Nga¯ti Maru signs deed of settlement

The last of the eight iwi in Taranaki has signed its deed of settlement with the Crown, receiving an apology, land of cultural significance and $30 million.

Nga¯ ti Maru signed its deed of settlement in a scaled-down event on Saturday settling its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced.

The Nga¯ti Maru rohe is centred on the inland Waitara

River valley, east to the Whanganui River and its tributaries, and west to Taranaki Maunga.

They have approximately 2800 registered members.

The signing marks the last of the eight Taranaki iwi to complete its treaty settlement. The only other outstanding claim in the region relates to Taranaki Maunga.

The historical grievances of Nga¯ ti Maru include the Crown’s unjust and indiscriminate raupatu (confiscation) of half of its land in 1865.

This raupatu, and subsequent effects of Compensation Court and Native Land Court decisions, were devastating to the mana, welfare, economy, and sociocultural development of Nga¯ti Maru, Little said.

The Crown’s actions at Parihaka between 1879 and 1881, where military forces imprisoned members of Nga¯ti Maru for participating in a peaceful resistance campaign, has been a significant burden for Nga¯ ti Maru.

‘‘As a result of the Crown’s acts and omissions Nga¯ti Maru have been left virtually landless, and their people displaced and dispersed,’’ Little said.

The settlement includes an apology from the Crown and a set of acknowledgements addressing the Crown’s historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Nga¯ti Maru will receive financial and commercial redress valued at $30 million.

Cultural redress includes the vesting of 16 sites of cultural significance, including Pu¯ rangi and Tarata Domains.

The settlement redress will be administered by Te Ka¯ hui Maru Trust: Te iwi o Maruwharanui, a post-settlement governance entity created by iwi members.

‘‘While no redress can ever fully compensate for the destructive and demoralising effects of Crown actions, I hope this settlement will allow Nga¯ti Maru to realise their aspirations for a vibrant economic and cultural future, and restores a relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation,’’ Little said.

The ceremony, Te Hiringa Taketake, was initially scheduled for Saturday and later postponed in the wake of the country’s latest Covid-19 community cases.

A small signing was instead held, including only Te Ru¯ nanga o Nga¯ti Maru Trustees, negotiators and the Crown.

A public celebration of the occasion will take place when the settlement is finalised.