31 Jan 2012

Iwi's dreams on hold until settlement legislated

6:44 am on 31 January 2012

The head of a Bay of Plenty Iwi Runanga says its dream to enable its people to be independent rather than dependant on the state, is on hold until its Treaty settlement is legislated.

Ngati Manawa signed a deed of settlement with the Crown in 2009.

Runanga chair Maurice Toetoe says goals such as developing sacred sites and job creation can't start until government passes the deed.

The iwi covers the township of Murupara, which is known to be a settlement of high unemployment.

Mr Toetoe says, last year, it was told by Parliament that the settlement was held up in part by the Christchurch earthquakes and election.

The office of the Treaty Negotiations Minister says the deed is due in Parliament for a second reading in the next two months. It's likely the document will be legislated in the first half of this year.