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Hineruarangi te Kawau tohu mate, tohu aroha o Te Whaiti-nui-a-ToiFrom extermination to agreement in 130 years

From Extermination to Agreement in 130 years

Wednesday, 24 June 2009, Whakatane Beacon

A THREAT made 130 years ago to exterminate Maori was the low point in a relationship between Ngati Whare and the Crown. That relationship reached a new high on Friday when the Crown and the iwi signed an agreement in principle to settle outstanding Treaty of Waitangi claims.

"We have come a long way since being threatened with extermination by the Crown in 1869," Te Runanga o Ngati Whare chairman James Carlson said at a signing ceremony held at Te Whaiti's Murumurunga Marae and attended by Treaty negotiations minister Christopher Finlayson.

Mr Carlson said his extermination comment referred to a statement by Colonel George Whitmore to colonial forces and their allies at a meeting on April 19, 1869, in relation to clashes between the Crown and Maori in the Eastern Bay."He was recorded as saying: ‘I am going to punish them, they must be exterminated'." Mr Carlson said the signing was a "bright spot in a long and hard journey" for Ngati Whare.

"Being a small iwi, we have often struggled to get our issues heard and to get recognition. Today recognises the efforts of many people over many decades." The rohe of Ngati Whare's 3400 members is based around Te Whaiti, Minginui and the Whirinaki Forest Park. The agreement in principle outlines the broad settlement package that will settle the iwi's historical Treaty claims through a combination of cultural and historical redress.

It follows Ngati Whare's commercial interests being addressed through the Central North Island forests settlement, reached last year between the Crown and the eight iwi that make up the CNI collective.

The agreement recognises Ngati Whare's special relationship with natural resources in the area, including the provision of a high-level governance role over the Whirinaki Forest Park with the Department of Conservation, and support for Ngati Whare's goal to regenerate adjacent areas of exotic pine back to indigenous podocarp forest.

"This occasion is particularly significant as 2009 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Whirinaki Forest Park," Mr Finlayson said. The agreement is the start of the next phase in the negotiations process. The Crown and Ngati Whare will work toward a detailed deed of settlement to be ratified by registered members of Ngati Whare. 

Negotiations for Ngati Whare were conducted by Mr Carlson, Bronco Carson, Kohiti Kohiti, Lena Brew, Pene Olsen, Robert Taylor and Roberta Rickard. The cultural redress package is likely to include a symbolic vesting in Ngati Whare, and a re-vesting back to the Crown, of Tuwatawata Maunga and Te Whaiti-Nui-a-Toi canyon.

The Crown will also vest in Ngati Whare up to 640 hectares from the Crown's 10 per cent share of the CNI forests land, subject to a conservation covenant for regeneration purposes.

Recent News

Ngāti Whare Sign Agreement in Principle

More than 5 years have passed since Ngāti Whare entered into formal negotiations with the Crown to settle the Iwi's historical Treaty of Waitangi claims. On Friday 19th June at Murumurunga Marae in Te Whaiti, the parties signed an Agreement in Principle that will deliver a broad settlement package for Ngāti Whare. Click here to read more.

Exciting Projects

Geographical Information System (GIS)

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare is currently developing a Geographical Information System (GIS) that will assist with the management of cultural & environmental resources in our rohe.

We know that there are over 500 wahi-taonga in the Whirinaki region with many ecologically important habitats and specie populations. The goal of this project is to establish a comprehensive database which benefits Ngāti Whare. This GIS will be useful for connecting, mapping and presenting different types of infomration assoicated with Treaty settlements, resource management and a range of tribal initatives.

Ngahere Regeneration Proposal

Te Rūnanga of Ngāti Whare continues to actively develop a proposal for the assisted regeneration of previously cutover native forest in and around the Whirinaki. Approches to ngahere regeneration were a key focus of our Hui-a-Iwi and also with the Crown, and this kaupapa remains an important Ngati Whare aspiration. 

The Rūnanga has encouraged both kaumatua and specialists to help prepare a viable regeneration plan that will meet the expectations of Ngāti Whare.

Iwi Communications

2009 promises to be an important year for Ngāti Whare as we progress toward the post-Settlement phase regarding our comprehensive Claim, cultural & historical sites, fisheries and commercial forest lands.

To help with communication of events & pānui, we encourage all our Iwi members to advise the Runanga of your email addresses if you have one. Please email admin@ngatiwhare.iwi.nz to let us know if you'd like to receive updates of future events and panui by email.