TUHOE & TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Tuhoe has self-governance in its sights

By JAMIE MORTON - Weekend Herald | 5:30AM - Saturday, October 01, 2011


The Crown pays a lease on the Waikaremoana lake bed until 2017 and
owns all the water. — Photo: APN.

TUHOE's lead negotiator is optimistic the iwi could sign a settlement including self-government of Te Urewera National Park and Lake Waikaremoana as early as next year.

Tamati Kruger says Tuhoe has never been closer to reaching a favourable settlement — but it would continue to push for its desire to have maximum autonomy if expectations were not met. Among other conditions, the iwi wanted to self-govern the area stretching from Opotiki to Putere on the Wairoa side, and the edge of Taupo and Rotorua on the other side.

Mr Kruger believed Tuhoe's expectations were realistic — something the office of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson would not be drawn to comment on yesterday.

The iwi had already proven it could self-govern, and was "inter-dependent" before Parliament was established, Mr Kruger said.

"That was our state before the Treaty of Waitangi and we prospered in that state. It has always been a realistic proposition."

Mr Kruger said Tuhoe's rights had been "grievously eroded" under the Crown but the iwi now wanted to build a positive relationship, "so we can mark the benefits for Tuhoe within its tribal area".

In July, relationships improved with the signing of a new "political compact" with the Government at Ruatahuna — an agreement to "sweeten" the relationship with the Crown.

"We are very hopeful and we have not been this close for all of the time we've been negotiating with the Crown — and we've been negotiating with the Crown since 1890. There are certainly hundreds of examples from around the world and, in our negotiations, we came to the conclusion that New Zealand is very far behind that concept."

If Tuhoe's desired settlement was signed, the self-governance process would slowly evolve over a period of decades. "It is not as if it has to be done in a year ... it's over 40 years."

There were also misconceptions over what self-government meant.

"When people hear self-government, they interpret that as separatism, racism or apartheid, which really comes down to poor education, in my view."

The iwi has ruled out building casinos or hotels — instead it would invest in infrastructure for agriculture, forestry and tourism — and there would be no changes in access to the area.

"The Crown continues to consider its position, and hopefully we will arrive at a decision next year. We all know then if it's a bridge too far for this Government or a new government. If so, then Tuhoe will keep doing what it's been doing for the last 150 years — we will wait it out."

Up until 2017, the Crown pays a lease for the Lake Waikaremoana lake bed and owns all the water. It owns the bed and water of Waikareiti.

At the time of July's signing, Mr Finlayson said the Government would start to address the iwi's concerns about a lack of provision for social services, such as access to medical services and housing. But he conceded there would be a job to do in convincing any government to return Te Urewera.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Finlayson said "it would be great" if a settlement could be reached next year, but added that nothing had essentially changed in the Government's position.

"Everyone has agreed that the issues around Te Urewera will be a component in any settlement, but how that's done is still something that's subject to the ongoing negotiation process."

"We've made our expectations clear, Tuhoe have made their expectations clear and we continue to negotiate."

• Additional reporting by APNZ.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10755657

[AnFaolchudubh]

Un employments goin to drop, we'll ( NZ) need as many workers as we can when rest of NZ builds the wall around Tuhoe, wonder if we'll do a free trade deal with them.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Un employments goin to drop,

Says who?

Your mate Jonkey who was too busy sing-songing in Parliament how well the NZ economy was doing that he didn't see the credit downgrade coming?   

[AnFaolchudubh]

Un employments goin to drop,

Says who?

Your mate Jonkey who was too busy sing-songing in Parliament how well the NZ economy was doing that he didn't see the credit downgrade coming?   

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and the big KTJ trout takes the bait.

John Key is not my mate... I have never met him nor do I even know him. You know KTJ, i wonder if you ever get sick of always being wrong when it comes to you making claims about things like that (ie that key is my mate). If you ever actually read peoples posts, surely you can see and read thru you nostrals, you mite actually have realised I don't think much of politition... period!

[dragontamer]

Un employments goin to drop, we'll ( NZ) need as many workers as we can when rest of NZ builds the wall around Tuhoe, wonder if we'll do a free trade deal with them.

That statement played straight into the Kruger's statement re: poor education.  

[AnFaolchudubh]

Un employments goin to drop, we'll ( NZ) need as many workers as we can when rest of NZ builds the wall around Tuhoe, wonder if we'll do a free trade deal with them.

That statement played straight into the Kruger's statement re: poor education.  

Yes well, my education was from Labours tomorrows schools, so what do you expect.

but the statement was tongue in cheek and sarcasism... I apologise if you missed it, more about building the wall as opposed to unemployment and i got the desired bite from KTJ.

BTW my wife has Tuhoe blood before you lambast me with being anti Tuhoe.

Interestingly I find it Ironic that Kruger has the same surname as Paul Kruger.

[dragontamer]

... and Freddie

[AnFaolchudubh]

... and Freddie

I take it you have an idea (if you haven't already googled it) who Paul Kruger was then?.... Or may not

If not you can come and join me in the poor education corner...

