Ngāpuhi Taniwha Rau

Media Release: 2 August 2018

Ngāpuhi Hapū Reject Technical Group Proposal to Settle Claims

Ngāpuhi hapū formally rejected a Ministerial technical groups’ proposal to settle their Tiriti o Waitangi claims at a hui held at the Korokota marae in Titoki, just outside of Whangarei on Tuesday this week.

A single commercial settlement entity promoted by Minister Little’s proposal was the basis of strong opposition at the meeting. The settlement proposal appears to be based on political expedience without resolving significant outstanding issues of representation which has drawn the Ngāpuhi mandating process into conflict.

Hapū are insisting on a principled settlement process which retains and enhances the mana, rangatiratanga and tikanga of their hapū and improves the relationship between hapū of Ngapuhi and the Minister. Hapū are hugely frustrated that the Minister had made little effort to communicate with them since his successful ‘Whakarongo – Listening Tour’ in early December last year.

Minister Little is proposing another series of hui to showcase his proposal across Ngāpuhi next weekend August 10-12. However, it was outlined at the Te Kotahitanga hui on Tuesday, that the proposal does not have the full support of all four representatives from Tūhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Hapū Ngāpuhi.

Moreover, the hui clashes with several major events, including the celebration that hapu of Hokianga have been planning for months to recognise and honour Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, and several hapū wānanga to finalise claimant submissions due with the Waitangi Tribunal on August 15.

The hapū of Ngāpuhi have already expressed serious concerns about the approach the Minister has taken over the last five months working in isolation from the very people he promised back in December to listen to and work with.

Though Ngāpuhi hapū absolutely welcome the opportunity to meet with the Minister again and deliver their views directly kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), the one and half weeks notification by the Minister to meet with all hapū of Ngapuhi is considered extremely rude, inconsiderate and unreasonable by any standards, particularly when key details of the proposal are still to be resolved.

Minister Little is strongly encouraged to take a step back from these rushed plans, engage and work directly with hapū representatives in the regions to develop and finalise an engagement plan that works for the hapū of Ngāpuhi and the Minister.

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