February 24, 2014
Crown commits to settlements
Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson says the new post-settlement commitments unit will ensure the terms of historic treaty settlements won’t be brushed aside by future Governments.
Mr Finlayson outlined the unit during Saturday’s signing of the Kawerau a Maki settlement.
The $6.5 million settlement includes references to future relationships with central and local government agencies, cultural and conservation bodies, as well as rights to buy surplus crown assets in west Auckland over the next 170 years.
He told the hui at Tamaki Makaurau Marae in Ihumatao that the unit’s task is to keep the crown up to the mark not just tomorrow but in 25 years time.
" Because the crown, as Mrs Turia will tell you, does not always have the best institutional memory. So its important that the acknowledgements that it makes today, are remembered not just by this government but, by other governments, because it is not an agreement that you sign with the National government today, it is an agreement that you sign with the Crown. Those obligations belonging to the crown continue regardless of administration ", he says
Christopher Finlayson says as well as progressing the other claims within the Tamaki Makaurau collective, he is keen to start work on a settlement for Waikato-Tainui’s west coast harbours claim, which includes the Manukau.
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