Chris Finlayson

Wellington, March 17 NZPA - The 150th anniversary of the start of the Taranaki land wars has been marked by the signing of terms of negotiation for a Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson signed the terms today with Te Atiawa and Taranaki Iwi Trust in separate ceremonies attended by Prime Minister John Key and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.

"The Taranaki land wars unfairly labelled Taranaki Maori as rebels," Mr Finlayson said.

"The resulting large scale confiscations of land under the New Zealand Settlements Act had a devastating effect on iwi and left them unable to sustain their whanau and hapu."

Mr Finlayson said the Taranaki land wars and the confiscation that followed, and the invasion of Parihaka in 1881, had been acknowledged by the Crown in the Waitangi Tribunal as an injustice, and as breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

"We hope today marks a new beginning in the Crown's ongoing relationship with the two tribes of Taranaki Iwi and Te Atiawa," he said.