Taranaki's Te Atiawa today signed an $87 million Treaty settlement with the Government that includes a deal over the disputed site where the 1860 land wars started.
The financial and commercial settlement involves property and a cultural fund, as well as an apology for the hardships and loss of life and land in the wars.
Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson said the Crown could never fully compensate for the wrongs of the past, but the settlement signalled a new beginning for Te Atiawa.
Mr Finlayson said there had been dissent among some hapu over the Pekapeka block where the land wars started but he believed this would be settled within the iwi.
As part of the deal, which also involved the New Plymouth District Council, the iwi will own some land in the block and have first right of refusal on other property.
The deal follows the signing of a major Treaty settlement with Whanganui iwi on Tuesday.
