Nelson Tenths: Submissions sought on bill to return land to customary owners

Public submissions are being sought on a bill to return thousands of hectares of land across Nelson and Tasman to its customary owners.

In the 1830s, the Crown promised Māori in the top of the South Island that if they sold 151,100 acres of land to the New Zealand Company - they would be able to keep one-tenth.

Instead, they got less than 3000 acres, which became known as the Nelson Tenths Reserves.

Kaumātua Rore Stafford sued the Crown in 2010 on behalf of Ngā Uri, the descendants of the tūpuna named in the 1893 Native Land Court list.

A Supreme Court ruling in 2017 found the government had a duty to honour the land deal between the New Zealand Company and Māori.

Last year, then Attorney-General Judith Collins and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced that an agreement had been reached that would see 3068 hectares returned and $420 million in compensation for land that could not be returned.

The bill had its first reading in parliament last month and will enable the transfer of land from the Crown to Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust on behalf of the customary landowners.

It includes land in Nelson, Tasman, and Golden Bay, including part of the Abel Tasman National Park.

The bill also provides arrangements for trust land that may continue to be used for conservation or reserve purposes.

Submissions are open until Monday 6 July.