After eight years, the Crown and Ngāti Hāua have agreed on terms for their settlement, with legislation to follow.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith hailed the agreement as a major step forward, enabling the Government to move "at pace" with implementing the settlement. The deal includes an acknowledged historical account and redress for past breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi that caused harm to Ngāti Hāua.
Key components of the Deed include:
- Return of 64 culturally significant sites
- A $6-million cultural revitalisation fund
- $19 million in financial compensation
- Statutory pardons for two Ngāti Hāua ancestors wrongly treated under martial law
The settlement aims to support Ngāti Hāua's future economic and cultural development, although Minister Goldsmith acknowledged that no settlement can fully compensate for past injustices.