Now that a Taranaki tribe has settled its Treaty claim including receiving a Crown apology, it says it will meet with its neighbours to discuss a collective claim over Mount Taranaki.
Te Rere o Kapuni (Dawson Falls). Photo: teara.govt.nz
In August last year Ngāruahine signed its Treaty of Waitangi settlement, and last week it received an apology in Hokitika where its ancestors were imprisoned in the 1800s, without trial, to do hard labour.
This means that six out of the eight iwi in the rohe have now settled their Treaty grievances with Taranaki iwi and Ngāti Maru left to complete their claims.
Chair of Ngāruahine, Dr Will Edwards, said it brings the eight Taranaki tribes closer to making a collective claim over Mount Taranaki.
"It's not just for Ngāruahine that is a kōrero [discussion] that will happen back at Taranaki with our relations around the maunga", said Dr Edwards.
"But this is one step in a part of that puzzle from Ngāruahine's point of view, but that kōrero we will have with our relations back at the maunga".
Minister of Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson and Nga Ruahine Treaty Negotiator Daisy Noble. Photo: RNZ / Eru Rerekura
Lead Treaty negotiator Daisy Noble presented a gift, a portrait of Te Rere o Kapuni, or Dawson Falls to the Minister of Treaty Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, which symbolises the tribe's desire to claim back their ancestral mountain.