Tuhoe claims about breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi have been validated, now that the final Urewera report has been released.
The Waitangi Tribunal's report indicates the Crown has contributed to the shocking poverty of Te Urewera people, largely as a result of breaches to the Treaty.
They include massive land losses and a failure to protect forest flora and fauna, which have been ravaged by introduced species.
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says the tribe will now have what truly happened to them, recorded forever.
"I think it's important for them in the sense of just simply legitimising the things that they have been saying about the breaches of the Crown to the Treaty of Waitangi."
He says the Tuhoe people have moved on, and many of the issues have already been dealt with.
"There are a number of issues still alive, but it does confirm that the Tuhoe people were right in advancing their claims to the Waitangi Tribunal."
