April 09, 2024
Taranaki Maunga Bill test for new parliament
Taranaki uri are heading to parliament today to witness the first reading of a Bill to settle claims to their maunga.
The settlement deed was signed on September 1 last year in Waitara by the crown and the eight iwi of the Taranaki Maunga collective.
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Pouwhakarae (Chair) Liana Poutu says Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill will give a legal personality to Te Kāhui Tupua similar to other settlements covering Te Urewera and the Whanganui River.
She says while the Government has changed since the settlement deed was signed at Waitara in September last year by the eight iwi of the Taranaki Maunga collective, she expects the bill will pass.
“The commentary that we’re hearing out of some of the political parties doesn’t align with where we’ve got to. But I guess, that’s because they have a different world view, perspective on our maunga. For us, it’s actually recognising that we as tangata are the teina here and our maunga are our tuakana, our tupuna. We shouldn’t be owning them or controlling them. They should be doing that for themselves,” Ms Poutu says.