Wainuiārua treaty settlement gives iwi voice

Adam Gifford Wainuiārua treaty settlement gives iwi voice

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One of the negotiators for a settlement covering the middle reaches of the Whanganui river says it allows the the iwi to speak for themselves after a century and a half of being pushed into the shadows.

Representatives of Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku last week initialled the deed for a $21 million settlement.

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua chair Aiden Gilbert says the iwi were labelled Hauhau rebels by the crown and frozen out because of their refusal to give up their land or engage with the Native Land Court system.

“Being recognised on the river, on the mountain and the land to the Waimarino, the other side of the Whanganui River (where) we border with Taranaki, so all those whakapapa and relationships have been tested historically and today was significant for us to now stand and speak for ourselves,” he says.

Aiden Gilbert says the next step is to put the settlement offer out for ratification.

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