New Treaty deal for Auckland on table

Auckland's volcanic cones have been offered to Maori in an attempt to get a Treaty deal, it was reported today.

Under the offer the Crown would transfer ownership to a new collective body representing iwi called Nga Mana Whenua o Tamaki Makaurau, which would hold titles in trust for all Aucklanders.

The body would be co-governed by a statutory board with equal membership from the Auckland Council and Tamaki collective, with the council retaining financial control.

Similar to other recent settlement offers iwi would have right of first refusal to buy Crown land for the next 170 years, sources told the newspaper.

There would be no cash settlement. The deal was aimed to solve the ongoing problem of shared and overlapping interests.

Tribes' individual issues, which aren't impacted by the agreement, would be dealt with by separate settlements.

Iwi involved include various Ngati Whatua groups, Te Kawarau a Maki, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, Ngati Te Ata, Te Aki Tai, Ngati Tamaoho and Hauraki/Marutuahu iwi. Provision had also been made for other Tamaki Makaurau iwi who have recognised interests to join in the future.

In 2006 the then Labour government proposed a settlement that was only put to Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

The following year the Waitangi Tribunal found that the Crown's decision to give priority to the tribe over other iwi was too "flawed" to go ahead, leaving Ngati Whatua and all other iwi with interests in Tamaki Makaurau in limbo.