[dragontamer]

Freddie had more impact on my life

[AnFaolchudubh]

Freddie had more impact on my life

Ooooohhhh really, gossip... do tell

[AnFaolchudubh]

Freddie had more impact on my life

true, paul was a little before pauls time... tho he would have impacted on Queen vic's life... well at least her countries life.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Tuhoe win control over national park

The Dominion Post | 2:08PM - Tuesday, 11 September 2012



NORTH ISLAND tribe Tuhoe is celebrating a historic agreement with the Crown over the ownership of Te Urewera National Park.

Under a deal announced today, the Crown will no longer own the National Park, which will be vested in a new legal identity created by legislation. An establishment board will initially comprise equal numbers of Crown and Tuhoe nominees.  In time Tuhoe representation is expected to grow.

Ngai Tuhoe also receive redress valued at about $170 million, putting their settlement on a par with two of the country's biggest iwi, Ngai Tahu and Tainui.

In a statement, Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finalyson said the Crown and Ngai Tuhoe would work together to develop a deed of settlement by the end of the year, finalising the deal.

"Ngai Tuhoe's history shows clearly why it is so important to settle genuine historic Treaty grievances," Mr Finalyson said.

"The conditions in Te Urewera, which contains some of our most deprived and isolated communities, show the very real and continued effects of the Crown's Treaty breaches on the daily lives of Ngai Tuhoe people in the present."

Huge areas of Tuhoe land were wrongly confiscated and more purchased unjustly, Mr Finlayson said.

"Military campaigns against Tuhoe prisoners and civilians were described even at the time as extermination and the Crown employed a scorched earth policy in Tuhoe settlements."

There has been a rocky history of negotiations with Tuhoe over its historic grievance. In 2010 the Government botched negotiations after earlier leading Tuhoe to believe they had a deal to take over ownership of the Urewera National Park.

Members of the tribe had their air travel and motels booked to celebrate the deal when Prime Minister John Key told Tamati Kruger handing over the park to Tuhoe was "a bridge too far".

Mr Kruger said yesterday he believed the tribe had ultimately won what it was seeking, which was control over the park. But Mr Finlayson refused to concede that despite being pressed.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/7653524/Tuhoe-win-control-over-national-park

[Newtown-Fella]

oh well in the not too distant future a govt is going to have to bail out Tuhoe and clean up Urewera Park .....

the egos within Tuhoe are too big to cope with the ramifications of managing ...

will it be Big Chief i have no respect for white man " or President or Prince or King or Duke or Viscount or Dictator Tama Iti ..... ?

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

oh well in the not too distant future a govt is going to have to bail out Tuhoe and clean up Urewera Park .....

the egos within Tuhoe are too big to cope with the ramifications of managing ...

will it be Big Chief i have no respect for white man " or President or Prince or King or Duke or Viscount or Dictator Tama Iti ..... ?

Go and tell that to Michael Laws' wankfest redneck radio show.

The boofheads will applaud you! 

[Newtown-Fella]

oh well in the not too distant future a govt is going to have to bail out Tuhoe and clean up Urewera Park .....

the egos within Tuhoe are too big to cope with the ramifications of managing ...

will it be Big Chief i have no respect for white man " or President or Prince or King or Duke or Viscount or Dictator Tama Iti ..... ?

Go and tell that to Michael Laws' wankfest redneck radio show.

The boofheads will applaud you! 

you a regular of his show KTJ so i will leave it to you ......

i rarely have a radio on in the house so wouldnt even know what station to tune into ....

besides reading your rants and raves is bad enough i wouldnt want to insult my ears having to listen to you as well .....

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Huge sacrifices from both sides in elegant win-win solution

By YVONNE TAHANA - The New Zealand Herald | 5:30AM - Wednesday, September 12, 2012


The Urewera National Park will be given its own legal identity under a
new settlement between Tuhoe and the Crown. — Photo: Greg Bowker.

TUHOE and the Crown have made huge compromises to forge this deal.

In 2010 lame jokes about iwi cannibalism marked a low point in negotiations, which came unstuck on the issue of ownership of Te Urewera National Park.

Both groups giving up ownership makes this deal a zero-sum game in Treaty negotiations. Both win. The Government could never have sold ownership to the wider electorate.

No remaining iwi except for Ngapuhi will approach the $170 million mark — and the Government gets closer to its 2014 settlement goal.

Tuhoe wins significant decision-making power over its future — an intended aim in its desire for autonomy.

To borrow the Prime Minister's phrase, it does look like an elegant solution.

Tuhoe's Tamati Kruger has emerged as one of the country's unlikeliest diplomats.

To look at him, in his trackpants, he is not that impressive. Until he opens his mouth.

Wellington Treaty people see him as principled. He has a formidable arsenal of wit, smarts, is an entertaining bush philosopher and is deeply rooted in Tuhoe culture — which is why he was called on as a witness for Tame Iti during Operation 8.

He's also an extremely skilled communicator.

But if he can steer the Crown offer through iwi ratification, it is his pragmatism which should be admired.

John Key gave the impression this week he was talking to kohanga kids when he gave a rundown to media about the things people couldn't own — wind, water, sunlight, and sea.

Soon he might be able to add Te Urewera to that list as well.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10833402

[Newtown-Fella]

interesting that Kruger is a German surname originating from Kruger meaning tavern-keeper in Low Saxon .......

The Kruger ranks 22nd among the most common family name in Germany