KURAHAUPO ACHIEVES A DEED OF MANDATE TO COMMENCE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS IN TOP OF SOUTH ISLAND - November 2005 Three top of the South Iwi Ngati Apa ki Te Rato, Ngati Kuia and Rangitane have achieved a significant milestone in the settlement of their historic Treaty of Waitangi claims with the announcement that the Crown has formally recognised the mandate of their settlement body Kurahaupo Ki Te Waipounamu Trust to represent their settlement negotiations. The announcement, made jointly by the Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, the Hon Mark Burton, and the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon Parekura Horomia, reflects a considerable achievement by the Kurahaupo confederation of Iwi, which was established for the purpose of collectively negotiating a comprehensive settlement for Ngati Apa, Ngati Kuia and Rangitane just 12 months ago. The extent of the claims that will be the subject of negotiations between the Crown and Kurahaupo cover the provinces of Marlborough, Nelson and a part of Buller on the West Coast of the South Island. The Kurahaupo mandate is the first such deed to have been recognised by the Crown since that of Ngai Tahu claim in the early 1990s. The Kurahaupo mandate has been achieved in an unprecedented timeframe and it is the first Deed of Mandate to have received the unanimous support of all those who attended and voted at mandating hui held throughout the country earlier this year. One of the key strategies for the success of the Kurahaupo mandating process has been the support of local government. The Marlborough District Council has taken an active interest in Kurahaupo and has provided technical advice ensuring that the Kurahaupo mandating processes met best practise standards. It is the only such joint settlement project currently operating in New Zealand involves both claimants and a local authority. Marlborough’s Mayor, Mr Alistair Sowman said Marlborough District Council were happy to provide project management assistance and advice where necessary to the Kurahaupo Iwi. The final settlement of claims by all Marlborough Iwi was in the best interest interests of the whole district and was pleased to see recognition of council’s leadership in the strengthening of relationships with Iwi.   Mr Richard Bradley, Chairperson of the Kurahaupo Trust, said the Ministers’ approval means that Kurahaupo has satisfied the stringent criteria of the Crown for Treaty settlement negotiations. “The willingness of the three Iwi Ngati Apa ki te Rato, Ngati Kuia and Rangitane to combine their individual claims into one settlement entity was not without a number of tensions and putting these aside to gain a mandate with the Crown to negotiate a settlement – all within a period of approximately 12 months - has been a complex and intensive process. Their support for our settlement process has been of enormous assistance to realising the aspirations our wider Iwi membership and once settled will have benefits for the whole community. The support of Marlborough District Council has allowed us to develop standards of consultation and communication with our members which have developed have received high praise from the Office of Treaty Settlements and are regarded as a benchmark for other claimant groups now entering into this process. I am hopeful that the next stages of the settlement process proceed equally as smoothly – and swiftly,” he said.   Kurahaupo now moves to the Pre-negotiations stage of the settlement process, which involves entering into discussion with the Office of Treaty Settlements on the Terms of Negotiation. Mr Bradley said that typically negotiations can take at least two years from the Terms of Negotiation stage until the Agreement in Principle – at which time the draft deed of settlement is taken back to each Iwi for their consideration and approval. He noted that Kurahaupo hope to shorten that timeframe considerably by ensuring they are well prepared for negotiations and have issued a challenge to the Crown to achieve agreement in principle by the end of the 2006 calendar year.  Ends. For further information: Richard Bradley Chairman Kurahaupo Ki Te Waipounamu Trust Tel: 0274 731785