The NgÃÂi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 is an act of parliament passed in New Zealand relating to NgÃÂi Tahu, the principal MÃÂori (tribe) of the South Island. The act's purpose is to settle all of the tribe's claims under the Treaty of Waitangi, and to record an apology to Ngai Tahu from the Crown, in regard to past failures to protect the tribe's interests. The act is administered by the Office of Treaty Settlements.
It was negotiated in part by Henare Rakiihia Tau. The documents in relation to the NgÃÂi Tahu land settlement claim are held at Tà «ranga, the main public library in Christchurch.
Schedule 96 "Alteration of place names" contains a list of places that received official name changes to dual English and MÃÂori names, such as Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Between the years of 1844âÂÂ1864, during which a number of land sales occurred the biggest of which been the Kemps Deed in 1848, NgÃÂi Tahu passed over 34.5 million acres of land to the Crown for a sum of ã14,750, or six hundredths of a penny per acre. Without this land, which makes up most of the South Island and more than half the total area of New Zealand, NgÃÂi Tahu were left without the resources required to provide for their tribe and fell into poverty. For 150 years following this land acquisition, NgÃÂi Tahu leaders brought forward claims to New Zealand courts arguing that their impoverished conditions reflected the Crown's neglect of its responsibilities outlined in the Treaty of Waitangi, but were repeatedly denied hearing.
Beginning 1986, some 200 grievances were brought forth to the newly established Waitangi Tribunal by NgÃÂi Tahu claimants. The overarching claim was divided into nine sections called The Nine Tall Trees of NgÃÂi Tahu, representing eight major land purchases made between 1844âÂÂ1864 and the ensuing loss of mahinga kai â the resources NgÃÂi Tahu needed to provide for themselves. The grievances under these headings were directed at the unmet expectations of NgÃÂi Tahu claimants in accessing education, health, and food resources due to the Crown's failure to keep its promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi.
In 1998, the NgÃÂi Tahu Claims Settlement Act passed in Parliament, acknowledging NgÃÂi TahuâÂÂs hardships as well as committing the Crown to paying $170 million in economic redress. Cultural redress was also negotiated, with the Crown recognising NgÃÂi TahuâÂÂs traditional kaitiaki (guardian) role in managing and safeguarding resources in the South Island. A formal apology was issued by the Crown, stating that: âÂÂThe Crown acknowledges that it acted unconscionably and in repeated breach of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in its dealings with NgÃÂi Tahu in the purchases of NgÃÂi Tahu landâÂÂ. NgÃÂi Tahu assert that for some, this apology is the most important part of the settlement package.
In addition to being formally included in the act, the apology was delivered in-person by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley in November 1998. Shipley delivered the apology in a speech made at à Ânuku marae, near Akaroa on Banks Peninsula.