Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o Te Ika purchased a significant Wellington site made possible as part of their long-awaited Treaty settlement for the Port Nicholson Block.

On 14 February the New Zealand Defence Force officially handed over the Shelly Bay property to the descendants of Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o Te Ika (Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust). More than 300 people attended the ceremony to celebrate the transfer including the local community, local council representatives and Members of Parliament including Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Hon Chris Finlayson. Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council have signed a tripartite accord with the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, which is about working cooperatively and collaboratively on the future development of the iconic site. The formalities were concluded with the signing of a document by the Chief of Defence Force and Chairman of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust acknowledging the transfer of ownership.