The area of interest covers approximately 613,000 hectares and includes large parts of the Whanganui and Tongariro National Parks, the central to upper Whanganui River area and the townships of National Park and Raetihi.

On 20 June 2016, the Crown recognised the mandate of Uenuku Charitable Trust to represent Te Korowai o Wainuiārua in negotiating a comprehensive historical Treaty settlement. The Crown signed Terms of Negotiation with Te Korowai o Wainuiārua on 20 February 2017. On 23 November 2018, the Crown and Te Korowai o Wainuiārua signed an Agreement in Principle which forms the basis for this settlement.

On 12 December 2022 Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and the Crown initialled a Deed of Settlement. The Te Korowai o Wainuiārua claimant community ratified the Deed of Settlement and the post settlement governance entity in May 2023. The deed will be signed on their behalf on 29 July 2023.

Te Arawhiti (now Te Tari Whakatau) – The Office for Māori Crown Relations, with the support of Te Papa Atawhai – Department of Conservation, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, and other government agencies, represented the Crown in day-to-day negotiations. The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon Andrew Little, represented the Crown in high-level negotiations with Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.

In the mid-19th Century, the tūpuna of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua lived, cultivated and hunted on the land between the central North Island maunga and across the Whanganui River to the west. Although Tamahaki, Tamakana and Uenuku ki Manganui-o-te-Ao, nā Tukaihoro are distinct tribal entities, they are tightly connected through whakapapa and a shared history.

In 1840, a high-ranking Te Korowai o Wainuiārua rangatira and his son signed te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi. Subsequently, Te Korowai o Wainuiārua have always considered that te Tiriti/the Treaty created an expectation of fair treatment, justice and honour by both parties.

In the 1840s, early Crown purchasing of land in the Whanganui block stalled when Māori from the Whanganui area and Crown forces clashed at Heretaunga. For a time, the Crown imposed martial law across the Whanganui district.

In the 1850s, a prominent Te Korowai o Wainuiārua rangatira declined an offer to assume the Māori kingship. However, he championed the Kīngitanga across the region and support spread quickly among the iwi of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.

The following decade saw warfare in Taranaki draw people from Te Korowai o Wainuiārua into the conflict. When fighting reached the Whanganui area, whānau and hapū found themselves in battles at Moutoa Island and subsequent conflict at Ohoutahi and Pīpīriki pā.

Through the 1870s, the Crown initiated an intensive immigration scheme in New Zealand and identified large tracts of land between Whanganui and Taupō (including the three volcanic maunga on the central plateau) as strategically important.

In the 1880s, the Crown began to construct the North Island Main Trunk Railway line without the consent of Te Rohe Pōtae Māori. With unreasonable haste the Crown purchased the interests of individual Te Korowai o Wainuiārua sellers in the Waimarino block, including large areas of land on the slopes of Ruapehu maunga, and dishonoured its commitments to sellers regarding the location of seller reserves. When, eventually, the Crown developed policy for the establishment of the Tongariro National Park, it did so without providing for the interests of the iwi of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.

Public works takings by the Crown through the late 19th and early 20th Centuries saw the loss of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua land for defence purposes, scenic reserves (especially along the Whanganui River), roads, the railway, and electricity generation. Today, significant parts of the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua rohe are included in the Whanganui and Tongariro National Parks and the iwi have long sought a meaningful role in management of the parks.

By the 20th Century, the iwi of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua were virtually landless. Consequently, the iwi have suffered from poor housing, low educational achievement, and a lack of social and economic development opportunities. The Crown’s discouragement of te Reo Māori, along with the fragmentation of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua tribal structures and migration from ancestral lands to urban centres has severely affected the ability of the iwi to pass mātauranga Māori on to their mokopuna.

The vast majority of the Crown land located within the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua tribal estate is in national parks and conservation areas. The cultural redress package recognises the ancestral, traditional, historical, cultural and spiritual associations that Te Korowai o Wainuiārua has with places and sites owned by the Crown within their area of interest. This allows Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and the Crown to protect and enhance the conservation values associated with these sites.

The Deed of Settlement also recognises the specific importance of the Whanganui National Park and the Tongariro National Park, especially the maunga of the central North Island - Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe - which the iwi of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua consider wairua tapu. Te Korowai o Wainuiārua will be able to negotiate cultural redress over the Tongariro National Park and the Whanganui National Park along with other iwi and hapū who have interests in those parks.

