We Signed Our Deed of Settlement

ON Saturday, after generations of mamae, we received our apology and signed a deed of settlement of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims at a ceremony at Raetihi Marae. 

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua (TKOW) comprises three iwi: Tamahaki, Tamakana and Uenuku ki Manganui-o-te-Ao, nā Tūkaihoro. Our area of interest covers approximately 

613,000 hectares and includes the central Whanganui River, parts of the Tongariro and Whanganui National Parks and the townships of National Park, Ohakune, Pipiriki, Owhango and Raetihi.

The Settlement acknowledged breaches of te Tiriti o Waitangi relating to land confiscation and purchasing which led to virtual landlessness among our hapū and iwi and the consequential socio-economic harm to our people. 

At the signing, Chairman of Te Korowai O Wainuiarua Trust, Aiden Gilbert, presented a gift to Treaty Negotiations Minister, Andrew Little, on our behalf. 

This gift was a carved niho taniwha representative our three iwi. It wore a kete, inside the kete were some items which Mr Gilbert held up as he shared a story of gifts given by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana who was the founder of the Rātana religion in the early 20th century to the Prime Minister of the day, Michael Joseph Savage.  

“At the time there was a guy in charge of the country, his name was Savage, quite a fitting name,” Gilbert said.  

“Rātana give four gifts to Savage, a taewa (potato) he said to Mr Savage, I give you this gift because we have no land to grow our spuds on, then he held up a feather, he said, I gift you this feather because we have no birds, their home has been cut and the trees are no more, and he had a hei tiki in his hand, made out of pounamu, I gift you this, because we have no mana, and the last thing he had was a broken watch, he gifted the broken watch to Mr Savage and said, now it’s time to get back land.”

Mr Gilbert said that Saturday was about acknowledging who the people of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua are and their manawhenua. 

“ We stand here, on our whenua and can finally look forward to the future, one of cultural prosperity for our people,” he said

Treaty Minister Andrew Little made an apology to our people on behalf of the Crown.

“You were among the first to submit claims to the Waitangi tribunal 35 years ago in the 1980s and you have waited a long time for this day,” Little said.

“Your historical account is a painful story of conflict and loss… it’s important the Crown acknowledges this history, the grievances and injustices and takes responsibility for its role in the harm it’s caused to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua. Today I came to make that apology.”

Minister Little recognised the settlement process is seldom ever easy, stating that as a Crown process, it often leaves iwi feeling like some of their issues are unresolved, which he recognised was the situation with our settlement. . 

“I’m mindful that there is more Korero to be had.” 

Minister Little acknowledged that although every iwi is entitled to look to the Crown to conduct itself properly and respectfully, this isn’t always the case. 

“The Crown makes these commitments about relationships and engagement because that is the foundation for the future, but we still struggle to get it right, the Crown’s firm commitment is and it must be to strive to strengthen relationships through good engagement, through good communication, and you are entitled to expect nothing less in the future that awaits us,” he said. 

The settlement includes an agreed historical account, a set of Crown acknowledgements and an apology.

Minister Little acknowledged Crown actions were responsible for:

• The outbreak of war and deaths of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Tupuna. 
• The stigma of being labelled rebels, and the painful divisio
  ns between them and the iwi of Whanganui
• land loss through confiscation and purchasing which led to virtual landlessness among the hapū and iwi of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.
• The Crown took the land for public works, including defense, electricity generation, and railways, in the process of desecrating an Urupa, a burial ground of their people.
• the creation of Tongariro National Park without recognition of TKOW manawhenua. 
• socio-economic harm 

Minister Little acknowledged that since the creation of the National Parks, we’ve not had a role in the management of our Sacred Taonga, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, but that the Crown hopes to restore its honor and seeks to build a new relationship with us, based on respect and trust and the principles of the treaty. 

“The Crown is deeply sorry that its actions undermined the well-being of the people of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, left your people virtually landless, struggling from dire socioeconomic consequences. The ability to retain the language of Tikanga and iwi identity has been severely weakened,” he said. 

Our redress package includes:

•  $21.7 million in financial and commercial redress
• $6.8 million in cultural funding
• The return of 19 sites of cultural significance and 12 commercial properties, including – Crown forestry land at Erua, and the former prison site at Waikune
• Conservation management redress to support the establishment of a predator-proofed ecosanctuary at Pōkākā, and a seat on the Tongariro-Taupō Conservation Board
• Relationship agreements with a range of Crown agencies

Signing Ceremony

Raetihi Marae / Saturday July 29

Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau!

On behalf of Uenuku Charitable Trust, Aiden Gilbert extends this invitation to celebrate the beginning of a new era for our people.

“Tākiri ko te ata e ki rungā o Ruapehu hei tōhu i te ara e tēnā ka hora mai he tōhu nā Rangi e, e puritia Papatuānuku hei ara ngā nui,” he said.

“Nau mai hāere mai ngā Uri o te Nihō taniwha a Uenuku Tamakana Tamahaki ki te whakataungā i mana-whenua e ko te Korowai o Wainuiārua”.

“Haere e whai i te waewae o Uenuku kīa ora ai te tangata”.

Below is the order of events for the day.

To help our hau kāinga with catering purposes, please kindly RSVP to enquiries@uenuku.iwi.nz by 19 July, 5pm.

Limited marae accommodation available.

To reserve a bed, contact marae co-ordinator Tina Wallace: tinaw0193@gmail.com  or 027 292 8159

We can’t wait to have you with us!

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust Update

While your negotiation team continues to finalise outstanding Deed of Settlement matters with the Crown, they are also making good progress toward the establishment of the new Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) Trust, named Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust (TKWT).

On May 29, Uenuku Charitable Trust concluded a ratification process with uri overwhelmingly voting in support of the proposed Deed of Settlement and the proposed PSGE TKWT.

Since then, TKWT was formally established on 1 July.

On 5 July,  Minister Jackson and Minister Little agreed the ratification results showed significant support for the Settlement and that the Deed of Settlement should be signed.

Minister Little acknowledged the hard work and long hours undertaken by Uenuku Charitable Trust to make information about the settlement available to as many uri as possible and enable them to cast an informed vote.

“I commend the commitment of the negotiators and the Trust in reaching this significant milestone and I look forward to signing the deed on behalf of the Crown,” he said.

The first meeting of the TKWT Board of Trustees took place on 15 July at which a range of resolutions were moved, including the appointment of Chair and Deputy Chair to the new Trust and the appointment of an establishment team consisting of Chris McKenzie, Steve Hirini and Deborah Edmunds, to carry out various administrative and management work as delegated to it by the TKWT Trustees including selecting a bank and seeking investment and tax advice.

Those Trustees present elected Aiden Gilbert as the Chairperson and Nuthaniel Tonihi as Deputy Chairperson. The management team and interim Trustees will be in place until the first election which will take place in 18 months.

Other resolutions included the authorisation of the Chairperson and two other trustees to sign the Deed of Settlement on behalf of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.

Alongside the Deed of Settlement, there will be a Side Letter added to the signing, which outlines a commitment by the Crown to undertake remedial work on several properties managed by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) that will transfer to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua on the settlement date.

The Trustees authorised Aiden Gilbert to sign the Side Letter.

A working party has also been established to prepare for the signing ceremony on Saturday, 29 July.

Project Manager Steve Hirini said the signing ceremony arragementments are being well-led by the working party lead Mahanga Williams and his team, all adding to this momentous occasion.

Chairman Aiden Gilbert pressed the significance of this milestone on the pathway to settling historical grievances with the Crown, a day fought for by many Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Tūpuna.

“The importance and significance of the 29 July cannot be judged by one day, but by a journey accumulated by the many who sort justice on behalf of tātou kātoa,” he said.

If you haven’t already sent an RSVP, please do so to enquiries@uenuku.iwi.nz

Uenuku, Tamahaki and Tamakana – Te Tihi o te Rae  – Deed of Settlement 

Signing Ceremony

Raetihi Marae / Saturday July 29

Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau!

On behalf of Uenuku Charitable Trust, Aiden Gilbert extends this invitation to celebrate the beginning of a new era for our people.

“Tākiri ko te ata e ki rungā o Ruapehu hei tōhu i te ara e tēnā ka hora mai he tōhu nā Rangi e, e puritia Papatuānuku hei ara ngā nui,” he said. 

“Nau mai hāere mai ngā Uri o te Nihō taniwha a Uenuku Tamakana Tamahaki ki te whakataungā i mana-whenua e ko te Korowai o Wainuiārua”. 

“Haere e whai i te waewae o Uenuku kīa ora ai te tangata”.

Below is the order of events for the day. 

To help our hau kāinga with catering purposes, please kindly RSVP to enquiries@uenuku.iwi.nz by 19 July, 5pm. 

Limited marae accommodation available.

To reserve a bed, contact marae co-ordinator Tina Wallace: tinaw0193@gmail.com  or 027 292 8159

We can’t wait to have you with us!

Venue and Date Confirmed for Signing

Over the weekend, the Trustees of Uenuku Charitable Trust confirmed the date and venue for signing the Te Korowai o Wainuiarua Deed of Settlement.

The signing will be held on Saturday, 29 July, at Raetihi Marae.

The Trustees also established a working party to prepare for this momentous occasion.

Caroline Heta, a member of the signing working party, said that the day is for whānau uri, hapū, iwi and friends to celebrate the deed signing.

“This is a significant day for the Uenuku, Tamahaki, Tamakana and all of New Zealand,” she said.

“We would like to acknowledge the enormous amount of work that has been achieved by mana whenua and the government to get us to this point.”

She said the Settlement will bring closure and the ability to move forward.

More details about the signing programme will follow.

Resounding Support for Settlement

Voting is closed.

Congratulations whānau, we did it!

Uri of Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku have strongly endorsed the Crown’s offer to settle our historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.

“Kia koutou ma o te piringā whare o te Wainuiārua haere ki moēa I te po nau mai ki te Ao – on behalf of our people whom consistently from the beginning, seeking justice along this journey of grievance, and the systematic taking of our lands, and on behalf of us today whom have carried the rākau o te whakawā (taiaha of justice) to reach this corner milestone in support of the Settlement for Tamakana, Uenuku, Tamahaki nei rā te mihi kia koutou.” – Aiden Gilbert

Te Tihi o te Rae includes the Crown’s acknowledgement of numerous breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, an agreed historical account and an apology from the Crown for those breaches. It also includes cultural, financial and commercial redress.

Iwi members were asked to cast two votes through the independent returning officer at electionz.com. The first; is whether or not to accept the Crown’s settlement offer, and the second; is whether or not to accept the proposed Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) called Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust to manage the settlement and iwi affairs.

Well done whānau, we surpassed our 30 percent voter return target and the final voter results are below.

Click to access Uenuku-Charitable-Trust_2023-DOS-PSGE-Ratification_Final-Result.pdf

Thank you to all uri who voted, exercising mana motuhake – your right to determine our collective future.

We can now start preparations for the formal signing of our Deed of Settlement, which is set to take place on July 28 in Raetihi.

All uri will be invited as soon as arrangements are confirmed.

Historical Redress Documents

The Negotiations team would like to share the following historical redress documents with uri of Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku. These documents remain provisional until the Deed of Settlement has been ratified and are currently under review by Uenuku Charitable Trust to be translated into te reo Māori.

Historical Account 

Crown Acknowledgement

Crown Apology 

Ratification of your Deed of Settlement

Kia ora whānau,

The time has come to cast your vote!

The Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Negotiations Team, has been negotiating with the Crown since 2014 in relation to the Settlement of the historical claims of Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku.

With the initialling of the Deed of Settlement in December 2022, the descendants of Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku now have the opportunity to vote on whether to accept the proposed Deed of Settlement and Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE).

Our voting period runs over a five-week period starting today and concluding at 12 noon on the 29th of May 2023.

All registered members (with known mailing addresses), who are 18 years and over, will be sent an Information Pack today, which will include your Ratification Information Booklet and Voting Paper. However, you can vote online and download a copy of your Ratification Information Booklet today.

This Information Booklet is intended to provide whānau with information you need to understand what the proposed settlement covers, how it addresses our claims, and how you can learn more about and vote on, your Settlement.

What are the ways to vote?

There are three ways whānau are able to vote:

• Through the return, by mail, of your personalised Voting Paper which should be included in your Information Pack.

• By placing the voting form in the ballot box at any of the Ratification Information Hui.

• Registered members can vote online now!

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust Deed

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust must manage the settlement redress on behalf of and for the benefit of the present and future members of Iwi in accordance with its Trust Deed. This Trust Deed is a document that creates the PSGE Trust and sets out how the Trust will operate.

You can download and view our Trust Deed today!

Voting He Pātai | Questions

When is the voting period?

Our voting period runs over a five-week period starting at 11am on the 24th of April 2023 and concluding at 12 noon on the 29th of May 2023. 

Why is it important to vote?

As uri of Tamahaki, Tamakana and Uenuku, it is your right to determine our collective future. By showing your support for our Deed of Settlement through endorsing this settlement you are helping make a positive move forward towards mana motuhake.

Who is running the voting process & helpline?

This ratification vote is being run independently by Christchurch based company electionz who have been managing elections on behalf of Iwi and Councils around the motu for over 20 years. Should you need any assistance or voting documents you can phone the helpline on 0800 666 028 or email iro@electionz.com.

Who is eligible to vote?

All Te Korowai o Wainuiārua uri who are aged 18-years-or-over at the conclusion of the voting period are eligible to vote. 

To ensure that voters are people who are entitled to be beneficiaries of the settlement (and come within the Claimant Definition described on page 8), you also need to be either:

1. a registered member of Uenuku Charitable Trust– as approved by the Whakapapa Committee OR 
2. are eligible to cast a special vote through the completion of Whakapapa Verification Form – as approved by the Whakapapa Committee.

This second option allows those people who do not wish to register for Uenuku Charitable Trust to still be able to vote and express their views. 

What if I am not registered?

If you are not currently registered with Uenuku Charitable Trust you are still able to vote by casting a special vote during the voting period. There are two ways you can do this:

1. attend a Ratification Information Hui in person, complete a Registration Form or a Whakapapa Verification Form and cast your special vote with the electionz.com team at the hui; or
2. phone the helpline on 0800 666 028 or email iro@electionz.com and electionz.com will arrange to send you a Registration Form or a Whakapapa Verification Form and Information Pack. On receipt, cast your vote then send both the Voting Paper and completed Registration Form or Whakapapa Verification Form back in the Freepost envelope provided. 

Our Whakapapa Committee will be meeting regularly throughout the four-week voting period to ensure the verification of all Registration Forms or Whakapapa Verification Forms returned within this time frame. To assist with this process please ensure you have included as much information as you can about your whakapapa and your date of birth.

What is a Special vote?

The provision of special votes has been made for people who either:

• Turn 18-years-old on or before the voting closing date or,
• Register during the voting period on or before the voting closing date or 
• Do not wish to register with Uenuku Charitable Trust but wish to vote.

The following process will be followed regarding the receipt and process of special votes:

• each special voting form will use a unique identifier referencing the special conditions the person is voting under. If a member is not registered, they must complete a member registration form or Whakapapa Verification Form with their special vote
• special votes will be counted by the independent returning officer subject to eligibility being confirmed by the Whakapapa Validation Committee.

What are the ways to vote?

There are three ways whānau are able to vote:

• online via a link which can be found on the front page of our website www.uenuku.iwi.nz 
• through the return, by mail, of your personalised Voting Paper which should be included in your Information Pack
• in person at any of the Ratification information Hui being held around the motu during our voting period.

Has your personalised Voting Paper gone on a little hikoī? A new one can be requested at any time during the voting period by either calling 0800 666 028 or emailing iro@electionz.com

What if I live overseas?

Regardless of where you live, we highly encourage all whānau to vote. If you live overseas, we highly recommend you cast your vote online to help ensure your vote is received by the end of the voting period. This helps remove the risk of your vote getting lost or delayed in the post. If you need help email iro@electionz.com.

What happens once the voting period has finished?

Following the conclusion of the voting period, 12 noon on the 29th of May 2023, the Independent Returning Officer from electionz.com will advise Te Korowai o Wainuiārua of the results and then notify the Treaty Settlement team at the Office for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti and Te Puni Kōkiri. 

The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations will then determine whether the Crown considers there has been enough support shown by uri for our Deed of Settlement. 

Where do I get my unique pin and password to vote online? 

