A landmark piece of legislation
that validates the customary rights of a group of hapu
was presented to parliament today.
Witnessing the passage of the Nga Hapu o Ngati Porou bill
was Irena Smith,
who joins us live from our Wellington newsroom
- Irena.
This is the embodiment of Ngati Porou
getting in front of the government to protect their ancestral mana
over the foreshore and seabed.
But the hapu will have the rights over their own lands,
they will have the job of establishing it.
So, they arrived to sign their name to paper
and to acknowledge the work achieved in 16 years.
A procession to confirm
that Ngati Porou hapu hold the mana to their foreshore areas.
It's done, it's fulfilled.
Now we're heading back home to re-affirm our rights
and assert our foreshore and seabed dominion.
Under the agreement
there will be hapu trustees set up in the different areas
and they will be responsible for managing and planning
for customary take
ensuring that the seafood cupboard is sustained.
The government says
Ngati Porou have charted their own path,
and the law supports that direction.
We're all pleased today that this is now settled.
However, I mentioned in my speech as well as in the discussions
between the Crown and Ngati Porou there is still so much more to do
in regards to what has been agreed to.
The hapu will also be consulted on conservation issues
and identifying wahi tapu.
Although it's a significant day,
the work is not over but the sun is shining on the people
as they begin to put the negotiations into action.
And, it was indeed a day of celebration
for those hapu of Ngati Porou who gathered en masse
at parliament today.
And as political reporter Eruera Rerekura observed,
luminaries who have passed on such as Apirana Mahuika
were remembered for their leadership, vision,
and determination to protect customary rights.
The subtribes of Ngati Porou are celebrating.
I'm really excited.
It's a great day for me and my generation - the young generation,
the youth of Ngati Porou.
The main thing for me is land has been handed down,
the sea has been handed down,
the special identity of the subtribes of Ngati Porou
has been retained.
They've waited for a long time for the bill to be given effect.
Remembering those who aren't here who began this process,
those who have passed on in the last 16 years.
Under the new law each subtribe will have authority
over their coastal marine area.
It's the subtribes that run the new regime,
even though we're all from Ngati Porou,
it's the tribes that organise what happens
in each of their coastal marine areas - that's the great thing.
The youth acknowledge their late leader Api Mahuika
who paved the way.
All of his conversations about gaining the pathway for us,
the youth of Ngati Porou,
to make decisions over our cultural practises
over the coastal marine areas.
This is under the new law for the descendants of Ngati Porou.
A new era has begun for the people of Te Tai Rawhiti.
Eruera Rerekura, Te Karere.
Ok let's bring Irena Smith back to wrap this up
- Irena tells us what happens now?
While Ngati Porou's rights to the foreshore and seabed
have been enshrined in law today
that doesn't mean they have the title to those areas.
Matanuku Mahuika says
they have put in a request for the titles at the High Court
and they are waiting to see
if they will be able to get those titles
in the upcoming years, Scotty.
Well done, Irena.
Congratulations to all of the hapu of Ngati Porou.
It's a big day for you and for everyone as well.