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The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū at Tangoio Marae near Napier, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Crown was represented at the signing by Mr Finlayson, Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples, and Minister of Local Government and local Member of Parliament Chris Tremain.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has expressed his shock and sorrow at the death of Supreme Court Judge, the Honourable Justice Robert Chambers.

“Justice Chambers had an outstanding career as a servant of the law, ultimately appointed to the nation’s highest court,” Mr Finlayson said. “I was devastated to learn of his untimely death.”

The Attorney-General, the Hon Christopher Finlayson, announced today the appointments of 26 Queen’s Counsel.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the appointment of Jim Hodges and Eileen von Dadelszen as Commissioners of the Environment Court, John Illingsworth as a Deputy Commissioner and the reappointment of David Bunting and Russell Howie as Commissioners, each for a five year term.

The Attorneys-General of Canada, Australia, the United States, New Zealand and England and Wales resolved to work together more closely to fight sexual violence against women and children at yesterday’s Quintet meeting of Attorneys-General in Auckland.

The Attorneys-General also affirmed the declaration made by G8 Foreign Ministers that rape and other forms of serious sexual violence in international armed conflict are war crimes and also constitute grave breaches as defined in the Geneva Conventions and their first Protocol.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson will host an annual meeting of his counterparts from Australia, Canada, the United States and England, Wales and Northern Ireland in Auckland next Wednesday 8 May.

The Quintet of Attorneys-General held its first meeting in 2009. The goal is to share relevant experience and knowledge, and improve cooperation on complex and cross-border legal issues.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced 17 projects commemorating the centenary of the First World War have been granted close to $1.7 million in funding by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

“A total of $1,196,533 has gone to support sixteen community projects. In addition the Massey University Foundation has received a grant of $500,000 towards its three volumes of “The Centenary History of New Zealand and the First World War,” says Mr Tremain.

Today’s signing between the Crown Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu at Onetahua Marae in Golden Bay marks the final deed of settlement for historical claims in the South Island, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

“This government is committed to resolving all historical Treaty grievances, and so it is a monumental occasion as we sign the last outstanding deed of settlement for historical claims in the South Island,” Mr Finlayson said.

The Crown has signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty of Waitangi claims with Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu at Onetahua Marae in Pohara, Golden Bay today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty of Waitangi claims with Ngāti Rārua at the Parerārua Centre in Blenheim today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced.

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for historical Treaty claims with Ngāti Pukenga at Te Whetū o Te Rangi Marae near Tauranga, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The deed settles the comprehensive claims specific to Ngāti Pukenga in the region. Ngāti Pūkenga is also negotiating redress relating to its shared and overlapping interests in the region as part of the Tauranga Moana Collective, along with Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi.

The government is seeking feedback on five major proposals to streamline the complex rules governing Māori land, freeing its economic potential and strengthening guardianship, Associate Minister of Māori Affairs Christopher Finlayson and Minister of Māori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples announced today.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to the life of author Barbara Anderson, who passed away yesterday aged 86.

“Barbara Anderson was one of our finest writers, and also one of the most inspiring, becoming an internationally successful author in her sixties,” Mr Finlayson said. “After completing Bill Manhire’s creative writing degree at Victoria University, she went on to write acclaimed short stories, novels, and autobiography.”

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister and Wellington-based Member of Parliament Christopher Finlayson says he is very disappointed at the on-going inability of the Wellington City Council to get its act together and progress the Basin Reserve Flyover.

“This latest vote to do nothing is illustrative of a Council wasting time and ratepayer money when a decision should have been made some time ago,” he said.

The Crown and Te Kotahi a Tuhoe, the mandated negotiating body of Tuhoe, have completed negotiations on a Deed of Settlement to settle the historical claims of Tuhoe, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson and Tuhoe Chief Negotiator Tamati Kruger announced today.

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Christopher Finlayson has welcomed Boosted, the Arts Foundation’s new philanthropic crowd-funding platform, saying it will encourage greater private sector giving to strengthen the arts sector.

“Boosted is a great example of the innovative thinking by Arts sector participants to allow the public to become more involved in supporting the arts,” Mr Finlayson said. “The Arts Foundation is to be congratulated on its determination to generate new streams of incomes for the arts.”

Hon Chris Finlayson will represent the New Zealand Government at the Inauguration Mass of Pope Francis I in Rome on 19 March.

“This will be a momentous occasion for the worldwide Catholic community, including Catholics in New Zealand,” said Mr Finlayson.

Pope Francis I is the 266th Roman pontiff, the first pope from the southern hemisphere, and the first pope from the Americas.

Tauranga lawyer Rob Ronayne has been appointed a Judge of the District Court with a jury warrant to sit in Auckland, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Dr Richard Grant has been appointed chair of the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Dr Grant replaces Alastair Carruthers, who has continued in the role pending new legislation which replaces the current governance structure with a new unitary Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa. Mr Carruthers is commencing a new role as the chief executive of a national law firm.

A report on New Zealand’s Professional Orchestral Sector has been released and provides a more effective framework for supporting the delivery of high quality orchestral services, Arts. Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The five orchestras reviewed were the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestra Wellington, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Sinfonia.

Judge Carrie Wainwright has been appointed the new Chairperson of the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

She replaces Judge W K (Bill) Hastings, who will sit full-time on the District Court.

The Tribunal is an independent body established to hear appeals and applications regarding residence class visas, deportation (including appeals on the facts and humanitarian grounds) and claims to be recognised as a refugee or as a protected person.

Associate Professor Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban QSO has been appointed a member of the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

She replaces Pele Walker, who is retiring after nearly seven years as an Arts Board member to enable her to focus on other board appointments.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson has welcomed the opening of the new Air Force Museum extension and the Canterbury Cultural Collections Recovery Centre in Wigram today.

The new Air Force Museum extension was conceived to house aircraft and large objects for conservation but is being used temporarily for the restoration, storage and rehabilitation of heritage and cultural collections affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.  It was opened by His Excellency, the Governor General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae in Christchurch today.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister, Chris Finlayson and Broadcasting Minister, Craig Foss today marked the successful transfer of responsibility for New Zealand’s Sound Archives.

Responsibility for Radio New Zealand’s Sound Archives (Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero) was transferred to the New Zealand Film Archive in October 2012. A ceremony to mark the transfer was held at the New Zealand Film Archive today.