Overview
This Bill—
records the acknowledgements and apology given by the Crown to the Iwi and Hapu of Te Arawa affiliated to the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust (the Affiliate) in the deed of settlement dated 11 June 2008 between the Crown and the Affiliate; and
gives effect to the deed of settlement in which the Crown and the Affiliate agree to a final settlement of all the Affiliate historical claims.
Scope of settlement
The Affiliate, whose area of interest covers over 500 000 hectares, has a population of approximately 24 000.
The Affiliate is a collective of 11 iwi and hapu groups from the Rotorua and Kaingaroa areas. In the deed of settlement and in this Bill, the Affiliate is defined as the collective group composed of—
In 2 instances land blocks are used, in addition to the criteria above, to define the iwi and hapu groups.
Each ancestor is defined as meaning an individual who exercised their customary rights predominantly in relation to the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu area of interest at any time after 6 February 1840, and who is descended from the listed eponymous ancestors of the iwi and hapu.
The settlement settles all of the historical claims of the Affiliate. Those claims include all claims that are founded on a right arising—
The claims arise from, or relate to, acts or omissions before 21 September 1992—
by, or on behalf of, the Crown; or
by, or under, legislation.
The Crown is released and discharged from all obligations and liabilities in respect of those claims.
History of claim
Between 1982 and 2003, dozens of claims were lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of the Affiliate. In the late 1990s, the Crown began focusing on the progress of historical claims in the central North Island. In 2002, the Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations engaged with central North Island claimant representatives, including representatives of the Affiliate, to explore the possibility of progressing their historical claims through direct negotiations with the Crown.
Between July and September 2003, mandating hui were held at which the respective iwi and hapu of the Affiliate resolved to enter direct negotiations with the Crown. In September 2003, the structure of Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa was adopted, and Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa Executive Council was officially established. Representatives of the Affiliate were elected from Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa to its Executive Council, and its membership was confirmed later that month.
The Affiliate chose to forgo the right to have claims heard by the Waitangi Tribunal in favour of entering into direct negotiations with the Crown. That decision was forward-looking and based on a willingness to settle the historical claims of the Affiliate in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
Negotiations and 2006 deed of settlement
In April 2004, the Crown recognised the mandate of Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa Executive Council to negotiate a settlement offer for the comprehensive settlement of all the historical claims of the Affiliate.
Recognition by the Crown of Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa Executive Council’s mandate was considered by the Waitangi Tribunal during 2004 and 2005. The Waitangi Tribunal released 2 reports into claims regarding the mandate of Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa Executive Council: Te Arawa Mandate Report (2004) and Te Arawa Mandate Report—Te Wahanga Tuarua (2005).
The Affiliate and the Crown entered into terms of negotiation, dated 26 November 2004, which specified the scope, objectives, and general procedures for the negotiations; and an agreement in principle was signed on 5 September 2005 (varied on 20 December 2005), which recorded that the Affiliate and the Crown were willing to enter into a deed of settlement on the basis of the Crown’s settlement proposal set out in the agreement in principle.
Following the signing of the agreement in principle, negotiations continued between the Crown and the Affiliate until a deed of settlement was initialled on 8 August 2006. A ratification process for the deed of settlement (2006 deed of settlement) and the post-settlement governance entity occurred during August and September 2006. Of the 4 466 registered adult members of the Affiliate who were eligible to vote, 51% validly voted on the 2006 deed of settlement. Of these, 97% voted in favour of accepting the 2006 deed of settlement.
On 30 September 2006, Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa Executive Council and the Crown entered into the 2006 deed of settlement. The 2006 deed of settlement was conditional on the establishment of a governance entity and the passage of a Bill implementing the matters set out in the deed.
Governance arrangement: Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust
A ratification process for the governance arrangements was carried out concurrently with that for the 2006 deed of settlement. Of the 4 466 adult members of the Affiliate who were eligible to vote, 49% of voters validly voted on the post-settlement governance entity. Of these votes, 97% were in favour of the proposed post-settlement arrangement. On 1 December 2006, the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust was established by trust deed. The trust is a private trust comprising 16 trustees, which will receive and administer the settlement redress.
The Crown was satisfied that the governance arrangement met the requirements of clause 3.4 of the 2006 deed of settlement. The governance arrangement provides for the representation of the Affiliate, transparent decision-making and dispute resolution processes, and full accountability to members of the Affiliate.
