12 Aug 2015

Treaty settlement bills pass first reading

8:40 pm on 12 August 2015

A Hawke's Bay and a Taranaki iwi have both had their Treaty settlement bills pass their first readings in Parliament today.

Ngati Hineuru kaumatua Te Reo Spooner signs the deed of settlement.

Ngāti Hineuru kaumatua Te Reo Spooner signing a deed of settlement in April 2015 when the iwi approved a Crown package to settle its claims. Photo: RNZ / Laura Bootham

The Hineuru and the Ngāruahine Claims Settlement Bills will now go to the select committee for further examination.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson said both settlements included an agreed historical account, a Crown apology and commercial redress.

He said they were a significant step towards a full and final settlement of all historical claims by the two iwi.

When the bills become law, both iwi settlements will include financial and commercial redress. Hineuru will receive $25 million while Ngāruahine will get $67.5 million.

Mr Finlayson said while the Crown could never fully compensate for the wrongs of the past, the settlements would enable the tribes to focus on developing a strong cultural and economic future.

Powhiri at Hokitika marae

Powhiri at a Hokitika marae for Ngāruahine, where the iwi received an apology from the Crown for illegally detaining their ancestors in the 1800s. Photo: RNZ / Eru Rerekura

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