Opinion: Tuhoe deal 'monumental'

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 1:23p.m.

The deal with Tuhoe over the ownership of Te Urewera is monumental (pic: Jared Mason)

Opinion by Political Reporter Patrick Gower

The Government's settlement with Tuhoe can be described in one word: monumental.

Monumental because it overcomes over 150 years of grievances.

Monumental because of the reconciliation of the most fractured relationship between the Crown and Maori.

Monumental in financial redress - it matches the other big settlements even though Tuhoe is not as big population wise.

Monumental because Te Urewera - a National Park - will instead become its own legal entity.

And monumental because of the possibilities that "Mana Motuhake" opens up for Tuhoe to develop as its own nation in the decades to come.

Tuhoe suffered some of the worst breaches by the Crown - the "scorched earth" policy, confiscation, the execution of unarmed prisoners - known at at the time as "extermination".

But now Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson has found a way to settle it.

He has reached agreement with Tuhoe and for that he needs to be applauded - it will be his legacy.

And in that way this is monumental politically - Prime Minister John Key pulled the rug on this deal two years ago, refusing to give Tuhoe control of Te Urewera.

Tuhoe too have revised its aims - this is a true negotiation.

Finlayson says public access to Te Urewera is maintained under the agreement and it will be managed by the Department of Conservation.

"This new structure will allow the historical, cultural and spiritual connection between Te Urewera and Ngai Tuhoe to be fully recognised for the first time while the biodiversity of the area is protected and enhanced and public access is guaranteed for all New Zealanders," he says.

Mr Finlayson says some of New Zealand's most deprived and isolated communities live in Te Urewera - they will be helped by the financial redress and increased controls of their social services.

Tuhoe leader Tamati Kruger calls it a "real New Zealand idea".

There are many questions: how control of the park will work over time, and how much independence will Tuhoe achieve?

Will Tuhoe move to a genuine "nation within a nation"?

But for now the significance of this needs to be recognised.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide

Name

(Won't be published)

Your comment

Comments

6/12/2012 9:09:32 a.m.

anaru wrote:

A nation within a nation. Hmmmmm Maori will find success when they are "allowed" to deal with their own affairs....interdependently Tuhoe will get to there with the Crown....from there independence. What we dont get from this article is the monumental negotiations that took place between Kruger and the Crown. The understanding and learning that would have gone on is probably the most monumental.

14/11/2012 4:29:21 a.m.

Misterpain wrote:

The only disturbing aspect of this report is the unbalanced credit given Mr. Finlayson. 'His legacy'?... Mr. Kruger and his team have been shaping this for years. Finlayson is the current government rep handling the portfolio. Nice work, sure, but history will see Mr. Kruger as the architect and enabler of this great settlement. To all naysayers, simply this. Read a little history, then imagine yourself in Tuhoe's shoes. It's easy to say forgive and forget when it's someone else's land that's been taken, and not your family members who have been executed. This is New Zealand, we don't sweep that kind of shame under the rug.

16/10/2012 10:21:17 p.m.

Adrian wrote:

David if you are going to quote me, please quote me correctly I.e. 'interdependence.' It's a known fact that a crime was committed by our forefathers for us to live wholesome lives off the misfortune of Maaori, particularly their land, 'stolen Aotearoa' of which we now 'occupy' hence, 'occupied Aotearoa' or in other words 'white collar squatters' Therefore NZers of today are accomplices to the original crime on what can be derived as a crime continuum. David did it ever occur to you that your land is more than likely stolen Maaori land? We really need to quash all forms of unjust, immoral colonial manipulated rights designed to conquer foreign lands including Aotearoa especially when a century later the actions are deemed illegal and heinous in nature. Do I have your support David? Now to educate you David. Washington, D.C., commonly referred to as Washington, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. As permitted by the U.S. Constitution, D.C. is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Congress and is therefore not a part of any U.S. state, meaning disconnected and independent. The City of London Corporation is the municipal governing body of the City of London (the "Square Mile"). The body was popularly known as the Corporation of London however in 2005 the Corporation announced that its informal title would from 3 January 2006 be the City of London Corporation distinguishing the corporate body from it's geographical area. This helped reduce confusion between the Corporation and the Greater London Authority. In other words The Corporation reasserted its independent status in the modern era allowing it to continue exercising powers inshrined in the charter by William the Conqueror in 1067 granting the citizens of London the rights and privileges that they had enjoyed since the time of Edward the Confessor. David an 'Independent State' is a Polity, a Municipal and may not necessarally be sovereign yet autonomous nonetheless. Questions David?