Central North Island collective negotiations and 2008 deed of settlement
Following the signing of the 2006 deed of settlement, the Crown and various iwi and hapu with interests in the Central North Island Crown forest lands entered into negotiations for the settlement of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims over those lands. To allow those negotiations to proceed, the Affiliate agreed to delay the introduction of legislation giving effect to the 2006 deed of settlement. During the course of negotiations between the Crown and the various iwi and hapu with interests in the Central North Island Crown forest lands, the Affiliate agreed to participate in those negotiations and to amend the 2006 deed of settlement so that the Affiliate interests in the Central North Island Crown forest lands would be addressed through the CNI settlement deed.
A ratification process was carried out for the amended 2006 deed of settlement in May and June 2008. Of the 5 476 registered adult members of the Affiliate who were eligible to vote, 29% validly voted on the amended 2006 deed of settlement (2008 deed of settlement). Of these, 98% voted in favour of accepting the 2008 deed of settlement.
The Crown and the Affiliate signed the 2008 deed of settlement on 11 June 2008. In the 2008 deed of settlement, the Crown acknowledges the generosity of the Affiliate in agreeing to renegotiate the settlement under the 2006 deed of settlement and the significant contribution made by the trustees towards the resolution of the historical claims of other Central North Island iwi over the Central North Island Crown forest land.
The deed of settlement is conditional upon the passage of this Bill.
The trustees participated in the preparation of this Bill before its introduction.
The Crown is satisfied that the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust provides the appropriate governance arrangements for the transfer of redress under the 2008 deed of settlement.
Key elements of settlement package
The deed of settlement sets out in full the redress provided to the Affiliate in settlement of all of its historical claims. The following summary sets out the key elements of the settlement package contained in the deed of settlement. The summary distinguishes between those elements of the settlement package included in the Bill and those elements set out in the deed of settlement. Elements set out only in the deed of settlement do not require legislative authority for their implementation. The Bill includes the Crown’s acknowledgements and apology, as well as those elements of the settlement package for which legislative authority is required.
Elements of settlement package in Bill
The Bill—
contains acknowledgements by the Crown relating to—
the Crown’s failure to deal with the long-standing grievances of the Affiliate in an appropriate way:
the Crown’s failure to adequately protect traditional tribal structures following the impact of the native land laws:
the Crown’s failure to actively protect the interests of the Affiliate when purchasing land:
the Crown’s failure to ensure that all members of the Affiliate were left with sufficient land for their present and future needs:
the taking of lands of particular significance to the Affiliate under public works legislation, resulting in a sense of grievance among the members of the Affiliate:
the generosity of the Affiliate in gifting land containing scenic sites to the nation:
the loss of lands containing geothermal features taken for public works purposes, causing a sense of grievance within the Affiliate that is still held today:
the fact that twentieth-century land development did not always provide the economic opportunities and benefits that the Affiliate expected:
the loyalty of the Affiliate to the Crown in honouring its obligations and responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi, especially, but not exclusively, in war service overseas of members of the Affiliate:
sets out a formal apology that the Crown has offered to the Affiliate, expressing its profound regret to the Affiliate, its ancestors, and its descendants for the breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles acknowledged by the Crown in the deed of settlement:
empowers the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, the Minister of Conservation, and the Minister of Fisheries to issue protocols that set out how the relevant department, ministry, or chief executive will interact with the trustees of the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust on specified matters. The form of each protocol is set out in Schedule 1 of the deed of settlement:
provides for the vesting in the trustees of the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust of the following 24 cultural redress properties of significance to the Affiliate:
Pateko Island:
Te Koutu Pa:
Okataina Lodge site:
Okataina Outdoor Education Centre site:
Te Ariki site (as an undivided half share to the Affiliate, and the Crown will hold on trust the remaining undivided half share for potential use in a future Treaty of Waitangi settlement of overlapping interests):
Punaromia site:
site on Horohoro Bluff:
site adjacent to Orakei Korako:
site adjacent to Lake Rotomahana:
Te Wairoa:
Lake Rotokawa site:
beds of Lakes Rotongata (Mirror Lake) and Rotoatua:
Moerangi site:
Kakapiko:
Rangitoto site:
sites on Paeroa Range:
Wai-o-Tapu site:
Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve:
Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve:
5 Ministry of Education school sites:
provides for the future vesting in a Pikiao entity of the following properties of significance to the Affiliate:A statutory acknowledgement will apply to Otari Pa until it vests in the Pikiao entity. A whenua rahui will apply to Matawhaura (part of the Lake Rotoiti Scenic Reserve), but may be declared to no longer apply after the site vests in the Pikiao entity:
provides for whenua rahui over the following sites:Whenua rahui acknowledge the traditional, cultural, spiritual, and historical association of the Affiliate with certain sites of significance. Whenua rahui status requires the Crown and the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust to develop and publicise a set of protection principles that will assist the Minister of Conservation to avoid harming or diminishing values of the Affiliate with regard to that land. The New Zealand Conservation Authority and relevant Conservation Boards will also be required to have regard to the principles and consult with the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust before approving a conservation document or making a proposal or recommendation for a change of status in relation to the whenua rahui:
Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve—Maunga Kakaramea:
part of Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve:
part of Mount Ngongotaha Scenic Reserve:
Matawhaura (part of the Lake Rotoiti Scenic Reserve).
