Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Offer 1/3

Treaty Negotiations Minister Margaret Wilson and Maori Affairs Minister
Parekura Horomia have made offers to Te Arawa that, if accepted, will settle all
claims over 14 lakes in the Rotorua area. The offer delivers on a promise made
by Margaret Wilson two months ago to come back with a proposal by the end of
May.

The offers will ensure that all existing public access rights to the lakes
are preserved.

Under the proposal the Crown will acknowledge Te Arawa's association and
relationship with the lakes and apologise for failing to revisit the annuity
paid to Te Arawa for the lakes when it lost value.

In addition, the surface of the lake beds will be vested in Te Arawa.

Te Arawa will have a formal role in the strategic management of all the lakes
in conjunction with the others involved in the proposed Lakes Forum. The Forum
includes representatives of all groups with a statutory interest in the lakes:
Te Arawa, the Eastern Fish and Game Council, the Rotorua District Council,
Environment Bay of Plenty and the Department of Conservation.

The Crown proposes that the Rotorua District Council control and manage the
lake beds on a day-to-day basis. Two lakes - Tutaeinanga and Ngapouri - will
continue to be managed by the Eastern Fish and Game Council.

Margaret Wilson's offer includes money in settlement of all Te Arawa
historical grievances related to the lakes. The Minister of Maori Affairs has
made a separate offer to buy-out the annuity. The amounts of the offers are
being communicated to Te Arawa but have not been made public to allow
negotiations to go ahead.

"Te Arawa has shown good faith in entering into negotiations which have
included considerable input from the wider Bay of Plenty community. The Crown
has responded by fast-tracking the settlement process this year. That promise
has been kept. The offer is made in the spirit of bringing people together to
achieve a lasting solution that works for the whole community," said the
Ministers.