Raukawa Hosts Crown for Reconciliation Day

26 May 2011, Tokoroa

The Raukawa Settlement Trust hosted the Crown for a Reconciliation Day (Te Puāwaitanga-o-Raukawa) on Wednesday 25th May 2011 at Papa-o-Te-Aroha Marae.

Minister of Treaty Settlements, Christopher Finlayson, was among a delegation of Crown MPs and officials to hear the voices of Raukawa claimants who were for the first time able to speak directly to the Crown of the hurt and injustice inflicted on their whanau and hapu as a result of Treaty of Waitangi breaches.

The day was a significant one for Raukawa whanau and hapu claimants as spokespeople for the different claimants were provided with the opportunity to speak directly to Crown of the hurt and suffering endured by their whanau and tupuna as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Raukawa Settlement Trust Chairman Chris McKenzie said it was crucially important that the people were provided an opportunity to share their hurt, to voice the laments of their tupuna past through the generations, to the Crown.

“This will be a very sad but significant day for Raukawa. The Crown set the terms of negotiations, and for expedience and consistency this involves direct negotiations by appointed Raukawa negotiators.

“The reconciliation day provides the opportunity for our claimants to speak kanohi ki te kanohi, directly to the Crown.”

Mr McKenzie said it was important for the Crown to see and hear firsthand the reality of confiscation and dispossession on the people of Raukawa.

“Settlement negotiations often seem driven by a Crown check list, and desire to minimise the real compensation to iwi. The reality of the hurt and suffering is lost in the sterile offices of the negotiation rooms. On this day, the mamae that these losses have caused can be voiced by those whose lives have been forever impacted by the actions and inactions of the Crown.”

The Reconcilliation Day forms part of the settlement process by acknowledging historical claims and promoting reconciliation and strengthened relationships for the future.

Mr McKenzie said it makes it easier for the people of Raukawa to look towards a more vibrant future if they are able to share their grievance and hurt The Crown is expected to respond in a formal apology to be delivered later this year.

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