Whakatohea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust has today signed an Agreement in Principle with the Crown at Parliament, which it says is a positive step towards settling its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.
Chairman Graeme Riesterer says Whakatohea first attempted to settle its raupatu (land confiscation) claims against the Crown over 20 years ago, and is pleased to be getting closer to achieving what its kaumātua set out to do so long ago.
'Today's signing of the Agreement in Principle is an important milestone for us,” he says.
'Our kaumatua struggled for so long and endured so much hardship to achieve this settlement, and we owe it to them to complete this journey.”
Kaumatua and Trustee Bruce Pukepuke says the settlement is about much more than financial redress, as the iwi can never be adequately compensated for the huge losses they endured.
'This settlement is about us as a people, rediscovering our Whakatohea identity and coming together as one,” says Bruce.
'Although this is a Crown process, it is also an opportunity for our iwi, hapu and whanau to reconnect with our hau kainga.
'We believe it will allow our people to begin to heal.”
Over the past year Whakatohea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust has held hui throughout Aotearoa to ensure the views and aspirations of Whakatohea are reflected in any settlement outcome.
Graeme says the Trust has been encouraged by feedback from its people around the progress that has been made to date.
'We appreciate that not all our whanauwill agree, but we are focused on working to get the best outcome for all of Whakatohea.
'Our role is to ensure our iwi can look to a brighter future, and facilitate them to thrive culturally, socially, and economically.”
The Trust will now negotiate the details of the settlement with the Crown, in the hopes of reaching a draft Deed of Settlement in the next 12 to 18 months.
Trustees are calling on all Whakatohea descendants to register and play a part in the journey.
'If you whakapapa to Whakatohea, it is your birth-right to be a part of this.”
For more information visit www.whakatoheapresettlement.org.nz
5 comments
what again
Posted on 18-08-2017 14:19 | By dumbkof2
more fingers in the everlasting gravy train. about time somebody put an end to all this nonsence
OMG
Posted on 18-08-2017 14:53 | By Capt_Kaveman
there have been 2 world wars and the people move on, this just goes on and on on and onon and onon and onon and onon and onon and onon and onon and onon and onon and on
WHILE THE NATIONAL/MAORI PARTY ALLIANCE
Posted on 18-08-2017 19:53 | By Laurie
(& the Reds will do the same) continue to lay the tracks the 'Gravy Train' will continue to chug along, must be the most expensive to run train in the world, carriages full of gold being delivered at each Treaty claim station - if you're a recipient of the bullion why would you want to stop it - keep it rolling forever.
here we go again
Posted on 18-08-2017 20:02 | By old trucker
For gosh sake,This Chris finlayson is sucking up to these people,NO PROBLEM Chris, its not your money, and if it was not for you they would get NOTHING, because NO ONE ELSE in Govt,. would but you do, but you keep bowing down ,agree with both comments, this is 160 years ago, there is a song that goes MONEY FOR NOTHING,This is sickining,my thoughts only on this subject,N01 Sunlive,Thankyou,10-4 out, phew.
WHILE THE NATIONAL/MAORI PARTY ALLIANCE
Posted on 18-08-2017 22:35 | By Laurie
(& the Reds will do the same) continue to lay the tracks the 'Gravy Train' will continue to chug along, must be the most expensive to run train in the world, carriages full of gold being delivered at each Treaty claim station - if you're a recipient of the bullion why would you want to stop it - keep it rolling forever.
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