Cultural revitalisation fund and on-account payment

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua will receive on settlement date, cultural funding of $6.850 million less an on-account payment of $2.750 million. The on-account payment will be paid following the introduction of settlement legislation.

Sites transferred to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua

A total of 19 sites of cultural significance will be vested in Te Korowai o Wainuiārua. The settlement legislation will vest these sites in the post settlement governance entity, Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust, on settlement date.

The following sites will be vested in fee simple in Te Korowai o Wainuiārua:

• Former Mangaeturoa School property
• Makaranui Site A
• Mangatiti Rd, Ruatiti property
• Raetihi Road and Bridge property, subject to an easement
• Waimarino 4A5 Urupā
• SH4/Ward St, National Park property
• 60 Ward St, Raetihi property

The following will be vested as scenic reserves in Te Korowai o Wainuiārua:

• Makaranui Site B
• Ngapakihi property
• Pīpīriki property
• Putikituna property
• Raetihi property
• Ramanui property, subject to an easement
• Tangahoe property
• Tāngarākau Forest property
• Whangamōmona property

The following sites will be vested jointly with other iwi:

• Ohoutahi Scenic Reserve will be vested in Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and Whanganui Land Settlement as a historic reserve
• Taumatamāhoe Conservation Area will be vested in Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and Ngāti Hāua as a scenic reserve
• Tahora Scenic Reserve will be vested in Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and Ngāti Hāua as a scenic reserve to be known as Tahorapāroa Scenic Reserve

Overlay classification

An overlay classification acknowledges the traditional, cultural, spiritual and historical association of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua with certain sites of significance. The declaration of an area as an overlay classification provides for the Crown to acknowledge iwi values in relation to that area. The site maintains its existing status, with Te Papa Atawhai – Department of Conservation required to consult Te Korowai o Wainuiārua to allow them to have input into the management of the site to avoid harming these values.

The Deed of Settlement provides for the following overlay classifications:

• Murumuru Conservation Area
• Pōkākā Area including Erua Conservation Area (to be renamed and reclassified as Ngātokoerua Scenic Reserve), Part Makatote Scenic Reserve, Manganuioteao Scenic Reserve and Pokaka Scenic Reserve

Statutory acknowledgements and deeds of recognition

A statutory acknowledgement recognises the association between Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and a particular site or area and enhances the ability of an iwi to participate in specified resource management processes. A deed of recognition obliges the Crown to consult with Te Korowai o Wainuiārua on specified matters and have regard to their views regarding their special associations with certain areas.

The Crown offers statutory acknowledgements over the following 22 areas:

• Adams Conservation Area
• Part Hawkin’s Wetland Scenic Reserve
• Horopito-Ōhakune Rail Conservation Area
• Hukapapa Conservation Area
• Kawautahi Scenic Reserve
• Mangapaka Conservation Area
• Mangapaka Scenic Reserve
• Mangatiti Conservation Area
• Part Matirangi Conservation Area
• Ngā Roto-o-Rangataua Scenic Reserve
• Part Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve
• Owhango Domain Recreation Reserve
• Part Rangataua Conservation Area
• Part Raukawa Scenic Reserve
• Part Rotokahu Scenic Reserve
• Taheke Conservation Area
• Part Tāngarākau Forest Conservation Area
• Taunoka Conservation Area
• Tupapakurua Conservation Area
• Waimarino Scientific Reserve
• Part Waitōtara Conservation Area
• Whakapapa River Marginal Strip

The Crown offers a deed of recognition over the following 13 areas:

• Adams Conservation Area
• Horopito-Ōhakune Rail Conservation Area
• Hukapapa Conservation Area
• Mangapaka Conservation Area
• Mangapaka Scenic Reserve
• Mangatiti Conservation Area
• Part Matirangi Conservation Area
• Part Rotokahu Scenic Reserve
• Taheke Conservation Area
• Part Tāngarākau Forest Conservation Area
• Taunoka Conservation Area
• Tupapakurua Conservation Area
• Waimarino Scientific Reserve

Conservation board seat

The settlement provides for the Minister of Conservation to appoint an interim member of the Tongariro-Taupō Conservation Board on the nomination of the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua post settlement governance entity.

