In a signing ceremony described by local media as “electric with emotion”, Ngāti Ranginui iwi members settled their historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi claim with the Crown at Pyes Pā on 21 June 2012. As well as marking 148 years to the day since the Battle of Te Ranga, the date coincided with the first day of Matariki.

“Now we are looking at a new future,” said Antoine Coffin, the Chair of Te Rōpu Whakamana o Ngāti Ranginui.

The first Tauranga Moana Iwi to ratify their deed of settlement, the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui settlement includes financial redress of $38 million, the return of 51 properties and 34 culturally significant sites.

“The Crown makes this apology to Ngāti Te Wai, Pirirakau, Ngāti Taka, the Wairoa hapū of Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Pango, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hangarau, Ngāi Tamarawaho, Ngāi Te Ahi and Ngāti Ruahine, the hapū of Ngāti Ranginui, to your tūpuna and to your descendants,” said Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon Christopher Finlayson.

“The Crown unreservedly apologises for not having honoured its obligations to the hapū of Ngāti Ranginui under the Treaty of Waitangi, and profoundly regrets its failure to appropriately acknowledge the mana and rangatiratanga of Ngāti Ranginui for many generations.”

Te Puni Kōkiri Chief Executive Leith Comer says the gathering at Te Ranga was an opportunity to further strengthen the good relationships that had been forged between Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui and the Crown during the settlement process.