• Preamble

  WHEREAS in or about 1863 the Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ranginui, and certain other Maori tribes or their members held certain lands situated in and around the township of Tauranga: And whereas in 1864 some of those persons took up arms against the Crown but were defeated at the Battle of Te Ranga: And whereas the then Governor in Council, regarding those persons as having been engaged in rebellion against the Crown's authority, declared the land described in the Schedule to this Act to be a district under and within the provisions of the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863: And whereas the area of land to be forfeited to the Crown under that Act was to be some 86602.804 hectares, but, in recognition of the honourable way in which the persons concerned had fought, that area was reduced to about one-fourth: And whereas it has not hitherto been accepted by all interested parties that the claims of all persons affected or aggrieved by any such action were properly considered or resolved: And whereas it has been agreed by and between the Crown and representatives of the descendants of such persons that the Crown should pay and those descendants should accept the sum of $250,000 in full and final settlement of all claims of whatever nature arising out of the confiscation or other acquisition of any of the said land by the Crown: And whereas it is expedient that the money be paid to and dealt with by a Maori Trust Board under and in accordance with the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: