Earlier final settlements 1868 - 1989

Ngai Tahu, Waikato-Tainui, Taranaki tribes, and Tuhoe all agreed to and accepted final cash settlements to settle their grievances between 1944 and 1958, according to a study by Waitangi Tribunal member Richard Hill, who is New Zealand Studies Professor at Victoria University of Wellington.

Ngai Tahu

Complaints about a sale that took place in 1848 meant a further 4930 acres of reserves were granted to Ngai Tahu in 1868.

Further Ngai Tahu complaints led to a commission in 1879 recommending compensation for lack of reserved land. The South Island Landless Natives Act 1906 granted 142,463 acres of land to settle 4063 “landless” Maori.

The Ngai Tahu Claim Settlement Act 1944, which passed on December 15, 1944, awarded £300,000, payable at a rate of £10,000 a year for 30 years. Annual payment changed to an in-perpetuity payment of $20,000 a year in 1973.

Waikato-Tainui

The Sim commission in 1926 recommended £3000 annual payment for land unjustly confiscated. Waikato-Tainui received annual payments from that year, although they became intermittent during the 1930s.

The Waikato-Maniapoto Maori Claims Settlement Act 1946 was a final settlement of grievances over the confiscation of Maori lands in the Waikato and provided for the establishment of the Tainui Maori Trust Board to receive £5000 a year in perpetuity plus a further £5000 and £1000 a year for 45 years, to cover arrears since 1936, when negotiations with the Labour government began.

Tainui received £4155 in 1948 as part of a surplus lands settlement.

Taranaki tribes

Sim commission in 1926 recommended £5000 annual payment for land unjustly confiscated.

The 1944 Taranaki Maori Claims Settlement Act was intended as a final settlement of claims over 1863 confiscations.

Whakatohea

In the Finance No. 2 Act, on October 12, 1946, the government settled with Whakatohea, a tribe located in the eastern Bay of Plenty region that had sustained land confiscation, for a lump sum payment of £20,000.

Tuhoe

In 1958, Urewera claims were settled with a lump sum payment of £100,000.

Rotorua

A claim relating to Rotorua Township Pukeroa Oruawhata land in Waiariki district was settled in 1954 for £16,500.

The 1922 Arawa lakes settlement, which agreed that the government controlled the lakebeds and had the right to use the water, while the tribe had title to all islands not already sold, and right to access them, as well as use, management and control of parts of lake beds, and any Crown lands on the border could be vested in Arawa. Tribe members could catch any indigenous fish. Arawa District Trust Board would receive an annual grant of £6000.

Lake Taupo

The 1926 Tuwharetoa settlement, provided the Tuwharetoa Trust Board £1000, plus £3000 annually, plus the revenue of 50 per cent of fishing licences above £3000 (and other sundry revenues) for Lake Taupo and surrounding waters.

Wairoa

A £20,000 lump sum that was paid to the Waikaremoana-Wairoa Maori Trust Board as compensation for confiscation of the 70,000-acre Kauhoroa Block in Wairoa in 1867 as punishment for involvement in the Hauhau wars. The agreement was dated May 12, 1949.

Gisborne

A lump sum of £38,000 to be paid for confiscation of the Patutahi Block near Gisborne, was agreed upon in 1950.

Waipukurau

A sum of £50,000 was paid to claimants concerning the sale and purchase of the Aorangi Block in the Waipukurau district around 1856, also agreed upon in 1950.

Ikaroa

In 1953 the government settled claims for the Ngatahira area of the Omarunui Block in the Ikaroa district for £4000.

Far North

The Far North Taitokerau settled surplus lands claims in their district for £47,154, also agreed upon in 1953.

SOURCE:

Settlements of Major Maori Claims in the 1940s, Richard Hill, Department of Justice, Wellington, 1989. http://www.nzcpr.com/Richard Hill’s Report.pdf