claims Trust chairman Graeme Riesterer said land loss had a profound impact on the people.

‘‘This is a historic moment for Te Whakato¯hea.

‘‘Our ta¯puna were forced off their lands and driven on to O¯ pape reservation by the Crown, severing the connection our people had with the whenua across our rohe.’’ — RNZ