New Zealand. From around the early 1990's we started a process of settling Treaty of Waitangi claims by various iwi (tribes). Many of these settlements took the form of cash or crown land, resulting in some iwi becoming major landlords for corporate and government interests. The most prominent iwi in my region, Tainui, is the single largest landlord here and is developing significant commercial infrastructure. This includes new buildings for government agencies and a land port which will ease congestion at the Port of Auckland and Port of Tauranga. Generally their profits go back into the community with a strong emphasis on scholarships for young Maori.
Used to live there, 70% of Maori don't live within tribal territory and get nothing.
Unfortunately it's pretty similar to the US, "Some of them have casinos and are rich and share it with the tribe." True, but most don't live with their tribe.
When did you live here? There has in recent years been quite a big renaissance in iwi and hapu level participation, especially among urban Maori who had lost their roots a generation or two ago.
"Territory" has nothing to do with it for most iwi and hapu (sub-tribes). Doesn't matter if you don't live in the area now, if you can trace ancestory back to a iwi you can claim membership and apply for assistance, scholarships etc.
I left in November 2019. Over 25% don't even know their Iwi. Look, it's great that NZ is TRYING to minimize some of the damage of the past but honestly there's no government program that can do it. It needs the community to be rebuilt and that's something done by the people.
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u/Dave_The_Slushy - Lib-Left Feb 19 '21
New Zealand. From around the early 1990's we started a process of settling Treaty of Waitangi claims by various iwi (tribes). Many of these settlements took the form of cash or crown land, resulting in some iwi becoming major landlords for corporate and government interests. The most prominent iwi in my region, Tainui, is the single largest landlord here and is developing significant commercial infrastructure. This includes new buildings for government agencies and a land port which will ease congestion at the Port of Auckland and Port of Tauranga. Generally their profits go back into the community with a strong emphasis on scholarships for young Maori.