Historic Treaty Settlement Finalized for Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui

The Crown has concluded nine years of negotiations with Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui as legislation passes its final reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

Today represents the culmination of many years of determination, commitment and perseverance by Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui. This settlement acknowledges historical injustices and reflect the efforts of iwi, hapū and whānau across generations.

Over many decades, Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui suffered from loss of their tikanga, their reo, and their resources. Socioeconomic deprivation and the impact of native land laws contributed to the erosion of hapū foundations within Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui.

This legislation concludes nine years of negotiations and settles historical grievances including warfare, the transaction of the Whanganui block and extensive land loss to public works.

The impacts of this were profound, and it is my hope that this settlement acknowledges and addresses these historical grievances.

The settlement includes: $30 million in financial and commercial redress.

$15.5 million in cultural revitalisation funding.

The vesting of 27 culturally significant sites.

Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui is centred on Whanganui City. They are the last of the four large natural groups in the Whanganui region to settle their historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

The Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Claims Settlement Bill gives effect to He Rau Tukutuku – the Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Deed of Settlement – signed on 2 May 2026 at Kaiwhaiki Pā, Whanganui. A copy of the deed of settlement is available at Te Tari Whakatau - Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui.