[1] It is part of a group of tribes participating in the "treelords" Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the New Zealand government involving Central North Island forestry land and cash.
The government apologised for past injustices and acknowledged the forest was integral to Ngati Whare's cultural identity and wellbeing.
The settlement provided for a joint Ngati Whare and Crown ecological regeneration project.
The common law trust is governed by seven trustees from iwi whānui elected at Hui-a-Iwi.
[1] The tribal area of Ngāti Whare is within the territory of Whakatāne District Council.