March 14, 2013
Islands cleared for transfer to iwi
New Plymouth district councillors have unanimously agreed to gift the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area back to the government for use in treaty settlements with Taranaki and Te Atiawa.
It follows a similar decision by the Taranaki Regional Council.
Liana Poutu, the General Manager of Taranaki Iwi Trust, says the islands are an important boundary marker between the iwi.
She says the issue of iwi ownership of public land can be difficult to navigate.
“Perhaps it's an indication of the level of understanding the community now has around the treaty settlements, around the role that we play and our connection to our whenua. The decision is acknowledging the fact that we are going to allow public access to continue. That’s obvious giving the public a level of comfort,” she says.
Liana Poutu says with less than one percent of its rohe available for treaty settlements, it's important for Taranaki to get some back as acknowledgement and as part of the community.
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