16 July 2002 Media Release 5

VOLCANIC INTERIOR PLATEAU PROJECT

Claimant and Crown Forestry Rental Trust commitment to speeding up the Treaty settlement process has led to priority of hearing for the Volcanic Interior Plateau Project in the central North Island during 2001-02.  This prompted the Waitangi Tribunal to grant priority of hearing for all claims within the VIP region.

The Waitangi Tribunal has begun judicial conferences in the Rotorua and Urewera Districts in the lead-up to substantive hearings.  VIP hopes to achieve a settlement of their forestry claims by 2004-2005, at least ten years ahead of the date originally scheduled.

“By finding our common ground and engaging the Trust’s research and innovative new mapping systems in a contractual arrangement, we have made important progress during the last year,” said VIP Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa (VIP Project Manager) Rawiri Te Whare. 

The Trust hopes these efforts will result in VIUP claimants being in a position to negotiate with the Crown by 2004-2005.