By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Tuesday 4:43pm

The chairman of Ngati Haua Iwi Trust says he feels a sense of peace as the
iwi prepares to sign its Deed of Settlement with the Crown on Saturday.


"Finally our story can be heard, and the Crown now acknowledges the
injustices that were inflicted on Ngati Haua," Graham 'Tinka' Bell said.


Those injustices include being pushed out of Heretaunga (Hutt Valley), the execution of a tupuna, Te Whareaitu, and the poisoning of flour which "forced our people to resort to eating things like the mamaku tree to sustain ourselves".


"That korero has been passed down to us for generations, so we feel a sense
of validation to have those things recognised in our Deed of Settlement,"
Bell said.


Ngati Haua will sign its Deed of Settlement, Te Pua o Te Riri Kore, at Ngapuwaiwaha Marae in Taumarunui.


The iwi is expecting several hundred people to attend to witness the signing. All iwi members present will be given the opportunity to sign the Deed of Settlement.


The settlement will provide statutory pardons for two Ngati Haua tupuna who were wrongly convicted in 1846 for rebellion against the Crown.


When fighting broke out in in the Hutt Valley in 1846, the Crown captured and court martialled Ngati Haua tupuna, Matene Ruta Te Whareaitu and Te Rangiatea.


Te Whareaitu was sentenced to death and executed by hanging at Paremata
(Mana). Te Rangiatea was sentenced to confinement for the rest of his life
and died soon thereafter in prison in Wellington. Another five tupuna were exiled to Australia.


Through this settlement, Te Rangiatea and Te Whareaitu will be pardoned for their convictions, and their character, mana and reputation upheld and recognised by the Crown.


The settlement also provides for the return of over 60 sites to Ngati Haua, financial redress of $20.4 million and a cultural fund of $6.1 million.


Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith and Maori Development and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka will represent the Crown.

Ngati Haua negotiations manager Aaron Rice-Edwards said the Treaty settlement was a significant step to restoring the relationship between the Crown and Ngati Haua.


It acknowledges the grievances of the past and provides a pathway of opportunity for the future.


"In 1866, our Ngati Haua tupuna erected a pou called Riri Kore at one of our kainga - Maraekowhai - on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River," Rice-Edwards said.


"That pou symbolised the end of hostilities with the Crown (riri kore - no
more war) and the commitment of Ngati Haua to work in partnership with the Crown.


"Now, nearly 160 years later, we finally see the fruits and blossoming of
that commitment to peace - Te Pua o Te Riri Kore - enshrined within this Deed of Settlement."


Deputy chair and WAI claimant Lois Tutemahurangi expressed her gratitude for Ngati Haua's leadership, past and present.


"We are grateful for their dedication in getting Ngati Haua to settlement -
it has been a long and arduous journey," Tutemahurangi said.


"We're also grateful to all our iwi members who voted for this positive outcome. We have an exciting journey now ahead of us as a people."


LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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