In 2010, Rangitāne chose to establish a new, single-purpose entity to hold the mandate for Treaty settlement negotiations on behalf of Rangitāne. Rangitāne o Wairarapa Inc and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-ā-Rua Inc (“the Rūnanga”), who collectively represent both iwi on iwi matters, agreed to the establishment of the Rangitāne Settlement Negotiations Trust (“the Trust”) for the specific purpose of negotiating the settlement of Rangitāne historical claims.
Mandate hui was held in 2011. The Crown recognised the Trust’s Deed of Mandate on 11 October 2011.
The Trust and the Crown then entered into negotiations for the comprehensive settlement of Rangitāne historical Treaty claims. Terms of Negotiation were signed by both parties in August 2012, after which the Trust and Crown began negotiating towards an Agreement in Principle.
The Agreement in Principle, which recorded the general nature and scope of the Deed, was signed between the Trust and the Crown on 28 March 2014. Since then, regular negotiations have continued with the Crown to develop a comprehensive Deed of Settlement for Rangitāne.
On 11 May 2016, the Trustees of both Rangitāne Settlement Negotiations Trust and Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā trust (the PSGE) initialled a Deed of Settlement. This Deed then went out for ratification by iwi members.
This was subsequently ratified and then signed at an official ceremony held at Mākirikiri Marae in Dannevirke on 6 August 2016. The ceremony was attended by more than 300 people, including Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon Christopher Finlayson QC, Members of Parliament, iwi members and Crown officials.
On 14 August 2017, the Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā (Wairarapa Tamaki nui-ā-Rua) Claims Settlement Act 2017 was given Royal Assent by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy GNZM, QSO, DStJ, Governor-General of New Zealand.
