MEDIA STATEMENT
On behalf of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust and Ngati Pāoa Iwi Trust

21 January 2017

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Paoa renew peace pact

Auckland iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Paoa will today agreed to work together to define their areas of interest in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland).

Both iwi have committed to act in a way that is tika and pono (doing the right thing, in the right way) and respects each other’s mana.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei spokesman Ngarimu Blair says the central Auckland Hapū is pleased to be working with Ngāti Paoa face-to-face and according to tikanga.

“We acknowledge and respect that Ngāti Paoa has lead mana whenua interests in the east of Auckland, just as Ngāti Paoa has recognised our lead mana whenua status in central Auckland and that we both have shared histories and relationships in both areas,”he says.

Ngāti Paoa will land its renowned waka taua (war canoe) Te Kotuiti II at Okāhu Bay to present traditional taonga to renew the peace pact between the iwi that was established almost 200 years ago in the 1830s at the exact same site.

This traditional ceremony will be followed by the signing of a kawenata (covenant) at Ōrākei marae. The kawenata provides a platform for both the iwi and the city of Auckland to benefit.

“What today shows is that iwi can work through our differences without the interference of Crown treaty cross claim policies. Today sends a positive signal to the Government, Auckland Council and all New Zealanders. We look forward to the benefits that this relationship will bring to our iwi members and indeed the city of Auckland,” says Mr Blair.

Ngāti Paoa spokesperson Hauauru Rawiri says the ceremony and kawenata signal a significant step forward for Auckland.

“We are encouraged that we can now work together with Ngati Whātua Ōrākei in wider Tamaki for the economic, cultural, environmental and spiritual advancement of both iwi and the people of Auckland”.

Both iwi were in the High Court because of the Crown’s overlapping claims policy. However, the kawenata provides the basis for an enduring, constructive and conciliatory solution in accordance with tikanga and based on principles and values of tika, pono and aroha.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will continue its court action relating to the Crown cross claims policy.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Paoa also agree that Auckland Council’s engagement with ‘mana whenua’ has become too broad and doesn’t take into account tikanga, ‘take whenua’ (land interests) based on Maori customs related to land.

“It’s out of control and seems as if Auckland Council has decided that rather than offend anyone by leaving iwi out, they’ll just invite everybody in,” says Ngarimu Blair.

“This is costing ratepayers, and isn’t delivering better outcomes.”

Both iwi plan to encourage the council to return to the correct way of focusing engagement on the iwi who holds the lead interests in the area, rather than casting a net out to 19 iwi when it’s not needed.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngati Paoa will meet on a regular basis to discuss social, cultural and commercial opportunities moving forward.

ENDS

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