High Hopes For Latest Treaty Settlement
August 21st, 2008
The latest Treaty settlement signed this week by Wellington Tenths Trust chairman Dr Ngatata Love ended a 21-year battle over the Port Nicholson Block claims. In 1839 the iwi signed the Port Nicholson Block deed of purchase, which was meant to include the protection of 10% of the block, which stretches from Wellington’s south coast to the beginning of the Tararua ranges. Part of the settlement includes an option to buy back 24 sites of cultural significance, including prime Wellington sites, and $25m in cash.
The Taranaki Whanui will also be given the opportunity of taking control of the former Shelly Bay air force base, as well as title to three islands in Wellington harbour, and Rimutaka forest park. Dr Love says these are “iconic,” and the new owners will want to give the community more access to them. The Govt has high hopes Maori ownership of the Miramar peninsula, where’s NZ’s film industry is located will open up the prospect for development of a tourism project, perhaps in association with film industry interests, to showcase Maori culture which would be an international attraction. This could be a model for Maori economic development.
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Duncan Cotterill