Te Ao Māori

Tribes mark Treaty claim milestone

12:45 pm on 11 June 2014

Two tribal groups are on the road to settling their Treaty claims with the Crown.

Hundreds of descendants have travelled from Hawke's Bay to parliament to witness the signing of what's known as agreements in principle.

Representatives from Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa and Heretaunga-Tamatea have arrived in a fleet of buses to put pen to paper to mark the milestone, one of several formal stages in the process of fully settling their historical claims.

For Te Wairoa, the redress includes acknowledgement of Treaty breaches, $100 million and the return of Wharerata and Patunamu Forests.

Heretaunga-Tamatea has suffered from significant and widespread loss of land under the Crown. It will also receive $100 million.

Some of the money will be spent on setting up a restoration fund for waterways, and a portion of the package will be invested in marae and education for tribal members.