23 December 2003 Media Release

CROWN FORESTRY RENTAL TRUST CONGRATULATES CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND IWI IN ACHIEVING SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES

The Crown Forestry Rental Trust is elated with the progress  four Central North Island Iwi have made towards negotiating their Treaty claims with the Crown.

In submitting their deeds of mandate to the Office of Treaty Settlements Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa and Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare had demonstrated their clear desire for CNI Maori to achieve early settlement of their Treaty claims.

Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare have already had their mandates signed off and the other two iwi should not be far behind. The effort that CNI Iwi have made in taking up the  challenge to negotiate directly with the Crown must be applauded.

The CNI settlement will be amongst the most significant this country would see and the long term positive economic impact for Maori and the New Zealand economy because of early settlement should not be underestimated.

CFRT Trustees reported this year that the Trust would work closely with the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Waitangi Tribunal to expedite the return of Crown forest licensed land.

“We are particularly pleased to note the level of cooperation and engagement between agencies to progress the CNI forestry land claims. This cooperation can only be beneficial to for CNI Maori and New Zealand as a whole.”

The Trust has reviewed the necessary resources to expedite CNI settlements, increasing intensity where necessary, to align with the increased progress made in this rohe.