Claims Update January 2008
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Claims Update Report January 2008
Over the last few months of 2007 the claims settlement process has been busy on several fronts as we do all the detailed work required to reach a Deed of Settlement in the middle of 2008. Many may have thought that with the achievement of Agreement in Principle in July 2007 that it was a ‘job done’ situation. However, as the negotiation team and Te Roopu Rangahau has realised, that is definitely not the case. All of the work-streams in the earlier part of the process continue on with the added pressure of conclusive outcomes being required to assure all parties that we are going to achieve a durable and robust settlement. So what follows is an update of the claim as of January 2008.
Commercial Redress
The most important work being carried out in this area has been the formal process of getting all the Licensed forestry assets in the AIP valued. This requires careful planning led by our Lead Negotiator, Toko Kapea, as we engage a valuation team with the specialist expertise in the valuation of forestry lands along with local knowledge of our region and rural property market. The Crown are doing likewise, and in February the two negotiation teams will meet to exchange reports and begin to negotiate an agreed value.
This matter is crucial to our overall commercial redress package as they are the largest assets on offer. As many of you all know valuation of land is a tricky issue and it is going to require all the skills of our negotiation team to be applied to achieve an agreement that we can all live with. The valuation of forestry is in the news often at the moment as the government begins to launch new policies with regard to carbon credits and emission trading and not doubt these subjects along with others are going to add much spice to the debate over the next month or two.
Discussions with also be held regarding our sale and leaseback packages and our rights of first refusals in the next month or two as well.
Cultural Redress
There are many tasks within this work-stream as we have to ensure that we have a clear understanding of what our responsibilities are as we take over the sites offered in the AIP and look to put in place relationships that enable us to get the necessary support from government agencies, ministers and local government authorities.
Firstly this has involved the negotiation team working with Senior Policy Analysts’ representing DOC, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and others to draft protocols which set out the nature and extent of a working relationship between themselves and Ngati Apa moving into the future. We are also to develop memoranda with local authorities in our rohe including a specific relationship with Horizons Regional Council regarding the Tawhirihoe site which is under their ownership.
We have also developed some of the statements of associations with the sites that we are getting Deeds of Recognition and Statutory Acknowledgements for. These set out our cultural, spiritual, and traditional relationships with certain sites including all our rivers and coastline which enable us to be recognised in resource consents processes and other Crown processes into the future. This task is ongoing but we have made significant inroads with the target of having these drafts completed and agreed by mid March.
Another section of work involves meeting with key parties such as the local DOC offices, along with the Marton Golf Club, and we will also meet with Fish & Game and some private land owners regarding access to sites as well. In some cases this is to establish a relationship and with regard to DOC it is to ascertain some of the key management issues in terms of managing scenic reserves and the like.
Overlapping claims
Another very important area of work has been with overlapping claimants. Whilst we have always been proactive and open with regard to discussing our claim with our whanaunga around us, many have not been forthcoming for various reasons but now we can report that we have starting talking in earnest with all of them. Discussions are at an advanced stage with Rangitane o Manawatu, where have had some fruitful discussions at the end of last year and exchanged correspondence setting out areas of agreement.
We have had an excellent hui last December with Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Kauwhata where we presented what our claim was based upon with particular focus upon our interests south of the Rangitikei River. We will need to have further hui with them in order to take that forward but they engaged fully with the subject matter at hand whereby clarity was apparent for all parties.
Discussions continue to be fruitful with Ngati Hauiti based upon our agreement via the Pourewa Accord which we signed 18 months ago and we will finalise our agreement in regard to the AIP shortly.
Discussions with various claimants of Te Iwi o Whanganui continue. Some claimants have no overlapping interests, however, we continue to have discussions with those that do. Whanganui Iwi are very busy with the Waitangi Tribunal at this point in time but all are fully aware of the Ngati Apa AIP and we look forward to discussions that eventuate in mutual benefits for all parties.
Discussions with Wai 655 Claim
Another important matter is working with Wai 655, the claim led by Ngahina Matthews. We are currently in formal discussions with the Wai 655 claimants to develop a full understanding of the key issues of concern for both parties. Discussions are ongoing and we have made good progress since we started this in December last year.
Key Events Coming Up – Ratification!
The major point that needs to be made here is that we are once again entering a crucial phase of the claim that was similar to this time last year. With this being election year we need to target the middle of this year to arrive at a deed of settlement. Otherwise there will be a long wait with the potential of a change of government and many delays. Treaty settlements are a very hot political issue and always subject to political tinkering.
But we cannot get there without the help of all of the people of Ngati Apa. This is due the fact that we need your support in getting to the deed of settlement through the ratification process which will be launched in May of this year. That is the process when all Ngati Apa who are of voting age have to opportunity to vote for or against our settlement. The negotiation team is also going to be placing in front of you all, a proposed structure to receive the assets of settlement at the same time. This is to make sure that you are confident that this entity or organisation will be fully accountable to you, the whanau, hapu and iwi of Ngati Apa now and into the future. I cannot emphasize how important this is and so we will keep you posted.