Maunga Settlement read for a first time in Parliament

TE POU KŌRERO - NGĀHURU

The Taranaki Maunga was confiscated in 1865 by the Crown as punishment for the so-called rebellion of Māori during the New Zealand Wars.

The piece of legislation, Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua, acknowledging the treaty breach and returning our tupuna was read for the first time in Parliament on April 8.

The bill passed its first reading with the House of Representatives voting unanimously to support it. The next process includes referral to the Māori Affairs Select Kōmiti before being read a second and third time and finally enacted into law.

In 2017, the eight iwi of Taranaki came together as Ngā Iwi o Taranaki to negotiate collective cultural redress over our Maunga and Te Papa-Kura-o-Maunga Settlement read for a first time in Parliament

Taranaki. The settlement is a chance to restore the mana of our Maunga and ensure it is managed according to He Kawa Tupua.

He Kāhui Tupua will also be recognized as a legal person. Reflecting the view of the Tūpuna Maunga as a living and indivisible whole, Te Kāhui Tupua will have its own legal personality with all the corresponding rights, powers, duties, and liabilities of a legal person.

The settlement is historic after more than 10 years of negotiation. The collective redress will become active 40 days after the settlement is enacted.

The Māori Affairs select committee will now consider the bill clause by clause and may invite public submissions. Following this, the committee reports back to Parliament with any recommended changes, and a second reading may proceed if agreed upon by the Government.