Treaty of Waitangi negotiations around Mt Taranaki have taken a step forward with the signing of a record of understanding between the region's eight iwi and the Crown.

Taranaki iwi are a step closer to having Mt Taranaki recognised as a member of its whānau.

On Wednesday night Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, which represents the interests of the region's eight iwi, signed a record of understanding with the government that will see the mountain become a legal personality.

The signing is a significant step forward in the Treaty of Waitangi negotiations, with the legal status effectively giving the mountain the same protections as a citizen.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF Andrew Little said the Record of Understanding gives legal personality to the Mountain and establishes the creation of a joint Crown-Iwi governance entity for the area within the National Park.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little said the personality requirement recognised the mountain's status in a similar approach taken with Te Urewera and Te Awa Tupua Whanganui River.

"As a New Plymouth local I grew up under the gaze of the maunga so I'm particularly pleased with the respect accorded to local tangata whenua and the legal protection and personality given to the mountain," Little said.

READ MORE: Iwi begin treaty talks over Mt Taranaki

Supplied Jamie Tuuta said the mountain is of importance not only to Māori but all people in Taranaki.

"The Record of Understanding outlines the broad terms including repealing the Mount Egmont Vesting Act, and giving legal personality and the creation of a joint Crown-Iwi governance entity for the area within the National Park."

It also signalled there would be an apology from the Crown and acknowledgement of the historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Chief Negotiator for Taranaki iwi, Jamie Tuuta, said the recognition of the mountain as a personality and ancestor was of huge importance to not only Māori but the people of Taranaki.

"It [Mt Taranaki] provides that sense of place, social association and identity," he said.

Tuuta said the record of understand also set out a framework for working through outstanding matters and the next steps in reaching a final Collective Redress Deed.

In the coming months iwi will gather to have their say on what the Collective Redress Deed will look like. Included in this will be things like the scope, role and function of the joint iwi-Crown entity, Tuuta said.

Little said the announcement was a major step towards implementing seven individual Treaty settlements signed in Taranaki in the past 20 years.

The Crown and Ngāti Maru ki Taranaki also signed an Agreement in Principle, paving the way for their Deed of Settlement which will bring Treaty settlements for the Taranaki region to a conclusion.

"Today's agreements are a major milestone in acknowledging the grievances and hurt from the past as the Taranaki iwi experienced some of the worst examples of Crown behaviour in the 19th Century," Little said.