As part of the Maniapoto Treaty settlement, given effect through the Maniapoto Claims Settlement Act 2022, specified Crown-owned properties formerly administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC) are returned to Maniapoto as cultural redress, with ownership vested in Te Nehenehenui on behalf of the iwi. The return recognises the enduring whakapapa, historical associations and cultural significance of these places to Maniapoto and supports whānau and hapū in reconnecting with their whenua and exercising kaitiakitanga.  

The arrangements differ between properties: some are vested in fee simple without reserve status, while others are vested as reserves and remain subject to the Reserves Act 1977 and site-specific settlement requirements, including protections for conservation values and public access where applicable. These transfers are therefore more than a change in ownership; they form part of the Crown’s redress for historical Treaty breaches and provide a foundation for Maniapoto to care for these places for future generations.