The “happy and thriving” iwi and hapu behind the Kiingitanga – the first to settle its Treaty claim – is now worth $2.4 billion, and helped pave the way for those who followed, one of its leaders says.
A former prime minister says it is a “magnificent success story”.
It comes as leaders, dignitaries and other mourners descend on Ngāruawāhia, to Tūrangawaewae Marae to grieve the loss of Kingii Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who died aged 69 yesterday.
Waikato-Tainui’s Deed of Settlement was signed in 1995. Its claim was based on Crown land confiscations of about 1.2 million acres, as well as suffering, distress and deprivation due to Crown-initiated conflict.
The settlement was valued at $170 million and included the return of land, cash payments, right of first refusal and a relativity mechanism, which top up the cash settlement at certain total treaty settlement milestones.
It was a feature of the settlement Kiingitanga maangai (spokesperson) Rahui Papa today joked was “the gift that keeps on giving”.
The settlement also included a formal apology from the Crown.
Waikato is an iwi, one of four under the Tainui waka umbrella. The settlement was spearheaded by Waikato but included parts of other Tainui iwi.
Tainui Group Holdings Limited chairperson Hinerangi Raumati Tu’ua said the Waikato-Tainui settlement had been “incredibly significant” for Tainui, as well as the wider nation and “every iwi that followed”.
“We have been able to grow and prosper. When we started out on our journey we talked about the word ‘sustain’. So to be able to shift to grow and prosper, it’s been fantastic.
“We have grown in terms of economic wealth, of course, but we’ve also grown in terms of the benefit flow to our people. And we can see that when we look around today.”
She said that was because, despite the grief, the 91,000 registered tribal members were “happy and thriving”.
That had not been the case in the more than 150 years before the settlement, she said, describing it as “dire”.
The change was due to the realisation of mana motuhake, she said: “having control of your destiny”.
She said that meant it was not just about economics, but also a “mindset”.
Raumati Tu’ua said many other tribes adopted similar models in their settlements to Waikato-Tainui.
“But I like to think of the fact that we also did it in a Waikato way.”
The settlement had a “bias towards whenua”, she said, reclaiming land it had lost. Almost 30 years on, the tribal authority’s asset base was still “very much whenua-heavy” with much of the portfolio in land and buildings.
We have some other assets in terms of natural resources, like fishing, farming, forest and infrastructure is also another part of the portfolio.
“We’re worth about $2.5 billion today. That allows us to do a lot of things, in terms of economic returns, jobs, thinking about the
environment, creating grants and benefits that go to iwi members.”
Raumati Tu’ua said it also meant Tainui was able to manaaki (care, host) in the way it wanted to also – such as hosting thousands of people at the King’s tangi.
She said Tainui was “very much King-led” and was “there to serve” the Kiingitanga.
“We’re there to serve the King and his aspirations, we’re there to serve the people and their aspirations as well.
“The vision, the mission, the values are all derived out of the Kiingitanga values.”
“Our King’s vision was a better life for his people.
‘Magnificent success story’ – Dame Jenny Shipley
Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999, and a minister in the Bolger Government when Waikato-Tainui reached its settlement, Dame Jenny Shipley said Tainui had grappled with whether it was the right moment to settle its claim, but the agreement laid “a foundation of prosperity for Waikato Tainui”.
She said the reparation was “only a tiny portion of what they lost”.
“But they are building this wealth, the wealth of confidence, the wealth of pūtea (money) and the wealth of education and investment. It’s a magnificent success story … I pay respect to all of those who had the courage to lead and settle.
“I was a young minister and very proud to be a part of that at that moment.”
“Their growth is a legacy issue and honestly it’s building a different future.
“This is a different New Zealand than we were in 1990 and I hope New Zealanders can be excited by it rather than riddled with division.”
Former Governor-General Dame Sylvia Cartwright was also at Tūrangawaewae today, and told 1News Waikato-Tainui “led the way” and showed other iwi how to “achieve a degree of economic security” which could support and assist its community.
“I am a great admirer of the dignified and detailed way in which they have achieved that.
“I think they’ve done a brilliant job.”
