The Deed of Settlement initialled between the Crown and the mandated representatives must be clearly approved by Te Rarawa before it becomes binding. This approval process is called ratification.
The key part of the ratification process is a postal ballot in which all members of Te Rarawa over the age of 18 are eligible to vote.
In addition members of Te Rarawa have a chance to review and ratify the proposed governance entity for the settlement. The term “governance entity” simply refers to the legal entity that will be used to hold and manage settlement assets, and exercise the forms of cultural redress provided in the settlement package. Ratification of the governance entity must occur before the Crown can introduce settlement legislation and transfer the redress provided in the settlement to Te Rarawa. The ratification process for a governance entity will be carried out at the same time as the members of Te Rarawa consider whether or not to ratify a Deed of Settlement.
