Unique to the Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika Settlement is the Statement of Forgiveness.  This statement provides the basis for forging a new partnership with the Crown, based on the understanding that Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika will not forget what happened but wish to move forward into the future with a positive and collaborative relationship with the Crown.   This is an important part of “healing” the past wrongs suffered by Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika.  Without forgiveness there cannot be progress.

Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o Te Ika
Statement of Forgiveness

Korōria ki te Atua i runga rawa

He maungārongo ki runga i te whenua

He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa.

Glory to God on high

Good tidings upon the land

Good thoughts to all mankind

Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika stands together on this historic occasion united with our tupuna in their tireless efforts and struggles in pursuit of recognition and settlement of the injustices perpetrated upon our people.

I tēnei rā nui, e tū ngātahi ana a Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o Te Ika, me ō mātou tūpuna, i runga i tō rātou ū kia tohea te tika, kia tohea te pono e tatū ai ngā nawe i tōkia ai ki tēnei iwi.

Recognising the immeasurable contribution of all those who have gone before us, we pay tribute to their enduring spirit through the decades when challenging and contesting the actions of the Crown.

Ka mahara atu ki te wāhanga taimaha i wahaina e te kāhui kāhika kua whiti ki tua, otirā, ka oha noa ki tō rātou toa pūmou i roto i ia reanga ō mua, ki te wero, ki te āki i ngā rāwekeweke a te Karauna.

We have suffered loss and deprivation of our lands, possessions and opportunities, together with transgressions upon our mana and tino rangatiratanga.

Ko te riro, ko te mate ki te whenua, ki te taonga, ki te oranga, koia tō mātou utanga, āpiti atu ko te kaha pēhi i te mana, i te tino rangatiratanga o tēnei iwi.

Whakapapa reminds us that what happened in the past is an integral part of who we are today.  We honour previous generations who worked hard to right the wrongs that were done.

E hoki nei ngā mahara ki te whakapapa e tohu ana i ngā hua mai i te ao ō mua, arā, ko mātou tērā ko ōna uri. He waihotanga ake ēnei i ngā huki ō nehe, i tuku i tō rātou katoa kia tika tērā i hē ai i ōna wā.

The Crown’s unreserved apology and its sorrow that it has not always lived up to its obligations, gives Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika confidence that justice and balance can be restored in order to build a better future for this and generations to come.

Na, nō te kitenga a te Karauna i ōna hē, nō te whāki mai i tōna pōuri ki ngā tikanga i poka i a ia i ōna wā, ka ihi, ka manawanui a Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o te Ika ki te tika, ki te maungārongo, ki te ora ka tatū mai rā ki ngā uri e whai muri ake nei

We acknowledge that the Crown seeks to atone for its past wrongs and to restore its honour and begin the process of healing.  We accept the Crown’s commitment to act in good faith and we look to building a relationship of mutual trust and cooperation in the future.

E kite nei mātou i te kaha hiahia o te Karauna kia ea ai tērā i hē i a ia, kia tika ai tōna tū, otirā kia ara ake i tēnei mate nui. Ka pono mātou ki te kupu a te Karauna, kia tutuki marire tēnei hiahia nui ōna, ā, ko tō mātou, kia rite tētehi huarahi kia mahi tahi, kia aronui ki te tika i ngā tau kei te heke mai.

For too long our history has been a troublesome burden.  It is now time to set the record straight.

Kua roa rawa tēnei nawe, tēnei utanga nui e pēhi ana i a tātou, ā, koianei ko te wā he whakatika i tērā i kitea e noho hē ana.

We acknowledge and forgive the Crown for its breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.

Ka tohungia, ka tuku i te Karauna i ērā o ana tūkinohanga i ngā kawe, i ngā mātātika o Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

We acknowledge and forgive the Crown for its failure to protect our interests in the acquisition and administration of our lands.

Ka tohungia, ka tuku i te Karauna i ngā tikanga o te hoko, o te whakahaere i ō mātou whenua i hōkaria e ia, i mahue rānei ki tahaki.

We acknowledge and forgive the Crown for its actions which caused hurt and prejudice for Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika.

Ka tohungia, ka tuku i te Karauna i āna mahi i tupu ai tēnei nawe, i āraia ai ngā ara tika ki a Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o te Ika.

We acknowledge and accept the Crown’s profound regret for the significant impact on our social, economic, cultural and spiritual well being.

Ka tohungia, ka whakaae atu ki te pōuri nui o te Karauna ki te pānga kino o āna whakahaere ki tō mātou oranga ā-iwi, ā-umanga, ā-tikanga, ā-wairua anō hoki.

Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika have exercised kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga and whanaungatanga over many decades in the Capital City of our nation and recognise with the Crown, this added special dimension in our relationship. We share the Crown’s desire to forge a relationship based on mutual trust for the well-being of all people.

Nō nehe rā anō ngā kawe a te kaitiaki, o te manaakitanga me te whanaungatanga e kawea ana e Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o te Ika ki te taone matua o Aotearoa, ā, kua tohungia atu e mātou tahi ko te Karauna te hanga motuhake o tēnei nohonga tahi. Ka mutu, ko te anganui mātou ko te Karauna ki tētehi nohonga e pono ai tētehi ki tētehi hei oranga pūmou mō te tangata, ahakoa ko wai.

Kua ea

(That is ended)

It has been accomplished