Treaty negotiations for the landmark Mount Taranaki are currently under way.
Mount Taranaki Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, which represents eight tribes of the Taranaki area, have signed terms of negotiation with the Crown.
Lead negotiator Jamie Tuuta said: "What this means for our eight iwi of Taranaki is that we are now on the pathway to achieving meaningful redress that meets our individual and collective iwi aspirations, and that enables our whānau, hapū and iwi to strengthen their connection with our tupuna maunga."
The negotiation process also provided the Crown with the opportunity to restore its honour, Mr Tuuta said.
"The treaty settlement claims of the eight iwi of Taranaki are the most severe in the country, reflecting wholesale confiscation of our lands, and at the heart of our grievances is our tupuna maunga Taranaki."
The eight iwi of Taranaki agreed to defer joint negotiations on Taranaki Maunga until all iwi had achieved their settlements or had a recognised mandated body to represent them.
Seven of the eight iwi have settled their treaty grievances, with Ngāti Maru still in negotiations.
Ngāti Maru's negotiations and the settlement relating to Taranaki Maunga will be the final component to settling all historical negotiations with the Crown for the eight iwi of Taranaki.
Negotiator Daisy Noble said it was an exciting time for Ngā Iwi o Taranaki.
"We want to encourage all who whakapapa to Taranaki Maunga to be a part of this journey with us. It's about reconnecting whānau to their tupuna maunga."
The Taranaki Maunga negotiation team and the Crown are working towards reaching an agreement in principle by August.
