Iwi makes $350m deal for 40 schools
‘‘The lease provisions ensure the school management team continues to manage the schools’ operations as usual, including maintaining the grounds.’’
The Ministry of Education’s infrastructure and digital leader Scott Evans
Ngāti Toa Rangatira has bought 40 school properties north of Wellington as part of the iwi’s treaty settlement, making it the largest landlord of the Ministry of Education.
The $352 million deal between the iwi and the ministry will see Ngāti Toa buy back the land totalling 144 hectares of 40 public schools in Porirua and Wellington’s northern suburbs, and leasing them back to the ministry.
Ngāti Toa chief executive Helmut Modlik said the arrangement, under a 2014 treaty settlement, was recognition of Crown breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the illegal confiscation of the iwi’s land. The purchase would not only help secure the financial future of Ngāti Toa, but restore mana in its people.
‘‘This represents a material enhancement of Ngāti Toa. The dispossession that occurred over the last 150 years diminished our people’s ability to exercise rangatiratanga. It’s fair to say there were a few tears in eyes at this development.
‘‘Having been dispossessed of part of our land, regaining our whenua is a non-trivial aspiration of ours.’’
The settlement was completed on Friday, May 6, and Ngāti Toa took possession of the land the same day.
‘‘It strengthens our partnership with [the government]. The land being used for educational purposes is a positive addition to our relationship.’’
Ngāti Toa were given the opportunity to buy the land of 68 public schools as part of the settlement.
Twenty-five of 40 schools so far purchased are in Porirua, while the rest are in the northern suburbs of Wellington.
The Porirua-based iwi’s representatives and the ministry are continuing to negotiate over the remaining 28 schools which are mainly located in the Hutt Valley.
Modlik said iwi intended on buying back those remaining schools, as well as other crown properties in its rohe (traditional territorial boundaries).
It would take about 25 years to pay off loans used tomake the deal happen, after which the ownership would provide a perpetual income for the iwi, Modlik said.
The Ministry of Education’s infrastructure and digital leader Scott Evans said the change in landowner would not affect schools’ day-to-day operations.
‘‘The lease provisions ensure the school management team continues to manage the schools’ operations as usual, including maintaining the grounds.
‘‘The role of the school board remains unchanged, and it is ‘business as usual’ for students and teachers.’’
Since its treaty settlement, Ngāti Toa has taken on several ambitious projects.
In 2019, the iwi became the landlord of more than 900 state homes in Porirua City’s western suburbs in a Crown partnership made possible by its settlement.
The iwi also has an 800-home greenfield development planned at Kenepuru Landing.