July 25, 2019
Ngāti Rangi settlement passes final hurdle
Members of Ngāti Rangi are gathering at parliament today for the third reading of their claim settlement bill.
Negotiator Che Wilson says about 300 people have made the journey from the centre of the North Island for the occasion.
The settlement includes statutory recognition of Te Waiū-o-te-Ika or the Whangaehu River as a living and indivisible whole from Te Wai-a-Moe to the sea, new partnership arrangements around conservation, environment and resource management, the vesting and gift-back of New Zealand Defence Force land near Waiōuru, and $17 million in financial and commercial redress.
The package got 99 percent support, which reflects the groundwork that was done.
"This is a chance for us to focus on our future, maintain the journey and the conviction of our leaders that started this journey for us. They made sure to take the people on the journey so we have been fortunate to continue those teachings and we need to focus on what's best for us as we look forward as well," Mr Wilson says.
He says one of the best aspects of settlement is the historical account, which gives a fuller history of Ngāti Rangi rather than it just being a part of the wider Whanganui River confederation.
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