Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana Claims Settlement Bill
The departmental disclosure statement for a government Bill seeks to bring together in one place a range of information to support and enhance the Parliamentary and public scrutiny of that Bill.
It identifies:
· the general policy intent of the Bill and other background policy material;
· some of the key quality assurance products and processes used to develop and test the content of the Bill;
· the presence of certain significant powers or features in the Bill that might be of particular Parliamentary or public interest and warrant an explanation.
This disclosure statement was prepared by the Te Tari Whakatau – Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana.
Te Tari Whakatau – The Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and understanding, the information provided is complete and accurate at the date of finalisation below.
19 February 2026
Part One: General Policy Statement
The Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana Claims Settlement Bill (the Bill) gives effect to certain matters set out in the Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana deed of settlement (the deed), which was signed by the Crown, Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, and the trustees of Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana Trust on 25 February 2026. The Bill records the acknowledgements and apology made to Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana when the deed was signed, and gives effect to redress in the deed that requires legislation.
Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana are a group of approximately 1,662 people and have an area of interest that covers 150,000 hectares around Lake Waikaremoana.
Negotiations
Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana were initially part of the Ngāi Tūhoe mandate and settlement negotiations. In 2008, Ngāti Ruapani resolved to withdraw from the Ngāi Tūhoe settlement negotiations. In 2009, the Crown recognised Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana as a large natural group for Treaty settlement purposes.
Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana claimants and entities unsuccessfully sought to secure a Crown-recognised mandate. Due to ongoing internal divisions, the Crown remained unwilling to support another mandate until there was a base of unity.
In 2017, following a show of unity and willingness to work together by Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, the Crown began working with the Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana Negotiating Group (the Negotiating Group) to seek a mandate to repre-sent Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana in negotiations with the Crown.
After multiple attempts to mandate an entity, in December 2018 Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana conferred a mandate on the Negotiating Group.
In October 2019, the Crown formally recognised the mandate of the Negotiating Group to negotiate the comprehensive settlement of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana.
Terms of negotiation were signed on 19 March 2020.
Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and the Crown signed an agreement in principle in August 2022.
Key elements of the Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana settlement
The Bill comprises 3 parts:
Part 1—
· sets out the purpose of the Bill; and
· provides that the provisions of the Bill take effect on the settlement date unless a provision states otherwise; and
· specifies that the Bill binds the Crown; and
· sets out a summary of the historical account, and records the text of the acknowledgements and apology given by the Crown to Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana; and
· defines terms used in the Bill, including key terms such as Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and historical claims.
Part 2 provides for cultural redress in 2 subparts including—
· changes to official geographic names; and
· vesting of cultural redress properties.
Part 3 provides for the vesting of additional land in Te Urewera as part of the place encompassing Te Urewera land. Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana have an innate connection with Te Urewera, which was established as a legal entity under the Te Urewera Act 2014 as part of the Ngāi Tūhoe settlement. A key aspiration for Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana is to see Crown-owned land in their area of interest vested in Te Urewera to enable it to be protected for future generations of Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana.
Part 4 provides for commercial redress in 2 subparts, including transfer of commercial redress properties and deferred selection properties and rights of first refusal.
There are 3 schedules, as follows:
· Schedule 1 describes the cultural redress properties:
· Schedule 2 describes the additional Te Urewera land:
· Schedule 3 sets out provisions about notices in relation to land that is subject to a right of first refusal.
