Iwi Renews Calls for the Return of Tongariro National Park Land

A recent article in Stuff highlights the ongoing and renewed efforts by Ngāti Tūwharetoa to have culturally significant lands within Tongariro National Park returned to their stewardship.

The iwi’s connection to the land is profound and centuries-old. The original "gift" of the sacred peaks to the Crown in 1887 by Chief Horonuku Te Heuheu Tukino IV was intended to ensure their protection for all New Zealanders. However, the iwi argues this was not a surrender of their deep spiritual and cultural ties, nor their responsibilities as kaitiaki (guardians).

The call for the return of the park's land is not a bid for exclusive ownership but a push for a co-governance or co-stewardship model. The central goal is for the Crown and Ngāti Tūwharetoa to work collaboratively in managing the taonga, integrating mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) with conservation efforts to ensure the land's protection for future generations.

This story is a critical reminder of the complex history underpinning some of our most treasured public spaces and the evolving conversation around partnership, kaitiakitanga, and conservation in Aotearoa.

You can read the full story by Stuff here