Resolution of Whakarewa Land lease issues
Media Statement
Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust have reached a ‘milestone’ resolution with the Crown over longstanding issues regarding fair compensation for Whakarewa land around Motueka.
The agreement includes compensation of $8 million that acknowledges Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust (NRAIT) has incurred rental losses, and other impacts, as a result of their lease lands being left out of 1997 reforms. The Crown has also given a written assurance that the Trust will be considered in any future reform of Māori reserved land leases.
NRAIT Trustee Paul Morgan has been involved in settlement negotiations for decades and says significant mahi has gone in by Trustees and others to achieve this result.
This has been talked about for a very long time so it is a huge achievement to reach a resolution. The Crown has listened, and officials in particular have been very professional and supportive. It’s not perfect, but we are moving forward and that is the most important thing, - says Mr Morgan.
The Whakarewa lands were part of the Motueka Occupation Reserves and Tenths Reserves Estates and were granted to the Anglican Church by the Crown in 1853. They were administered by the Whakarewa School Board and then the Church under perpetual leases.
In 1993 the bulk of the lands were returned to NRAIT for the benefit of the descendents of the original owners. However, despite being very similar, the Whakarewa lands leases were not included in the reforms of the Māori Reserved Land Amendment Act 1997 (MRLA) which allowed for more favourable commercial terms. This disadvantaged NRAIT in many ways including the ability to earn market rents for their lands.
In 2010 the Crown paid NRAIT $5 million for rental losses from 1977 to 1998. Since then the Trust has been working to negotiate a further payment for losses since January 1998 and lease reform to put the Whakarewa Lands on the same terms as the MRLA Lands.
NRAIT Chair Rōpata Taylor says the Trust welcomes the further $8 million compensation and will continue to lobby for legislative reform and fairness when it comes to its ancestral land. He wants to mihi all those who have helped reach a resolution including past Chief Executive John Charleton.
To be able to bring at least part of this grievance to a close and not pass it on to future generations to resolve is a huge milestone for us. This issue has been about our whenua but ultimately the settlement is for our people. Our focus is firmly is on the horizon and on the priorities of our people as we move forward with our legacy, - says Mr Taylor.
ENDS
For more information contact: Nichola Vessey, Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust, 03 548 0770