August 04, 2014
Whanganui iwi to settle after 140 year struggle
The iwi of Te Atihaunui a Paparangi are gathering at Ranana on the Whanganui River this morning to sign a settlement that spells an end to the country’s longest running claim.
They and Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson will also sign Ruruku Whakatutupua o Te Mana o te Awa Tupua.
This document recognises the status of the Whanganui River and its tributaries as an entity which is an integrated living whole from the mountains to the sea, intrinsically connected to the iwi and having its own legal identity.
The settlement includes $80 million in redress and $30 million for a contestable fund that will be available for initiatives related to Te Awa Tupua.
Whanganui iwi first started petitioning the crown about the river in the 1870s, when colonial authorities began clearing obstacles to navigation so it could serve as a route into the centre of the island.
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