Media Statement

On behalf of Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust

14 February 2019

'Crown rush to sign before Tribunal hearings'

Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust says Ngāti Paoa is being put under pressure to rush to sign the Hauraki Collective Treaty settlement tomorrow, before an imminent urgent hearing is held by the Waitangi Tribunal and independent review of commercial structures in the settlement is completed.

Kaiārahi of Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, Haydn Solomon, says the rush to sign the settlement is an underhand move by the Crown and other Hauraki Iwi to try and pre-empt the Tribunal’s urgent hearing starting in a few weeks.

“There is nothing tika and pono about rushing off to sign this settlement with less than 24-hours’ notice and no consultation with our whānau, hapū and iwi,” says Mr Solomon.

“Ngāti Paoa is being used as a pawn by the Crown and other iwi to sure up their political and legal position before the urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearings start.”

Mr Solomon says that Ngāti Paoas mandated negotiator agreed at a Hui-ā-Iwi to wait until after an independant report from Buddle Findlay had been received so we could ensure that our settlement was protected. The Iwi had also expressed a desire to wait and review the impact of the Tribunal Hearings given our Kawenata with Iwi involved in those hearings.

“We have strongly urged our Negotiator not to sign; we know he is being pressured and it’s not good enough. Our people need to be heard.”

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Deputy Chair, Ngarimu Blair, says Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is deeply disappointed for Ngāti Paoa.

“It appears that the Treaty Negotiators for Ngāti Paoa, who signed our Kawenata not only on our Marae but also at Maungatapu in Tauranga, are not acting on the authority of their people,” Mr Blair says.

“Our Supreme Court ruling raised significant concerns with the Marutūahu claims. It is only right that these issues are sorted before signing off the Hauraki settlement.”

Ngāi Te Rangi CEO, Paora Stanley, says Ngāi Te Rangi is also in support of Ngāti Paoa.

“It looks like the case against the Crown is starting to mount,” he says.

“The Supreme Court decision in favour of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei; only five out of 12 iwi signing the Hauraki Settlement; the successful application by Tauranga, Waikato-Tainui and other iwi to hold an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing against the Crown – this all points to a broken settlement process that needs to be addressed.”

ENDS

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