CNI signing: a positive step forward

Hainatanga a CNI: He hikoinga tōrunga whakamua.

“He hikoinga tōrunga whakamua tÄ“nei ngā Whakaritenga o te Whakaaetanga i hainatia i te rangi nei e ngā māngai iwi e mōhiotia ana kō te Kohinga o Waenganui o Te Ika a Māui, hei whanake i te rongoā, arā me pÄ“whea te whakamahi i ngā whenua ngahere i roto i a rātou rohe, ki roto i ngā whakataunga Tiriti hÄ«tori.” E kÄ« ana te Minita mō ngā Take Māori, a Parekura Horomia.

Ko ngā mema iwi o te rōpū nei ko: Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngāti Rangitihi, me Ngāti Whare. Neke atu i te 75,000 ngā mema kei roto i te kohinga.

“Ko ngā whenua ngahere o Waenganui o te Ika a Māui, me a rātou tÅ«ranga ki roto i ngā whakataunga, te kaupapa e tautohe whānui ana mō te tekau tau ki muri. Ko te hikoi tuatahi noaiho tÄ“nei, te hainatanga o te Whakaritenga o te Whakaaetanga mō te hikoi kei mua, engari me whakanuia tonu tÄ“nei.”

“He nui ngā mahi whakaaro pono, me ngā whakawhitinga kōrero kei mua i a tātou. Kei te tauotoko te Karauna i te whaiwāhitanga whānui rawa atu ki roto i te rōpÅ« Waenganui o Te Ika Māui, ā, koia nei te take he mea whakahira kia whakaurua he tikanga ki roto i te kirimini i te rangi nei, tÄ“tahi tikanga ki te whakanui ake i ngā mema a te Kohinga hei ngā wā kei mua.

“E tautoko ana e tÄ“nei hainatanga te piriponotanga a te Karauna ki tōna honohononga atu ki ngā iwi o Waenganui o te Ika a Māui. Aku mihi ki a rātou mō a rātou mahi kaha, mō te piripono pai me te ngākau pono. Me aku mihi whakaaro pai kia haere whakamua tonu tÄ“nei hikoi,” i kÄ« a Horomia.

CNI signing: a positive step forward

“The Terms of Agreement signed today with representatives of the iwi group, known as the Central North Island Collective is an important step forward in developing a solution to how forest lands, in their region, will be used in historical Treaty settlements.” Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia said today.

The group members are: Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Whakaue, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Rangitihi and Ngati Whare. Their membership totals more than 75,000.

“The Central North Island forest lands and their role in settlements have been the subject of significant debate over the last decade. The signing of the Terms of Agreement is only the first step in the journey ahead, but one that should be celebrated”

There is much serious work and discussion before us. The Crown supports as wide as possible participation in the Central North Island group which is why it is so important that the agreement today includes provision for expanding the membership of the Collective in the future.

“This signing affirms the Crown’s commitment to its relationship with Central North Island Iwi. I would like to recognise their hard work and the good faith and sincerity of all those involved. I wish them well in progressing this journey further,” Mr Horomia said.