Yesterday marked a defining moment for Whanganui iwi, as Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui and the Crown formally signed the Deed of Settlement—He Rau Tukutuku-bringing to a close generations of grievance, resilience, and negotiation.
Held at Kaiwhāiki Pā, the signing was more than a legal milestone-it was a moment grounded in kōrero, whanaungatanga, aroha, and a shared sense of moving forward while acknowledging the past.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer captured the spirit of the day:
“Beautiful day at Kaiwhāiki Pa for Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Deed settlement. Lots of kōrero & whanaungatanga, lots of aroha & hope… and some key reminders – as Ken Mair said ‘the crown both present & future must not diminish Te Tiriti’.”
That whakaaro was complemented by Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith, who reflected:
“Spent the day up the Whanganui river signing He Rau Tukutuku, the deed of settlement with Nga Hapu o Te Iwi o Whanganui – giving the Crown apology for breaches of the Treaty since 1840 and looking to the future.”
Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka added a concise summary of the milestone reached:
“Deed of settlement signed with Whanganui Iwi today. Poi captured the moment. Crown apology, redress of $55m, and land arrangements. Legislation to come.”
Together, these perspectives underline both the significance of the day and the work still ahead.
This settlement has been long pursued and hard fought. For generations, Whanganui hapū have carried the impacts of land loss, marginalisation, and breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The path to this point has taken decades of negotiation and unity. Strong support from iwi during ratification signalled a collective willingness to move forward—not because the settlement is perfect, but because it provides a foundation.
He Rau Tukutuku sets out a redress package including financial compensation, cultural investment, and land arrangements, alongside a formal Crown apology.
But the meaning of this settlement goes beyond its dollar value.
It is about restoring mana.
It is about recognition and truth-telling.
It is about creating opportunity for future generations.
In Whanganui, this builds on a unique legacy-most notably the recognition of the Whanganui River as a legal person, a world-leading expression of te ao Māori shaping modern law. This settlement continues that assertion of identity and rangatiratanga.
Treaty settlements are not conclusions-they are beginnings.
The signing of the deed marks the transition into implementation: governance structures, asset management, and ensuring that the benefits reach whānau and hapū in meaningful ways.
It also reinforces an ongoing obligation on the Crown. As echoed through Ken Mair’s words, Te Tiriti is not something to be settled and set aside—it is a living commitment that must be upheld now and into the future.
Yesterday was a day of significance and reflection.
A day to honour those who carried the kaupapa across generations.
A day to recognise the resilience and leadership of Whanganui iwi.
And a day to acknowledge that while settlements cannot fully undo the past, they can help shape a more equitable future.
For Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui, He Rau Tukutuku is now signed.
What comes next will define its true legacy.
- Legal Status: It legally recognized the river as a single, living entity, Te Awa Tupua, holding its own legal rights.
- Protection: The deed established legal protections, with Te Pou Tupua acting as the human face of the river.
- Apology and Redress: The Crown issued a formal apology and provided $80 million in redress for historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.
