March 25, 2013
Tūhoe deal creates base for return
Tūhoe negotiator Tamati Kruger hopes the tribe can use its settlement to bring its people home.
The iwi signed its settlement deed on Friday, and it now needs to be ratified and put into legislation.
Mr Kruger says the $170 million package won't be enough in itself to bring members back to the Eastern Bay of Plenty, but it will provide a foundation for a new start.
“What will bring people back is our success in creating things like good water supply, good sewage, good roads, job opportunities and good energy supply to the community. Those are things that will draw our people back,” he says.
Tamati Kruger says a new $15 million headquarters is justifiable both as a new community facility for the region and as an example of sustainable building methods that can serve as an inspiration to others in the iwi.
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