April 12, 2024
Taranaki iwi keen to reclaim care of maunga
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer says the crown has an opportunity to fix its relationship with the eight Taranaki iwi through the Taranaki Maunga settlement legislation.
The bill, which is now before a select committee, will give Taranaki maunga a legal personality and set up a co-governance management framework with the iwi.
Ms Ngarewa-Packer from Ngati Ruahine says when the crown stole 1.2 million acres of their land, iwi were forced to watch while pakeha names were put on their maunga and agencies like the Department of Conservation mismanaged the environment.
“Taranaki uri have continuously showed our compassion and generosity for the country so I think this is important first phase of our reclanmmation to look after our tupuna who has always stood there and reminded us of who we are,” she says.
Ms Ngarewa-Packer says the Bill will remove the names of people who never stood foot in Aotearoa or in Taranaki.
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