Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little believes compensation is necessary to make right the horrific circumstances Māori faced.
Two iwi have been paid $370 million dollars by the Government due to an old clause in their Treaty settlements.
In December, Waikato-Tainui received $190 million and Ngāi Tahu, $180 million.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says he's happy with the process.
"The whole treaty settlement process is about compensating for some pretty horrific stuff: land confiscation, suppression of language, suppression of human rights.
"The agreements have been made, those clauses are there, and we have an obligation to fulfil them."
Mr Little says the settlements are good for Māori and New Zealanders in the long run.
The two iwi were the first to settle with the Crown. They secured a clause which meant once Treaty payouts with all iwi reached $1 billion, they would get a share of all other settlements.
For every $1 paid to another tribe, Waikato-Tainui gets 17c and Ngāi Tahu, 16.1c.
The billion-dollar threshold was reached in 2012 when Tuhoe settled its claim. So far, more than $2 billion has been spent, most of it under the John Key-led National Government.
Newshub.
