Public access to Auckland's volcanic cones will be retained under a new Treaty of Waitangi agreement signed on One Tree Hill today.
Crown-owned parts of 11 of Auckland's volcanic cones, or maunga, have been gifted to the Tamaki Collective - a group of 12 iwi and hapu - as part of the agreement.
The cones will be managed by the representatives of the collective and the new Auckland supercity council, and public access and reserve status will be preserved.
"This agreement is a great step forward for the Treaty settlement process in the Auckland region, which represents around 20 percent of unresolved historical claims," Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson said today.
"This agreement reflects the importance of the maunga to the iwi and hapu in the collective. The cones were pa sites, battlegrounds, and burial sites.
"They will be co-governed by iwi and the Auckland Council, a move which recognises the importance of these maunga to all Aucklanders, whose use of the maunga will be unaffected," Mr Finlayson added.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said today was a significant event.
"The coming together of all iwi and hapu of the whole Auckland isthmus is quite a major achievement," he said.
Auckland City Mayor John Banks said it was great to have the entire Tamaki claim settled before the establishment of the supercity this November.
"We're all amazed and very happy this could happen, because getting the 20 iwi together was a remarkable piece of footwork.
"Today is symbolic and a step towards reconciliation," Mr Banks said.
Similar to other recent settlement offers, iwi would have right of first refusal to buy Crown land in the Auckland area that is offered for sale during the next 170 years.
Ngati Whatua o Orakei, whose tribal area includes central Auckland, will receive $18 million in redress under its agreement, which also provides for the sale and leaseback of the Devonport naval base land on commercial terms, the transfer of Purewa Creek Conservation area and a commitment to explore the sale and leaseback of land under Mt Eden prison.
Te Kawerau a Maki (west Auckland) will receive $6.5 million, the transfer of Riverhead Forest along with accumulated rentals, the sale and leaseback of Clark House at Hobsonville, and the exploration of the sale and leaseback of land under Paremoremo Prison and the adjoining housing block.
Cultural redress for Te Kawerau a Maki will also include the transfer of parts of various scenic reserves.
Iwi involved in the Treaty deal include various Ngati Whatua groups, Te Kawerau 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.
On coming into Government Mr Finlayson asked Sir Douglas Graham to look at the possibility of an Auckland-wide resolution and the agreement was put together.
