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April 08, 2026
#regional: Pressure Mounts on Goldsmith Over Te Urewera Land Decision as Minister Defends Call
Waatea Team
Posted On April 8, 2026
Pressure is continuing to build on Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith following his decision on overlapping interests in Te Urewera, with critics questioning both the process and its wider implications.
The controversy centres on land linked to settlement negotiations involving Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa and Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, with concerns raised about how competing interests were resolved and what it means for the integrity of Te Urewera’s unique legal status.
Goldsmith says the decision followed years of stalled negotiations between the two groups, who had been unable to reach agreement since 2022. In August 2025, he formally advised both parties of his final position. The Minister told Waatea that:
“In August 2025, I wrote to both Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa and Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana advising of my final decisions on the overlapping interests.
“The two groups had been in negotiations with each other since 2022, however, could not reach an agreement.
“My decision sought to carefully balance the views of both groups. Ultimately, I decided to follow the advice from my officials to retain the proposal to add land into Te Urewera. This is a core settlement aspiration for Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and I consider it appropriate to recognise their interests in this way.
“I was also reassured that the proposal to add land into Te Urewera means that the land will continue to be able to be enjoyed by all New Zealanders.”
He says the outcome was intended to balance the views of both iwi, while ultimately accepting advice from officials to proceed with adding land into Te Urewera. The move aligns with a key aspiration of Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and was seen as an appropriate way to recognise their interests.
Goldsmith also maintains the decision ensures the land remains accessible to all New Zealanders, with its inclusion in Te Urewera preserving its status as a shared national space.
However, critics argue the move raises serious questions about the Crown’s role in Treaty settlements and the handling of overlapping claims. Te Urewera holds a unique legal identity as its own entity, established through settlement legislation, and is jointly governed in a way intended to reflect both Crown and iwi relationships.
Opponents say any changes involving land within or connected to Te Urewera must be approached with extreme care, warning that decisions perceived to favour one group over another risk undermining trust in the settlement process.
There are also broader concerns about precedent, with some suggesting the decision could signal increased ministerial intervention in matters that were designed to be resolved through negotiation and partnership.
The issue has added to growing scrutiny of Goldsmith’s role in Treaty negotiations, particularly as debate intensifies over how the Crown upholds its obligations and manages competing iwi interests.
As tensions remain, the focus is now on whether further engagement between the parties can resolve outstanding concerns, and what the decision means for the future of Te Urewera and the wider Treaty settlement landscape.
The original article can be found here: https://waateanews.com/2026/04/07/regional-pressure-mounts-on-goldsmith-over-te-urewera-land-call/
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