Over 70% of Ngāpuhi hapū voted in hapū hui over the last few weeks to reject the Tūhono mandate proposal developed by the Crown and representatives from both Tūhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapū o Ngapuhi.

Leaders of the Ngāpuhi hapū, Te Uri o Hua, TakotoKē, Ngāti Whakaeke, Ngāti Kura and Ngāti Tautahi whose hapū all voted against the evolved mandate proposal over the weekend say for their hapū the result is undeniable and a reflection of the hapū standing in their own power.

“Our people have spoken with conviction, pride in our hapū and with mana and we are all feeling really good about that” says Ted Wihongi, kaumatua and hapū kaikorero of Te Uri o Hua.

The hapū leadership within Te Pu o Te Wheke put the call out for the hapū to show up in force and be part of this decision and close to 200 of our people answered the call.

Whakaangi Kapa, hapū kaikorero for Ngāti Whakaeke says “We can thank the Tuhono leadership for providing the impetus for our hapū to respond. Although the hapū have said no to the proposal on the table, we can take many positives out of the process including building on the current momentum this latest process has created and shifting our focus to a plan that can work for us and all the hapū.”

The hapū of Te Pu o Te Wheke/ Kaikohekohe are calling on all the hapū teams of Ngāpuhi to meet together at Kohewhata marae in the New Year to discuss and agree a plan for our pathway forward.

The hui is to be held for all Ngāpuhi hapū at Kohewhata Marae on Saturday the 19th of January 2019 starting at 10am.

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