National and the Maori Party have reached an agreement on the Emissions Trading Scheme, giving extra forestry rights to several iwi.
Prime Minister John Key and Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples have just held a press conference confirming the deal on the ETS.
A Treaty of Waitangi clasue will be inserted into the legislation, but more controversial is the inclusion of a special offer to five iwi including Ngai Tahu.
They will get rights to plant forestry on Crown land and take the carbon credits for sale.
Iwi Leadership Group spokesman Karamea Chris Insley says it is a fair deal.
The Government has been working for Maori Party support to pass its own changes to the ETS – which seeks to limit greenhouse gases.
Mr Insley says while it is hard to be definite, the financial impacts on iwi will be good:
Five iwi including Ngai Tahu will get a special deal in recognition of the value of forestry assets gained under Treaty settlements being devalued.
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