11 October 2002 Media Release

CFRT CONGRATULATES TE URI O HAU ON SETTLEMENT

After nearly two years legislation settling Treaty claims to part of the Kaipara district passed through Parliament last night.

The Te Uri o Hau Claims Settlement Act had its second and third readings and in effect is the final commitment to settling this claim.

The negotiators for the Te Uri o Hau claim agreed to a settlement offer and signed a Deed of Settlement on 13 December 2000.  Legislation effecting the settlement was introduced to Parliament last October and then referred to the Māori Affairs Select Committee to comment before going through its final stages yesterday.

The Chief Executive of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Karen Waterreus, said it was good to see historical Treaty claims making progress and congratulated Te Uri o Hau and the Crown on reaching this significant milestone.

“CFRT is particularly pleased to be able to return significant accumulated forestry rentals to Te Uri o Hau included as part of their Treaty settlement of about $1.1m,” she said.

“Over a period of 10 years trust assistance has contributed significantly to this settlement through research support and funding that is invaluable in preparing claimants and Crown negotiators thoroughly to reach some finality in the process.

“The Trust looks forward to working with all future parties in the Treaty process in further progressing forestry land claims.”

Te Uri o Hau is a hapu of Ngati Whatua and their claim is based in the Kaipara region north of Auckland (see map attached).