$250,000 for the Karanga Te Kere Whanau Trust

Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauauru, Tariana Turia, is delighted that Budget 2011 also provides specific allocation for an ex-gratia payment to the Karanga Te Kere Whānau Trust. The Trust administers leases comprising of 15 lots in the Taumarunui area.

“Today’s announcement of $250,000 addresses an injustice, created when the lands were not included in the 1997 Act due to an administrative oversight” said Mrs Turia.

The Taumarunui leases administered by the Trust were subject to the Māori Reserved Land Act 1955. They should have been included in the Māori Reserved Land Amendment Act 1997.

Māori reserved land that was included in the 1997 Act received compensation payments in 1998 and 2002 to recognise a delay in shifting to an improved leasing regime and to recognise past rental losses.

“As the Trust’s lands were not identified and are therefore not covered by the 1997 Act, to date they have not received any compensation. The proposed ex-gratia payment is to address this “ said Mrs Turia.

“I understand the next step will be that my colleague, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Sharples, will sign a Memorandum with the Trust to record the ex-gratia payment as a full and final settlement for these lands not being included in the 1997 Act”.

“But for today, I commend the Government for fixing up this long-standing error, and I am pleased for the Karanga Te Kere Whānau Trust that whilst delayed, they are finally receiving compensation they are entitled to”.