July 23, 2020
Settlement deal benefits Tarawera neighbour
Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust and Tūhourangi Tribal Authority have jointly negotiated the return of culturally significant lands at Waimangu and Otūkapuarangi.
The deal is a way to resolve overlapping claims.
If the Ngāti Rangitihi Deed of Settlement is ratified and signed, Tūhourangi will have land returned at Otūkapuarangi that was not available when it settled with the Crown in 2007.
The iwi will jointly own the land and business of Waimangu Volcanic Valley including 80 hectares of concession land, currently leased from the Department of Conservation.
Rangatihi chair Leith Comer says it was a unique opportunity for the two iwi to work together to pursue common objectives at Tarawera.
Through the process they have rediscovered close whakapapa, historical and cultural ties.
Voting opens tomorrow on the Ngāti Rangitihi deed of settlement and runs to August 23.
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