Ambassador of Chile attends settlement ceremony between the Crown (the Government) and Whanganui Iwi (Maori tribe)
Accepting an invitation by the New Zealand Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon. Christopher Finlayson, the Ambassador of Chile attended the signature ceremony of the documents that settle the claims over Whanganui River; an over a century's effort by Whanganui Iwi to protect and obtain acknowledgement of its special relationship with the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable river.
The Deeds, derived from the Treaty de Waitangi (founding document of the Nation), have provided the settlement of historical claims by several Iwi throughout New Zealand. The settlements of claims are composed of reparations as well as apologies providing spiritual sustenance and hefty monetary rewards to the aggrieved Iwi in a process that distinguishes New Zealand in its relationship with her indigenous people.
Picture: Ambassador Isauro Torres; Minister for Treaty6 of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon. Chris Finlayson and Minister for Courts, Hon. Chester Borrows.
