Maniapoto

The Crown and Maniapoto signed a Deed of Settlement on 11 November 2021.

In this section

Maniapoto Deed of Settlement documents

Maniapoto Deed of Settlement Summary

Documents relating to Maniapoto Waipā River co-management 

Maniapoto Deed of Settlement documents

 

Deed of Settlement documents

File Date Size
Letter to Keith Ikin and Tavake Afeaki [PDF, 245 KB] Apr 2021 245 KB
Agreement in Principle [PDF, 3.3 MB] 15 Aug 2017 3.3 MB
Terms of Negotiation [PDF, 219 KB] 17 Dec 2016 215 KB
Crown Recognition of Mandate [PDF, 36 KB] 14 Dec 2016 32 KB
Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Deed of Mandate [PDF, 465 KB] 5 Dec 2016 465 KB

 

Maniapoto Deed of Settlement Summary

Online version of the Maniapoto Deed of Settlement Summary document, May 2021.

Overview

The settlement package includes:

  • an agreed historical account, Crown acknowledgments and apology;
  • cultural redress; and
  • financial and commercial redress.

The benefits of the settlement will be available to all members of Maniapoto wherever they live.

Background

Maniapoto are an iwi based in Te Rohe Pōtae (the King Country), in and around Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu. At the time of the 2013 Census, the iwi had just over 35,000 members, with over 90% living outside of the rohe. As at September 2020, the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) tribal register had over 25,000 members.

Redress

Crown acknowledgements and apology

This settlement contains an apology from the Crown for its acts and omissions in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi and the acknowledgement that the Crown failed to uphold promises in Te Ōhākī Tapu, in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi.

Specific breach acknowledgements in the deed include:

  • acting unjustly in sending Crown forces across the Mangatāwhiri River during the Waikato War, including indiscriminately killing non-combatants and looting and destroying property;
  • breaching the Treaty by confiscating land in which Maniapoto had interests, unfairly labelling Maniapoto as rebels, and failing to provide for refugees entering the Maniapoto rohe; and
  • failing to protect Maniapoto tribal structures from the operation and impact of the Native land laws, particularly the individualisation of tribal lands, which led to massive alienation of the tribal lands Maniapoto had cherished for centuries.

 

Questions and answers

1. What is the total settlement package?

Crown acknowledgements and apology for historical breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi;

  • an agreed historical account;
  • cultural redress including the vesting of 36 sites of significance in Maniapoto, natural resources arrangements over Ngā Wai o Maniapoto, and relationship redress with Government Departments;
  • financial redress with a total value of $165,000,000 (plus interest); and
  • commercial redress.

2. Who holds the mandate for Maniapoto?

In 2016 the Crown recognised the mandate of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) to negotiate the settlement of Maniapoto’s historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

3. What happens next?

The initialled Deed of Settlement is subject to the approval of Maniapoto members by a vote (known as ratification). If the Deed of Settlement receives sufficient support, it will be signed by the Crown and Maniapoto. The Crown will then introduce legislation to Parliament giving effect to the settlement.

4. Is there any private land involved?

No.

5. Are the public’s rights affected?

No. Where land is transferred with a reserve classification then the relevant provisions of the Reserves Act (including those concerning public access) will continue to apply.

6. Are any of the place names changed?

Yes. The official geographic names for 12 geographic features will be changed.

7. What is a statutory acknowledgement and deed of recognition?

A statutory acknowledgement acknowledges areas or sites with which iwi have a special relationship and will be recognised in any relevant proceedings under the Resource Management Act 1991. These provisions aim to avoid past problems where areas of significance to Māori, such as burial grounds, were simply cleared or excavated for public works or similar purposes without permission or consultation with iwi. Statutory acknowledgements do not convey a property right and are non-exclusive.

A deed of recognition sets out an agreement between the administering Crown body and a claimant group in recognition of their special association with a site and specify the nature of their input into the management of the site.

8. What is an overlay classification?

An overlay classification acknowledges the traditional, cultural, spiritual and historical association of an iwi with certain sites of significance administered by the Department of Conservation.

Overlay classifications require the Minister of Conservation and the settling group to develop and publicise a set of principles that will assist the Minister to avoid harming or diminishing values of the settling group 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 settling group.

9. What happens to memorials on private titles?

The legislative restrictions (memorials) placed on the title of Crown properties and some former Crown properties now in private ownership will be removed once all historical Treaty claims in the area have been settled.

10. When will the settlement take effect?

The settlement will take effect following the enactment of the settlement legislation.

11. Does Maniapoto have the right to come back and make further claims about the behaviour of the Crown in the 19th and 20th centuries?

No. When the Deed of Settlement is signed, and settlement legislation is passed it will be a final and comprehensive settlement of all historical (relating to events before 21 September 1992) Treaty of Waitangi claims of Maniapoto. The settlement legislation, once passed, will prevent the iwi re-litigating the claims before the Waitangi Tribunal or the courts.

The settlement will still allow Maniapoto to pursue claims against the Crown for acts or omissions after 21 September 1992 including claims based on the continued existence of aboriginal title of customary rights. The Crown also retains the right to dispute such claims or the existence of such title rights.

12. Who benefits from the settlement?

All members of Maniapoto wherever they may now live.