Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Bay of Plenty iwi sign deed of settlement

Updated at 6:52 pm on 8 December 2009

A Bay of Plenty iwi will have equal say with the Department of Conservation on how more than 50,000 hectares of forestry land will be used.

Members of Ngati Whare and Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson signed the deal at Murumurunga Marae in Minginui on Tuesday.

Ngati Whare is one of eight iwi that agreed to a $400 million dollar settlement for the central North Island last year.

Te Runanga o Ngati Whare chairperson James Carlson says the iwi successfully negotiated with the department to share management of the sacred lands of Whirinaki Forest Park.

Copyright © 2009, Radio New Zealand