The Dominion Post reports that the Crown is to be forgiven for Treaty of Waitangi breaches in the settlement deal for a Wellington iwi.

Chief negotiator Professor Ngatata Love and Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen initialled the deed of settlement in Wellington yesterday that includes some of Wellington's best-known buildings, including the High Court and Wellington Girls College.

The iwi grouping Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika will also receive a $25.025 million cash settlement as part of the deal.

The Taranaki Whanui is a collective of Taranaki iwi (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngati Tama, Ngati Ruanui and Ngati Mutunga) whose ancestors migrated to Wellington in the 1820s and 1830s. The iwi signed the Port Nicholson Block Deed of Purchase in 1839, but there was a subsequent failure to set aside 10 per cent of the land for Maori, as was agreed at the time.

There are 16,500 beneficiaries in the collective.

The statement of forgiveness says the iwi acknowledge and forgive the Crown for its Treaty breaches, failure to protect their land, and the harm that was done to them.

Among the leaders involved with the negotiation of the Port Nicholson Block claim is former governor-general Sir Paul Reeves.

It was his precedent-setting Treaty claim idea to forgive the Crown after its traditional routine Treaty settlement apology.

Sir Paul helped write the draft statement of forgiveness which the claimants wish to bestow upon the Crown.

After the deed is ratified, it will be signed by both parties and then enacted through legislation.