Iwi Can Buy Government Sites; Chairman Applauds Proposed Settlement
THE National Library, Archives NZ, Wellington Girls’ College and the High Court could be bought by iwi under a proposed Treaty of Waitangi settlement that allows the sale of up to $120 million of government property.
The four iwi covered by the Port Nicholson Block settlement would be able to buy the land and possibly the buildings on condition they are permanently leased back to government departments using them and the sales have departments’ consent.
The claimants are known as Taranaki Whanui (Wellington) and have links to four Taranaki iwi.
Other properties around Wellington’s administrative belt are also likely to be included in the total purchase envelope of $120 million. It is understood some will be restricted to the land only, but others — including the National Library and other three named sites — could include buildings.
Sales will be partly funded by departments not paying rent for a specified period, meaning the iwi forego income but do not have to find all the cash to buy.
The proposal is in an agreement in principle signed yesterday by Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen and representatives of the claimants.
The agreement includes the option to buy prime real estate at Shelly Bay on Wellington Harbour and other surplus Crown land.
It also includes the return of the three harbour islands — Matiu/ Somes, Makaro/Ward and Mokopuna — apparently going further than the kaitiaki (guardianship) tipped before the settlement was announced.
Each island will retain reserve status and Crown, third party and public rights of access will remain unchanged.
Sixteen other Crown-owned sites of special cultural significance will also be returned, including Pipitea Marae and two associated Government sites nearby. Land along the harbour at Petone, known as Korokoro Gateway, will also be returned, with conditions on public access.
The package includes $25 million in cash and $5.2 million towards claimants’ costs.
The Government has also agreed to consider changing the name of Wellington Harbour to Te Whanganui a Tara/ Wellington Harbour and Wi Tako Scenic Reserve to Wi Tako Ngatata Reserve, the full name of the paramount chief it is named after.
The Port Nicholson Block claim was brought by Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngati Tama and Ngati Ruanui iwi and has more than 16,500 registered beneficiaries. The iwi were originally from Taranaki, but settled around Wellington in the 1820s and 1830s.
Tenths Trust chairman Ngatata Love, who headed the claim team, said the agreement in principle would bring considerable benefits to the claimants, whose land was wrongly taken in the 1800s, but suggested the real worth was not financial.
“It’s very hard to say what the total value is because you can’t value cultural heritage. You can’t value that capacity to move ahead with education and health. I believe it’s an important step forward for the nation. I personally feel that very powerfully.” Fairfax
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