13/10/2012 12:23:58 p.m.

No comment wrote:

Let's hope they do a better job of preservation than they did with the moa and the Moriori.

10/10/2012 9:28:49 p.m.

David wrote:

@Adrian, so many things are factually wrong with that statement. Firstly, Washington D.C. and London are not "independent" states, they are capital cities. And your spelling is awful. Occupied Aotearoa? It's my land too, mate. Radical Maori racism must be quashed.

23/09/2012 10:56:12 a.m.

Adrian wrote:

The disgrace solely belongs to the Crown and it's agents. Another consultative committee is not needed, Finlayson and Tuhoe are doing fine. Can you post your predictions of the next lotto draw please, just want to see how accurate your predictions are. The government is screwing everyone over like they will if they continue to control the Urewera. Time NZ steped back and allow other styles of territory management systems take effect. Disempowerment to empowerment is a solid prediction that is hard to fault. There we go consultative meeting closed.

20/09/2012 7:09:58 p.m.

Te Hata Hohua wrote:

Kia Ora
This is the biggest con job I've heard of!Quote "they will be helped by the financial redress and increased controls of their social services" as trade off for Urewera ownership? Tamati calls it a "real NZ idea? Come on now!
This will be a national disgrace if it is accepted! What will happen in ten years time when this falls flat on its face? Who will be responsible. Wake up to yourselves! Organise a consultative committee to work out the pros and cons of this arrangement then put it to the iwi for consideration....But for now the significance of this issue will not be recognised.
Noho Ora
Te Hata Hohua

16/09/2012 4:13:21 p.m.

Adrian wrote:

@Tell-Like-It-Is There are two defined nations, the Maaori nation and the NZ nation representing the Crown. Tuhoe it seems is positioned to become its own interdependent state, like London, the Vatican and Washington are. Prior to the Treaty of Waitangi being signed Iwi were and still exercised today statehood within their own territories; a mini version of America before becoming the United States of America. Iwi states therefore are member states of the collective Maaori nation sharing a similar structure to how the UN was formed. The one nation campaign terribly lacks understanding. Your genuin concern however of our taxes paying for historical injustices that our generation directly played no part in other than sponsoring the Government institutionalised prolonged occupation campaign of stolen Aotearoa. Again an injustice imposed upon us to commit toward our treaty partner the Maaori. When will it end? And how? Who is the evil antagonist in this picture?

12/09/2012 8:00:52 p.m.

tell like it is wrote:

Tuhoe all claims any tribe have had enough money.We are all one people, STOP the claims.White brown, mixed unite.Give the money Back: If GST had not gone up had dominio effect.Prices everything doubled PUT the GST down.No GST on Food rates,power petrol etc. No GST on food in Australia cheaper milk petrol.Also create new Jobs- instead redundencies.Stop borrowing so much.Labour was in surplus. Bring the Men home from War Now.Save millions. - Do Not Sell ASSETS.Keep them our Grandfathers fought for them in the War then built them. How can you sell them when we all own them. So the few rich can prosper. NZ has had enough.Also in Christchurch housing units fixing houses,claims are more important then large church and stadiums.Church can be held in halls gardens. let common sense Prevail.

12/09/2012 4:19:41 p.m.

Ngahu wrote:

It is very sad to see some of the comments on here, It amazes me that in this day in age there are still people who believe they are being cheated by righting the wrongs that have happened in the past. If a man steals from another is he not answerable, if a man commits rape or murder does he not have to answer for his crime no matter how long ago the crime was committed, if a man is held to these standards then why not a Government! Good on Mr Findlayson for putting right the wrongs of the past. That is true leadership!