Conservation management redress

The Deed of Settlement recognises the significance of the area now known as Pōkākā, named long ago by Te Korowai o Wainuiārua tūpuna, because of the sheer abundance of kākā (Nestor meridionalis) that once occurred there. Te Korowai o Wainuiārua seek to establish an ecosanctuary with surrounding management zones which can bring together tikanga and traditional practices with the best scientific conservation practices based on sound research. The establishment of an ecosanctuary at Pōkākā, together with a dedicated predator-control plan, would mean that kākā and other birds will once again flourish across Pōkākā, Waimarino and Tongariro. The following redress aims to support this vision:

• Ngātokoerua Strategic Advisory Committee will be established with advisory and management responsibilities (including the development of a conservation management plan) over several reserves including the Ngātokoerua Scenic Reserve. The Committee will include Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and the Department of Conservation
• A management agreement over the potential site of the Pōkākā ecosanctuary whereby Te Korowai o Wainuiārua will undertake management activities on public conservation land to support their long term vision to establish an ecosanctuary at Pōkākā
• A Pōkākā ecosanctuary vision statement will be included in the Deed of Settlement and deemed to be included in the Tongariro-Taupō Conservation Management Strategy, with a legal weighting requiring the Minister of Conservation and Te Papa Atawhai to ‘have particular regard to’ that statement
• Te Korowai o Wainuiārua will co-author a Chapter in the Tongariro- Taupō Conservation Management Strategy which will be called the Ngātokoerua Chapter

Place name changes

Place names recognise iwi associations with geographic areas. The following five names will be official geographic names:

• Existing Name | New Official Geographic Name
• Lake Hawkes | Lake Pohoare
• Mount Dawson | Ōruru Maunga
• Mount Humphries | Whakaihuwaka Maunga
• Tahora | Tahorapāroa
  Tahora Saddle | Tahorapāroa Saddle

Mineral fossicking and provision for cultural material plan

The Deed of Settlement acknowledges the longstanding cultural, historical, spiritual and traditional, association of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua with relevant minerals and provides a statement of association with the relevant minerals.

The Deed of Settlement will provide for the post settlement governance entity to authorise members of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua to search for and remove seven Crown-owned minerals from riverbeds, former riverbeds and agreed areas on public conservation land within the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua area of interest: pākohe (argillite and basaltic andesite), ōnewa (greywacke or basalt), matā tūhua (black obsidian), paru (curing mud with iron salt deposits), one-uku (clay), papa hoanga (sandstone), and kokowai uku (an iron rich clay or red ochre). The gathering of these minerals will be subject to access restrictions under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, and collection by hand.

The Deed of Settlement provides for a cultural materials plan to be developed between the post settlement governance entity and the Minister of Conservation within 5 years of settlement date.

Relationship agreements and protocols

The post settlement governance entity will enter into:

• Te Purapura o Tawhiri - a socio-economic forum agreement with the following agencies: Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora - Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Hīkina Whakatutuki – Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga – Ministry of Education, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa - New Zealand Police, Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities and Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development
• Te Purapura o Taiao - an environmental forum agreement with Manatū Mo Te Taiao – Ministry for the Environment, KiwiRail Holdings and Horizons Regional Council
• Whakaaetanga Tiaki Taonga - a relationship agreement - with Te Tari Taiwhenua – Department of Internal Affairs – the agency responsible for Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa – National Library and Te Rua Mahara o Te Kāwanatanga – Archives New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa –Museum of New Zealand, Pouhere Taonga – Heritage New Zealand, and Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• Relationship agreements with Manatū Mō Te Taiao – Ministry for the Environment, Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency, KiwiRail Holdings Ltd, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora – Ministry of Social Development, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa – New Zealand Police, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga – Ministry of Education, and Horizons Regional Council (to be established post settlement)
• A partnership agreement with Te Papa Atawhai – Department of Conservation
• Letters of introduction to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision and National Emergency Management Agency
• A letter of commitment with Hīkina Whakatutuki – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in relation to Crown Minerals
• A letter of recognition and appointment as an advisory committee to the Minister of Fisheries with Manatū Ahu Mātua – Ministry for Primary Industries
• A Crown Minerals Protocol with Hīkina Whakatutuki – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in relation to Crown Minerals
• A kaitiaki plan (iwi management plan under the Resource Management Act 1991) to guide environmental planning and decision-making within the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua rohe (to be developed post settlement)