Part Two: Background Material and Policy Information
Published reviews or evaluations
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2.1. Are there any publicly available inquiry, review or evaluation reports that have informed, or are relevant to, the policy to be given effect by this Bill? |
YES |
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‘Te Urewera’ Wai 894, Waitangi Tribunal Report, 2017 – Urewera | Waitangi Tribunal
‘Turanga Tangata Turanga Whenua: The Report on the Turanganui a Kiwa Claims’ Wai 814, Waitangi Tribunal Report, 2004 - Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Waitangi Tribunal
‘The Mohaka ki Ahuriri Report’ Wai 201, Waitangi Tribunal Report, 2004 - Mōhaka ki Ahuriri | Waitangi Tribunal
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Relevant international treaties
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2.2. Does this Bill seek to give effect to New Zealand action in relation to an international treaty? |
NO |
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2.3. Were any regulatory impact statements provided to inform the policy decisions that led to this Bill? |
NO |
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Extent of impact analysis available
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2.4. Has further impact analysis become available for any aspects of the policy to be given effect by this Bill? |
NO |
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2.5. For the policy to be given effect by this Bill, is there analysis available on: |
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(a) the size of the potential costs and benefits? |
NO |
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(b) the potential for any group of persons to suffer a substantial unavoidable loss of income or wealth? |
NO |
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2.6. For the policy to be given effect by this Bill, are the potential costs or benefits likely to be impacted by: |
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(a) the level of effective compliance or non-compliance with applicable obligations or standards? |
NO |
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(b) the nature and level of regulator effort put into encouraging or securing compliance? |
NO |
Part Three: Testing of Legislative Content
Consistency with New Zealand’s international obligations
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3.1. What steps have been taken to determine whether the policy to be given effect by this Bill is consistent with New Zealand’s international obligations? |
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None. |
Consistency with the government’s Treaty of Waitangi obligations
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3.2. What steps have been taken to determine whether the policy to be given effect by this Bill is consistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi? |
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During the settlement negotiations, the Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana – Te Tari Whakatau and Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana negotiators engaged with iwi and hapū whose interests are directly affected by the settlement. The redress given effect through this Bill is consistent with Treaty principles and Treaty of Waitangi settlement policy. |
Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
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3.3. Has advice been provided to the Attorney-General on whether any provisions of this Bill appear to limit any of the rights and freedoms affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990? |
YES |
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Assessment of the Bill’s consistency with the Bill of Rights Act is in progress. Advice provided to the Attorney-General by the Crown Law Office, or a section 7 report of the Attorney-General, is generally expected to be available on the Ministry of Justice website upon introduction of a Bill. Such advice, or reports, will be accessible on the Ministry’s website at: |
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Offences, penalties and court jurisdictions
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3.4. Does this Bill create, amend, or remove: |
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(a) offences or penalties (including infringement offences or penalties and civil pecuniary penalty regimes)? |
NO |
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(b) the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal (including rights to judicial review or rights of appeal)? |
YES |
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The Bill settles the historical Treaty claims of Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and removes the jurisdiction of courts, tribunals and other judicial bodies in respects of the claims, deed, Act, and redress provided (clause 15). |
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3.4.1. Was the Ministry of Justice consulted about these provisions? |
YES |
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The provision was developed by the Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana – Te Tari Whakatau, a departmental agency of the Ministry of Justice. Clause 15 is a standard provision in Treaty settlement legislation. |
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3.5. Does this Bill create, amend or remove any provisions relating to the collection, storage, access to, correction of, use or disclosure of personal information? |
NO |
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3.5.1. Was the Privacy Commissioner consulted about these provisions? |
NO |
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3.6. Has there been any external consultation on the policy to be given effect by this Bill, or on a draft of this Bill? |
YES |
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Overlapping groups, relevant local authorities and interested paries were informed of key relevant provisions set out in the Bill as the settlement was negotiated and agreed. Overlapping groups; Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāi Tūhoe; Iwi and Hapū of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa; Te Whānau-a-Kai; and Te Āitanga-a-Mahaki. |
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3.7. Have the policy details to be given effect by this Bill been otherwise tested or assessed in any way to ensure the Bill’s provisions are workable and complete? |
YES |
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The proposed provisions are tested throughout the negotiations process through consultation with iwi and engagement with third parties. The Deed of Settlement provisions will be ratified by Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana before the Deed of Settlement is scheduled to be signed 25 February 2026. |
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Part Four: Significant Legislative Features
Compulsory acquisition of private property
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4.1. Does this Bill contain any provisions that could result in the compulsory acquisition of private property? |
NO |
Charges in the nature of a tax
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4.2. Does this Bill create or amend a power to impose a fee, levy or charge in the nature of a tax? |
NO |
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4.3. Does this Bill affect rights, freedoms, or impose obligations, retrospectively? |
NO |
Strict liability or reversal of the usual burden of proof for offences
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4.4. Does this Bill: |
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(a) create or amend a strict or absolute liability offence? |
NO |
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(b) reverse or modify the usual burden of proof for an offence or a civil pecuniary penalty proceeding? |
NO |
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4.5. Does this Bill create or amend a civil or criminal immunity for any person? |
NO |
Significant decision-making powers
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4.6. Does this Bill create or amend a decision-making power to make a determination about a person’s rights, obligations, or interests protected or recognised by law, and that could have a significant impact on those rights, obligations, or interests? |
NO |
Powers to make delegated legislation
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4.7. Does this Bill create or amend a power to make delegated legislation that could amend an Act, define the meaning of a term in an Act, or grant an exemption from an Act or delegated legislation? |
NO |
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4.8. Does this Bill create or amend any other powers to make delegated legislation? |
NO |
Any other unusual provisions or features
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4.9. Does this Bill contain any provisions (other than those noted above) that are unusual or call for special comment? |
NO |