The southern section of Ngati Kahungunu has initialled a deed of settlement that could result in more than 19,000 hectares of land coming back to the iwi.
Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui-a-Rua chair Ian Perry says the proposed settlement must now be voted on by registered members.
It includes financial redress of $93m, out of which the iwi can buy 12,231ha of commercial redress land including Ngaumu Forest and two Landcorp farms.
Another 7,000ha will come back as cultural redress land, including the bed of Lake Wairarapa and surrounding reserves, and the vesting and gift back of Castlepoint Scenic Reserve.
Mr Perry says putting the claims to the Waitangi Tribunal in 2004 and 2005 enlightened and empowered hapu and iwi and allowed them to find out more about themselves.
The iwi was hit hard by crown land buying activities in the 19th century and by the application of the Public Works Act which took a lot of its remaining land.
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