Te Ao Māori

Ngati Porou to meet Govt yearly

19:40 pm on 24 April 2014

A yearly meeting with government ministers is being set up as part of a new agreement with Ngāti Porou.

The Crown has signed an accord with the east coast iwi as part of its Treaty settlement in 2012.

The government says its relationship with Ngāti Porou is already strong but the accord will strengthen it.

It says it affirms a commitment to greater collaboration and aims to find projects that will help large numbers of people.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson says a number of ministers could be involved.

He expects the ministers for primary industries, the environment, social development and culture and heritage to have particular interest.

Mr Finlayson says while the Treaty settlement was good, it's not the end of the process.

The accord also includes agreements to target erosion along the spiritually and economically significant Waiapu River.