Mike Butler: $80m for river woes, $30m for ?

Some tribes associated with the Wanganui River will receive more than $80-million to settle their river claims while a further $30-million fund will be set up for river-related tribes to apply for grants out of, according to an agreement signed this week.

The claims relate to use of the river and ownership of the riverbed, the latter of which has been thoroughly investigated, rejected, and brought back to life when claims back to 1840 were allowed. The signing took place at Ranana Marae, 60km up the river, on Tuesday, August 5.