The settlement of iwi claims under the Treaty of Waitangi has drawn international attention, as other nations seek ways to build new relationships between indigenous peoples and the state. Here leading scholars consider the impact of Treaty settlements on the management and ownership of key resources (lands, forests and fisheries); they look at the economic and social consequences for Māori, and the impact of the settlement process on Crown–Māori relationships. And they ask ‘how successful has the settlement process been?'

The Waitangi Tribunal sits at the heart of the Treaty settlement process, with a unique remit to investigate claims and recommend settlements. But although the claims process has been hugely controversial, little has been written about the Tribunal itself. These essays, by leading academics, lawyers and researchers, successfully fill that gap, examining the Tribunal’s role in reshaping Māori identity and society, the Tribunal’s future mission, and its contribution to ideas of justice and reparation. This perceptive analysis of a key institution is vital reading for anyone seeking to understand Treaty settlements. Contributors: Paul Hamer Geoff Melvin Grant Phillipson Richard Boast Tom Bennion Stephanie Milroy Jacinta Ruru Deborah Edmunds John Dawson Richard Price Debra Fletcher Evan Te Ahu Poata-Smith Donna Hall Andrew Sharp

An Unsettled History squarely confronts the issues arising from the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand today. Alan Ward writes lucidly about the Treaty claims process, about settlements made, and those to come. New Zealand’s short history unquestionably reveals a treaty made and then repeatedly breached. This is a compelling case – for fair and reasonable settlement, and for the rigorous continuation of the Treaty claims process through the Waitangi Tribunal. The impact of the past upon the present has rarely been analysed so clearly, or to such immediate purpose.

"The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by over 500 chiefs, and by William Hobson, representing the British Crown. To the British it was the means by which they gained sovereignty over New Zealand. But to Maori people it had a very different significance, and they are still affected by the terms of the Treaty, often adversely.The Treaty of Waitangi, the first comprehensive study of the Treaty, deals with its place in New Zealand history from its making to the present day. The story covers the several Treaty signings and the substantial differences between Maori and English texts; the debate over interpretation of land rights and the actions of settler governments determined to circumvent Treaty guarantees; the wars of sovereignty in the 1860s and the longstanding Maori struggle to secure a degree of autonomy and control over resources." --Publisher.

"Between 2008 and 2017, an unprecedented number of Treaty of Waitangi settlements were completed with iwi and hapū across New Zealand. As Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Christopher Finlayson led this work on behalf of the Crown. In doing so, he gained unique insights into the elements of successful negotiations and developed ground-breaking legal innovations that enabled settlements to be reached. In He Kupu Taurangi, the authors tell the story of the challenges and successes of New Zealand's Treaty Settlements project. They cover themes including apologies, financial and cultural redress, natural resources, co-governance and the establishment of legal entities. They pay particular attention to the landmark Whanganui River and Ngāi Tūhoe settlements, which have become internationally recognised. Finally, the authors look ahead to consider how to ensure Treaty settlements last the distance and what the next steps are in the Treaty relationship between Māori and the Crown"--Publisher information.

Legal cultures change in response to social and economic environments. Māori author and legal scholar Carwyn Jones provides a timely examination of how the resolution of land claims in New Zealand has affected traditional Māori law, illustrating the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples as they attempt to exercise self-determination in a postcolonial world. Combining thoughtful analysis with Māori storytelling New Treaty, New Tradition reveals the enduring vitality of Māori legal traditions, making the case that genuine reconciliation can occur only when we recognize the importance of Indigenous traditions in the settlement process. Drawing on examples from Canada and New Zealand, Jones illustrates how Western legal thought has shaped the historical claims process. As Indigenous self-determination plays out on the world stage, this nuanced reflection brings into focus prospects for the long-term success of reconciliation projects in Canada and around the globe.

"Healing the past, building a future is a practical guide to the negotiation and settlement of historical grievances under the Treaty of Waitangi. It also sets out an overview of the historical background to Treaty grievances and settlements, and explains how settlement policy has developed"--Page [1].