Kurahaupo Achieves Agreement in Principle with the Crown
11 February 2009
"E hinga atu he tetekura ka haramai he tetekura.
The aspirations of one generation become the responsibility of the next generation." The Kurahaupō Ki Te Waipounamu Trust (the Kurahaupō Trust) has today co-signed a Letter of Agreement with the Crown that outlines a broad settlement package for the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of its three constituent Iwi: Ngäti Apa Ki Te Ra To, Ngäti Kuia and Rangitäne o Wairau. The settlement package encompasses financial redress of approximately $80 million plus cultural redress that recognises the traditional, historical, cultural and spiritual associations of Kurahaupō Iwi with places and sites within their rohe (areas of interest). Also included in the redress package are historical accounts outlining the relationship between the Crown and the three Kurahaupo Iwi, which will form the basis of the Crown’s acknowledgements and apologies to the Iwi for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. “Today marks a truly historic milestone,” said Kurahaupō Chairman Mr Richard Bradley.
“ For 170 years our tupuna have actively sought recognition of their customary rights and fair settlement for lands purchased by the Crown. Today we can stand tall in the long shadow of those who have fought our claims with the knowledge that our future generations will be able to take their rightful place in the economic, social and cultural development of Te Tau Ihu.” Mr Bradley noted that while there are still some outstanding issues to resolve prior to the development of the draft Kurahaupo Deed of Settlement, the Agreement in Principle signals the Crown’s intent to provide the Kurahaupo Iwi a strong platform with which to move forward into the future. “The cultural redress elements associated with restoring our mana over taonga resources is a very significant part of the settlement package,” added Mr Bradley. “The agreement recognises that relationships with our rohe are central to the identity and well-being of the Kurahaupo Iwi, and the agreement paves the way for our people to rebuild those relationships.” Kath Hemi, the eldest surviving claimant in Te Tau Ihu, has sought recognition of the Iwi claims for more than 30 years. Today’s milestone means she can finally look forward. “As guardians of the aspirations and hopes of our young people we can now look to a future that offers opportunity,” she said. “It has been a very long journey.” The name Kurahaupo is derived from the ancestral waka common to the three Iwi whose combined tribal area covers the entire top of the South Island. The Kurahaupō claims primarily relate to the failure of the Crown to adequately recognise their customary rights in pre-1865 land purchases and its failure to set aside adequate reserves to ensure that Ngäti Apa, Ngäti Kuia and Rangitäne retained sufficient lands for their future needs; effectively marginalizing the three Iwi. In 2004 Ngäti Apa, Ngäti Kuia and Rangitäne o Wairau established the Kurahaupo Trust to secure a comprehensive settlement for their three Iwi. Since entering formal Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown in June 2006 Kurahaupo have achieved considerable recognition amongst Crown agencies and other iwi as a highly cohesive and effective collective entity. Mr Bradley said that the strong relationships that Kurahaupo has established throughout the negotiation process provide an important foundation for their future success. The agreement in principle signed today will be detailed in a comprehensive Draft Deed of Settlement for ratification by Kurahaupo members, along with a post-settlement governance structure to receive and manage the redress.
If ratified, and settlement legislation passed to implement it, the Kurahaupo Deed of Settlement will become unconditional and the terms of the settlement will take effect. This could potentially occur in 2009. To read a summary of the Kurahaupō Ki Te Waipounamu Letter of Agreement on the Office of Treaty Settlements website please click here:
http://nz01.terabyte.co.nz/ots/fb.asp?url=OTSagreementsoffers.asp | 
