Land handed back to Maori: 30-06-2008
Ownership of 435,000 acres of plantation forest have been transferred from the New Zealand central government to seven central North Island Maori tribes.
It is the country's largest ever settlement since the Maori people lost land, forests and fisheries during European settlement in the 19th century.
Prime minister Helen Clark told the crowd at the signing of the agreement in Wellington that the move had been a long time in coming.
"It's a historic journey we are on," she said.
"We came into politics to address injustice and seek reconciliation. Thank you for walking that road with us on this historic day."
The seven tribes number over 100,000 people and many hundreds turned up to witness the historic event on Wednesday June 25th.
There were tears, chanting and singing between the speeches during the hand-over and treaty negotiations minister Michael Cullen said the lands "will finally be utilized in the interests of local Maori."