Monday, July 6, 2009

one wrong righted - now lets engage the people

Congratulations - what a big week for maori last week.

"A ceremony in Turangi on Saturday marked the transfer of approximately $450 million in land and cash to eight Central North island Iwi completes of the largest single settlement of historical grievances by the Crown

"The Iwi that make up the Central North Island Iwi Collective are: Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Rangitihi, Ngati Whare, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Manawa, Ngati Whakaue, and Raukawa and the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu that make up Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa. Together these iwi have more than a 110,000 members.

The Crown forest lands in the Central North Island total more than 176,000 ha. They include the following forests: Kaingaroa, Waimihia, Crater, Horohoro, Pureora South, Taurewa, Tokorangi Waituhi and Whakarewarewa. These forests are owned by the holders of Crown Forest Licenses and the land, until it was transferred to the CNI Collective, was owned by the Crown."


It is so fantastic that the trend line for claim settlements is going up not down. But the return of stolen assets is just the beginning, now the engagement with hapu and whanau is most important, because we don't want Iwi organisations to be sitting on massive money while the people suffer.

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