Waitangi Tribunal Claim

Nga Uri pursued the Wai 856 claim in the Tribunal for specific breaches of the Treaty by the Crown in its treatment of Te Kooti Rikirangi and the stigmatisation of himself and his descendants.

In 2004 The Tribunal released its report and commented that “the restoration of Te Kooti’s reputation (if not his mana, for that can never be taken away) as a leader in war and in peace and as a spiritual man is an important matter for us all as New Zealanders. A means ought to be found to better inform New Zealanders about the complexities of this man and his life and about his powerful contribution to our national story.”

In 2011, the Rongowhakaata Deed of Settlement was signed, including specific redress for Ngā Uri o Te Kooti Rikirangi. The deed is the final settlement of all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Rongowhakaata resulting from acts or omissions by the Crown prior to 21 September 1992, and is made up of a package that includes:

• an agreed historical account and Crown acknowledgements, which form the basis for a Crown Apology to Rongowhakaata;
• cultural redress;
• financial and commercial redress; and
• specific redress for Ngā Uri o Te Kooti Rikirangi.

Reference: https://www.govt.nz/treaty-settlement-documents/rongowhakaata/rongowhakaata-deed-of-settlement-summary-30-sep-2011/redress/