Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Treaty Settlement Bill Passes First Reading in Parliament

“Today marks another step towards the recognition of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui,” Goldsmith said.

A major milestone in New Zealand's Treaty settlement process was reached today as the Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament, paving the way for a landmark $30 million redress package and the formal recognition of generations of historical grievances suffered by Whanganui iwi and hapū.

Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith described the moment as a significant step toward reconciliation between the Crown and Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui, following nearly a decade of formal negotiations.

The parliamentary milestone comes just eleven days after the signing of the deed of settlement at Kaiwhaiki Pā near Whanganui — a ceremony widely regarded as one of the most significant Treaty settlement events in the region in recent years.

"Today marks another step towards the recognition of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui," Goldsmith said.

"Reaching this milestone is the beginning of a new relationship between Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui and the Crown based on partnership, trust, and respect."

Settlement Addresses Deep Historical Grievances

The settlement seeks to address a series of longstanding historical injustices experienced by the iwi and hapū of Whanganui dating back to the early colonial era.

Among the Crown breaches acknowledged in the settlement are:

• The Crown's conduct during warfare in the 1840s

• Failures surrounding the 1848 Whanganui land transaction

• The Crown's role in armed conflict in Whanganui during the 1860s

• The damaging effects of the Native Land Court system

• Extensive alienation of Māori land

• Large-scale public works land takings that severely impacted iwi communities

The Crown formally acknowledges that these actions caused significant economic, social and cultural harm to Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui over multiple generations.

Historians and Treaty experts have long argued that the Whanganui region experienced some of the most complex and contentious Crown-Māori interactions during the colonial period, particularly due to warfare, disputed land transactions and the fragmentation of collectively held whenua under native land laws.

$30 Million Redress Package and Return of Significant Cultural Sites

The settlement includes a comprehensive package of financial, cultural and commercial redress designed to support long-term development and cultural restoration.

Key components include:

Financial and Commercial Redress

• $30 million in financial and commercial compensation

Cultural Redress

• Vesting of 27 culturally significant sites

• Return of important wāhi tapu and ancestral lands

• Recognition of the iwi's enduring cultural and spiritual relationship with the Whanganui region

One of the most high-profile cultural redress components is the vesting of Pākaitore, formerly known as Moutoa Gardens, a site of enormous historical and political significance.

Pākaitore became nationally prominent during the 1995 occupation led by Whanganui Māori seeking recognition of unresolved Treaty grievances and land rights. The site has since remained a powerful symbol of Māori resistance, identity and reconciliation.

Settlement Area Covers Large Whanganui Region

The settlement redress area spans a substantial portion of the Whanganui region, including:

• Whanganui city

• Areas above Pipiriki along the middle reaches of the Whanganui River

• The Whanganui River mouth

• Land stretching west to the Okehu Stream

• Areas extending southeast toward the Whangaehu River

The region is culturally and historically significant to Whanganui iwi, whose identity and traditions are deeply connected to the Whanganui River — recognised internationally as one of the first rivers in the world granted legal personhood status.

Treaty Settlement Seen as Foundation for Future Partnership

Government officials and iwi representatives say the settlement is intended not simply as compensation for historical harm, but as a platform for rebuilding relationships and strengthening future economic and cultural opportunities.

The settlement includes:

• Formal Crown apologies

• Historical acknowledgements

• Mechanisms for future Crown-iwi engagement

• Recognition of cultural associations with significant sites

Goldsmith said the agreement reflects a commitment to a renewed partnership model between the Crown and iwi.

"This settlement creates the foundation for a future relationship built on mutual respect and shared understanding," he said.

Wider Importance in New Zealand's Treaty Settlement Programme

The legislation forms part of New Zealand's wider Treaty settlement process, which has now resolved claims with the majority of iwi nationwide.

Treaty settlements are increasingly recognised not only as instruments of reconciliation, but also as drivers of regional development, cultural revitalisation and Māori economic growth.

According to recent economic estimates, the Māori economy is now valued at more than $70 billion, with settlement assets often becoming key foundations for investment, employment and intergenerational wealth-building.

Experts note that modern settlements also increasingly focus on environmental stewardship, co-governance arrangements and the restoration of traditional relationships with land and waterways.

Next Stages of the Bill

Following its first reading, the Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Claims Settlement Bill will proceed to select committee consideration, where public submissions will be invited before the legislation returns to Parliament for further readings.

If enacted, the legislation will formally implement the settlement package and transfer agreed redress measures to Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui.

For many iwi members and whānau, however, today's parliamentary milestone already represents a defining moment in a generations-long journey toward recognition, justice and restoration.