The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement with the leadership of Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei at Ōkahu Bay, the site of the former marae, Te Puru o Tamaki, in November 2011.

Chairman of the Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei Māori Trust Board, Grant Hawke, said it was important to remember this was a settlement relating to the way the Crown, over many decades did not uphold its end of the Treaty. He says it is not a commercial settlement; it is something much more solemn than that.

“At my age I have watched many of our old people pass away still with the pain of our ancestors in their souls. The pain was about being badly treated, about not being listened to, and not having the same levels of justice that others around us had for decade after decade. It was also about having people tell us our culture had no value.” - Grant Hawke

The settlement package for Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei includes financial and commercial redress worth $18 million. This includes $2 million already received as compensation for the 1993 Railways settlement and the return of the culturally significant Pūrewa Creek Conservation Area, the last undeveloped piece of land from the original Ōrākei block.

In addition Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will purchase a block of vacant New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) land and purchase and lease back land at Narrow Neck and the five NZDF housing areas in Devonport. Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei will also receive redress over volcanic cones (maunga) on the Tāmaki isthmus which is being negotiated by the Crown and Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau.

Grant Hawke says he is now excited about the future as they look to building an economic base and focusing on issues important to their people such as education, health, housing and strengthening their culture.

The Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples was one of the Ministers who signed the Deed of Settlement on behalf of the Crown. Also present were the Ministers for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Hon Chris Finlayson and Defence Hon Dr Wayne Mapp and Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

Staff from the Tāmaki Makaurau regional and Policy teams were involved in progressing Treaty settlements in the region. Te Puni Kōkiri was the lead agency to secure a mandate for groups to represent the iwi and hapū of the Tāmaki Makaurau region. Te Puni Kōkiri was also the lead agency for the ratification process for Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei.

All members of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau now have Crown recognised mandates to enable them to participate in negotiations with the Crown. Ngāti Whātua first started pursuing their Treaty of Waitangi claim in 1993.