Tuhoe settlement a 'one-off' - Finlayson

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Tuhoe settlement a 'one-off'

3News NZ

The settlement includes an apology, $170 million in compensation and increasing control of Te Urewera National Park

The settlement includes an apology, $170 million in compensation and increasing control of Te Urewera National Park

By Alex O'Hara

Tuhoe chief negotiator Tamati Kruger says the iwi's settlement with the Crown will help Tuhoe move on from its long and bloody past.

The settlement includes an apology, $170 million in compensation and increasing control of Te Urewera National Park.

"This offer by the Crown to Tuhoe is a great leap forward," says Mr Kruger.

Between 1865 and 1972, the Government forced the Tuhoe community off their land. Some were imprisoned, others killed.

"It does help us to move on and to look at working together, collaborating," says Mr Kruger, "but most of all I think it is an incentive to restore trust and confidence in each other."

But not everyone thinks it'll be that easy.

"There is this history and just because this settlement has been reached doesn't wipe out the history," says historian Paul Moon.

"Tuhoe, of course, are almost unique when it comes to the scale of what they experienced."

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson says this unique history means the settlement's a one-off deal.

"That's not to say there can't be other types of regime which involve iwi and co-governce and so on, but I think this is a truly unique situation that needed a unique solution," says Mr Finlayson.

Tribal negotiators still have to get approval from iwi members, although it's believed it will be an easy sell.

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Comments

16/09/2012 8:38:32 p.m.

Fair Kiwi wrote:

Now that this settlement has been done, it is time that all government handouts to the settlements of Ruatoki and Mangapohatu (ie welfare payments) are stopped. A majority of these people have been hibernating in these settlements with no intention of ever finding work. Life has been to easy for some. Iwi now have $170 million to pay these people to stay home and it's time the tax payer got some relief. If I leave my job I am required to spend my holiday pay and redundancy if I get it before receiving welfare payments. This should be the same for all Maori settlements. Iwi must use that money to pay the social welfare bill for tribe members. You cannot have it both ways. The burning and shooting of our National flag and in a lot of cases a total disregard of New Zealand laws and respect for Pakeha New Zealand who work hard to pay these social welfare bills must have consequences.

12/09/2012 10:59:24 p.m.

dan wrote:

@ THE DR. Maori arent going anywhere. Governments come and go so get used to it.

@ DAVE. Mate your dreaming. Te Urewera will never be opened up for mining and public access is guaranteed.

@JAMES. We can talk about a whole bunch of things the govt can better spend money on, the point is Tuhoe have settled and that is a good thing for NZ. Ngai Tahu and Tainuis relativity clauses have been triggered and was part of their settlement package.

12/09/2012 9:34:03 p.m.

Luke wrote:

This is not a handout, this is a settlement. For a Fraudulent act by the Crown. The Waitangi Tribunal ruled the Fraud occurred years ago, and a settlement is being made simply because the Crown won't pay back what was stolen in full, so a tiny slice of the actual loss is being repaid. Media headlines always paint this as another handout to Maori, when Maori are the victims in what was a thieft of their land.

12/09/2012 6:01:22 p.m.

John wrote:

History says they will be back with hand out for somthing else.

12/09/2012 5:55:12 p.m.

Dave wrote:

Now that it isn't a national park I wonder who is going to suggest opening it up for mining? I also wonder what if any access members of the public will have to it that are not Tuhoe. I understand there situation, as it happened to my tribe as well, but the ongoing attitude over it leaves me concerned. Tuhoe appear to have an ingrained racist view point toward non Maori. I can't see how the abolishment of the Te Ureweras national park status is a good thing for any one. This is going to cause head aches for future governments.

12/09/2012 5:54:21 p.m.

Dave wrote:

Now that it isn't a national park I wonder who is going to suggest opening it up for mining? I also wonder what if any access members of the public will have to it that are not Tuhoe. I understand there situation, as it happened to my tribe as well, but the ongoing attitude over it leaves me concerned. Tuhoe appear to have an ingrained racist view point toward non Maori. I can't see how the abolishment of the Te Ureweras national park status is a good thing for any one. This is going to cause head aches for future governments.

12/09/2012 4:00:03 p.m.

James J.Read wrote:

Tuhoe greed is quite acceptable to a government which does not have enough money to increase the pay of nurses or teachers.WE also need to recall that 2 tribes have been promised a top up to their supposedly " full and final " settlement.

12/09/2012 3:37:32 p.m.

atrout wrote:

How can anyone believe Chris Finlayson??? There is every possibility that this government will sign off more 'self governance' deals as well as a follow-up series of relativity payments which means most if not all groups will receive more and more money. There is no prospect of full and final settlements. As we now know, "settlement" means open to unlimited future top-ups.

12/09/2012 2:44:31 p.m.

the DR wrote:

just a one of ???? you mean one to meany