Tūhoe Settlement
Tūhoe settlement is directly connected to the Iwi's ability to restore and redevelop its own independence and cultural permanency. The return of lands under settlement will form part of the proposed redress for a series of significant breaches of the Crown to Tūhoe since the late 19th century. Foremost among these was the confiscation of 100,000's ha of Tūhoe lands now known as Te Urewera National Park. The confiscation was carried out to punish Tūhoe for something that, historians and the Crown now agree, the Iwi did not do.
Our vision for Te Urewera after settlement is one of steady progress in the re-development of Tūhoe communities and infrastructure, strong land management practices that maintain conservation values and biodiversity.
A general overview of settlement goals follow:
Te Urewera - the return of Tūhoe homelands, the restoration of cultural pride, the sustenance to deliver economic potential, and the removal of competing authorities within which to practice and promote Tūhoetanga.
Mana Motuhake - the clarification of a generationally relevant Tūhoe Crown political relationship in which governmental relationships are renewed, refreshed and targetted.
Financial Redress - financial resources support and enable Tuhoe projects, initiatives and proposals which lead to the sustainable rebuilding of a strong and vibrant Tūhoe future.
Tūhoe Settlement is the enabler to a stronger Tūhoe economy.
Tūhoe–Who are we?
- 40 marae, 35,000 population, 11,000 live within or near the boundaries of the Iwi.
- Poor infrastructure, roading, housing, energy options, negligible health service.
- Median annual income in 2006 = $19,100, Māori = $21,900 and for NZ as a whole = $24,400.
- Divided and bounded by 9 Territorial authorities.
- Median age = 20 years, compared with 23 for other Māori and 36 for New Zealand as a whole.
Tūhoe–Current Potential
With capability and capacity we can make concerted plans to develop a sustainable Tūhoe economy based on:
- Forestry
- Fishing
- Farming
- Indigenous/Environmental Tourism–(Te Urewera/Lake Waikaremōana)
- Environmental sciences–(Build an international reputation for bio-diversity and biological sciences within Te Urewera).
Tūhoe Settlement–Restoring the Tūhoe Economy.
Settlement enables Tūhoe to address and reverse current statistics, repatriate Tūhoe families through sustainable industries, restore the Tūhoe infrastructure, reconstruct a positive functional relationship with the Crown and enable Tūhoe to enter a global economy to extract greater opportunities for Tūhoe families and communities.