Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson has ticked off another Treaty settlement with the signing of a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngati Toa Rangatira.
“Today’s settlement highlights the importance of putting the injustices of the past behind us,” Mr Finlayson said. “The actions of the Crown, that included political and military action against the senior Ngati Toa chiefs, ultimately left Ngati Toa virtually landless and without resources in both the North and South Islands. We can never fully compensate for the wrongs of the past but this settlement enables Ngati Toa to build a stronger future.”
The Minister was named MP of the Year by Trans Tasman and topped the NZ Herald’s ministerial rankings.
His record for settling Treaty claims alone is impressive.
Kiwiblog has a chart which shows the productivity of Treaty Negotiations Ministers:
As you can see Doug Graham started them off, and saw through the two largest ones of Ngai Tahu and Tainui, along with a few others in 1999.
Even those who are not fans of the settlements, should appreciate the benefits of getting them done sooner or quicker. No party in Parliament (from ACT to Mana) claims these should not happen. . .
Ngai Tahu provides a wonderful example of what happens when an Iwi moves from grievance to growth.
Its Treaty settlement has been put to good use and the investments are not only providing benefits for its own people but are making a significant contribution to the South Island economy and New Zealand.
“benefits of getting them done sooner or quicker”
Yes, every one marked off is another tick on the scorecard against the Nats for getting into bed with the separatists.
I wonder what is the tally off ‘full and final’ settlements previously dealt with in various forums many decades/centuries ago vs these modern second swipes at the taxpayer cherry, creating yet more ‘injustices’, since the re-invention of the grievance industry in 1975.
Do you not accept that there are legitimate grievances that need to be settled?
No, there were never ‘legitmate grievances’ any to be had.
The ToW in 1840 formalised the colonisation of New Zealand, making all British subjects, with zero extra rights conferred to the natives. From there any settlements have been nothing but false interpretations of the treaty and rorts of NZ taxpayers..
You don’t think taking land for public works without paying for it, which happened well into the 20th century, for example, doesn’t require compensation?
If such occurrences did happen, there are laws well separated from the farce of the ToW tribunal grievance industry that deal with such matters. Laws that are part and parcel of being a initially a British and now a Crown subject, not beholden to mis-interpretations suiting the claimant of the day.
As long as “ticked off” invokes finality I am reluctantly OK with he settlement process.
The difference now is the Internet. No longer is history only to be found in dusty archives and re-interpreted by historians with a social bent.
From now on anyone can go online and check who got what, when, how much, full and final etc. Thats the best control we have on our activist courts, politicians and historians to ensure we don’t repeat the process.
JC