Source: New Zealand Government
Te Here-ā-Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill passed its third reading in Parliament today, finalising the restoration of approximately 3000 hectares of land at the top of the South Island to its rightful owners, announced Attorney General Chris Bishop and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.
“As held by the High Court, the land, in parts of Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay, had always belonged to descendants of its original owners, and the Crown had held it for many years as trustee” says Mr Bishop.
“Restoring the land to the rightful owners is a significant conclusion for both parties to a more than 180 year wrong.”
“This is a significant occasion for the Crown and the beneficial owners of Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust, achieved through the commitment of both parties to acknowledge ownership and existing use of the land,” says Mr Potaka.
“Allowances have been made for the Crown to lease back some of the private land currently being used by the Department of Conservation and for other important public purposes.
“Continued public and visitor use of the coast track along the Abel Tasman Great Walk, and public reserves at key sites like Tōtaranui and Kaiteretere has been arranged with Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust.”
“I want to acknowledge Mr Stafford and his whānau for their patience and Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust for their understanding and dedication to resolving this law case,” says Mr Bishop.
“The next step, after the Bill receives Royal Assent, is the transfer of legal title to trust land from the Crown, as previous trustee, to the trustees of Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust.
I pānuitia e te Rōia Matua Chris Bishop rāua ko te Minita Kaupapa Atawhai Minita Tama Potaka i te pahurenga o Te Pire Te Here-ā-Nuku (Nelson Tenths) i tōna pānuitanga tuatoru i te Whare Pāremata i te rangi nei, e whakatutuki ana i te whakahokinga o te āhua 3000 heketea o te whenua kei te pito whakarunga o Te Waipounamu ki ōna kaipupuri tūturu.
“I runga i te whakamanatanga o te Kooti Teitei, nō mai rā anō kua noho tēnei whenua, i Te Tai o Aorere me Te Tai Tapu, hei whenua nō ngā uri whakaheke o ōna kaipupuri tūturu, ā, kua roa e puritia ana e te Karauna hei tarahitī” te kī a Bishop.
“Ka mutu te pai o tēnei whakataunga te whakahokinga o te whenua ki ōna kaipupuri tūturu hei whakaea i te hē o te 180 tau kua pahure ake nei.
“He kaupapa nui whakaharahara mā te Karauna me ngā kaipupuri whaipānga o Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust, i tutuki i runga i te kaingākau o ngā taha e rua ki te āhukahuka i te kaipupuritanga me te whakamahinga o nāianei o te whenua,” te kī a Minita Potaka.
“Kua oti ngā whakaritenga kia taea ai e te Karauna te rīhi anō i ētahi o te whenua tūmataiti e whakamahia kētia ana e Te Papa Atawhai, otirā, mō ētahi atu take nui mā te iwi whānui.
“Kua oti te whakaritenga ki te taha o Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust kia haere tonu te whakamahinga o te ara takutai i te iwi whānui me ngā kaitoro i te Abel Tasman Great Walk, me ngā tāpui tūmatanui i ngā wāhi matua pēnā ki Tōtaranui me Kaiteretere
“Me mihi ka tika te manawanui a Stafford me tōna whānau, otirā, Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust mō te māramatanga me te ngākau nui ki te whakatau i tēnei kēhi ā-ture,” te kī a Bishop.
“Ko te mahi ināianei kei mua i te aroaro, i muri i te Whakaaetanga a te Karauna, ko te whakawhitinga o te taitara ā-ture ki te whenua taratī i te Karauna, te tarahitī o mua, ki ngā tarahitī o Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/18/te-here-a-nuku-nelson-tenths-bill-passes-third-reading/