It was a big day on Thursday on several Treaty of Waitangi settlement fronts.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen and Ngati Porou negotiator Api Mahuika initialled a deed of settlement covering the East Coast tribe's foreshore and seabed claims.
Dr Cullen also signed terms of negotiation with Auckland iwi Te Kawerau a Maki.
Waatea News reports an unexpected deal was the Government's purchase of a 20-year right over the Matahi and Oponae forests in the Bay of Plenty for $11.8 million.
The owner of the forest, multinational Matariki Forests, has been unable to log the trees because of an occupation by a Tuhoe hapu.
Dr Cullen says the underlying land was the subject of a complex grievance dating back to Crown purchase activities in the 1890s, and the purchase will allow the grievance and surrounding issues to be dealt with.