sets out the Crown’s acknowledgement of the statements by the Affiliate of its traditional, cultural, spiritual, and historical association with the following statutory areas and geothermal resource:The statutory acknowledgement registers the special association the Affiliate has with particular areas. The Affiliate’s statements of association are recorded in Part 2 of Schedule 3 of the deed of settlement and incorporated by reference in the Bill. Consent authorities, the Environment Court, and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust will be required to have regard to the statutory acknowledgements. The acknowledgements require that consent authorities provide the Affiliate with summaries of all resource consent applications that may affect the areas named in the acknowledgements:
Matahana Ecological Area:
Otari Pa:
parts of the Whakarewarewa Forest known as the Lake Rotokakahi and Lake Tikitapu Covenant Areas:
part of the Kaituna River:
part of the Tarawera River:
part of the Waikato River (Atiamuri Dam to Huka Falls):
Waiteti Stream:
Ngongotaha Stream:
Rotorua region geothermal system.
provides for a deed of recognition over the Matahana Ecological Area. This obliges the Crown to consult with the Affiliate and have regard to its views regarding the special association the Affiliate has with the Matahana Ecological Area. This also specifies the nature of the input of the Affiliate into management of the area by the Department of Conservation and the Commissioner of Crown Lands:
provides for the official amendment or assignment of 2 place names. Once the Bill is enacted, the name Whakapoungakau will be changed to Rangitoto Peak and the name Whakapoungakau Range will be assigned to a previously unnamed range:
provides for special classifications of significant sites administered by the Rotorua District Council (the RDC) and recognises the values of the Affiliate and the Rotorua community with regard to these sites. Special classifications set out the protection principles for the RDC to balance in the management of these sites. There will be special classifications of the following sites:
recreation reserve at Hannah’s Bay (including Otauira Swamp), which (at a later date) includes the esplanade land and may for a time include the Karamuramu Baths land:
recreation reserve adjacent to Waiteti Stream (including Te Kahupapa and Te Hinahina):
recreation reserve adjacent to Lake Okareka (known as Boyes Beach):
provides for the future vesting in the trustees of the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust of the Karamuramu Baths land currently administered by the RDC at the time the lease to Rotorua Regional Airport Limited expires, or earlier if agreed:
provides for the transfer of licensed Crown forest land with a value of $4 million, together with the accumulated Crown forestry licence rentals associated with this land:
Elements of settlement package only in deed of settlement
The deed of settlement also includes the following redress for which legislative authority is not required:
a relationship agreement between the Affiliate and the Ministry for the Environment to allow discussion of the performance of local government in the Affiliate area of interest in implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991 (the RMA) and any other issues in relation to the application of the RMA in the Affiliate area of interest that are the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment:
acknowledgement of the Crown’s promotion of a relationship between the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust and the RDC, encouraging the RDC to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust in relation to the RDC’s functions and obligations, and the exercise of its powers, within the Affiliate area of interest:
acknowledgement of the Crown’s promotion of a relationship between the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust and Environment Waikato and Environment Bay of Plenty, encouraging both regional councils to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust in relation to the geothermal resources located within the region of the relevant regional council, but also in relation to the development of plans such as the regional policy statement and regional plans:
provision for Te Pumautanga’s future involvement in the co-management of the upper reaches of the Waikato River, and in particular over that stretch of the river within the rohe of Ngati Tahu–Ngati Whaoa:
the transfer to the trustees of the Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust of 4 geothermal assets (wells) located within the Ngatamariki geothermal field, as cultural redress:
the opportunity to purchase, within 6 months after the settlement date, certain Crown-owned assets at market value. These assets include—
Removal of courts’ jurisdiction and of resumptive memorials
The Affiliate and the Crown have agreed to the removal of the jurisdiction of the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal in respect of the Affiliate historical claims, the deed of settlement, the settlement redress, and this Bill (but not in respect of the interpretation or implementation of the deed of settlement or the Bill). The Affiliate has also agreed that neither the Affiliate nor a representative entity will object to the removal by legislation of memorials entered under any of the land claims statutory protection legislation.