September 20, 2012
Ngati Kahu $266m demand undermines settlement framework
The Crown has told the Waitangi Tribunal that a far north iwi’s $266 million plus settlement demand is totally unrealistic.
Ngati Kahu is using the rarely used remedies procedure under which the tribunal can order the Crown to hand over land which had memorials placed on its title under the Treaty of Waitangi State Owned Enterprise or Crown Forestry Acts.
In its final submissions, says the package for the 8000-strong iwi would amount to a fifth of the total settlements paid out so far.
It includes at least $205 million in compensation, all crown forest lands in the claim area, all land with memorials on the title, Kaitaia airport, Rangianiwaniwa school land, and all land the Crown had earlier agreed to return as cultural redress.
The iwi also wants to be exempt from resource consents, building consents, and rates for community housing projects.
The Crown says the 2010 agreement in principle for all five Muriwhenua iwi including Ngati Kahu totalled $169 million, which was considered at the high end of what was justifiable in the settlement framework.
In his final submission, the chair Te Rarawa, Haami Piripi, says main of the properties claimed by Ngati Kahu, including those in Kaitaia, were in the rohe of neighbouring iwi.