Legislation handing back control of 90-Mile Beach in the Far North to the local iwi is being passed through its final stages in Parliament.
90 Mile Beach Photo: 123rf.com
The House is sitting under extended hours to pass two Treaty of Waitangi settlement bills today.
Among other redress, the Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill gives control of 90-Mile Beach in the Far North back to iwi.
The bill settles claims by four Far North iwi - Ngāti Kuri, Ngāi Takoto, Te Aupouri, and Te Rarawa.
Treaty negotiations minister Chris Finlayson told Parliament the settlement was of enormous national significance.
Under the Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Bill, the iwi will receive $6.5 million dollars plus interest and 86 percent of Riverhead Forest crown licensed land.
Mr Finlayson told the House that the iwi lost most of its lands in the three decades after the signing of the treaty.
He apologised on behalf of the Crown its breaches under the Treaty.