Registered members will receive their unique voting pin and password within their voter pack which has been sent in the mail and is on the way out to you. Members will also receive an email which includes this unique pin and password that is required to vote online.

If anyone hasn’t received either their voter pack and/or a reminder email by 1 May they should contact our helpline on either 0800 666 028 or email iro@electionz.com. 

12 April, 2023

Your Settlement Vote

Ratification of Deed of Settlement and Post-Settlement Governance Entity

Prepare whānau, voting for your Settlement opens on April 24.

1. An overview of the proposed Settlement Redress package for all Te Korowai o Wainuiārua historical claims; which is structured around three pou, Oranga Whenua: kaitiakitanga and environmental restoration, Oranga Wairua: restoring social and cultural identity and wellbeing; and Oranga Tangata: financial and commercial redress.

2. An overview of the Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) – Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust. The Trust was developed as the PSGE following consultation hui with uri in 2019. The name Te Korowai o Wainuiārua was chosen to represent uri from Te Korowai o Wainuiārua tūpuna – Uenuku, Tamakana and Tamahaki.

05 April, 2023

Your Settlement is Coming

Te Tihi o te Rae – Deed of Settlement

Below is a short Summary Overview of Te Tihi o te Rae along with a complete set of all the Deed of Settlement documents initialled by our Trustees in Wellington on the 12th of December, 2022 (If you click on any of the below links  it will take you to a PDF you are able to download and save) 

Summary of the Historical Background to the claims by Te Korowai o Wainuiārua

Deed of Settlement Te Tihi o te Rae   –   Part 1 pages: 1-95

Deed of Settlement Te Tihi o te Rae  –   Part 1 pages: 96-190

Deed of Settlement Schedule: General Matters

Deed of Settlement Schedule: Property Redress

Deed of Settlement Schedule: Attachments

Please note: Some of these files are also quite large so there may be a small delay in them opening once you have clicked on each link

12 December 2022

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua initial our Deed of Settlement: Te Tihi o te Rae

Judith Treanor (left) and Rangirea Williams (right) with Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little

In 1840 rangatira of three Central North Island tribes Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku first signed te Tiriti o Waitangi, on Monday descendants of these mighty chiefs initialled their Deed of Settlement: Te Tihi o te Rae.

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua chair Aiden Gilbert said the initialling signals a new start for the iwi and an exciting opportunity to finally, following extensive delays caused by the Covid pandemic, move forward into the process of whānau ratification and endorsement.

“Today was highly significant, many whānau started this journey and today, we stand as the ones left to finish the mahi our old people started 180 years ago.”

“Over this time there has been the continual occupation of our ancestral lands, attacks and war against our whānau and we had been totally ostracised by Government through the labelling of our people as Hauhau rebels.

“Now, by initialling Te Tihi o te Rae we have finally reached a time where our three tribes have been formally and officially re-recognised and acknowledged.

“We have always been a part of our community but today, we are now again able to stand and be visible again on our lands which, has been the one of the biggest causes of mamae for our people.”

One of the rare things about this settlement is three tribes have been clustered together which, at times Mr Gilbert said has made it difficult in adhering to everyone’s mamae and their unique issues with the Crown,” Mr Gilbert said.

“This has been a challenge for the negotiations team in terms of satisfying everyone who has claims and this package is never going to appease or, please all our whānau.

“If we look at the statistics, it is only around 3-percent of what is really owing to us.

“If Settlement is about justice, this is not justice however, it’s a positive start that now gives the descendants of Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku a newfound respect and most importantly formal recognition by the Crown so we can now begin to take our next steps together in developing a meaningful partnership.”

Along with an apology from the Crown and financial and commercial redress, cultural redress includes a total of 19 sites of cultural significance will be vested across the vast rohe of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua ranging from Whangamomona and Retaruke in the north traversing through Waimarino-National Park and Raetihi down the Whanganui River, Pipiriki and Ōhoutahi.

Overlay classifications are also included at Pōkākā which included part Erua Scenic Reserve, the Mākātote Scenic Reserve parcels west of State Highway, Manganui-a-te-Ao Scenic Reserve, and Pōkākā Scenic Reserve to help further the aspirations of Iwi to develop an ecosanctuary.

“I want to acknowledge all those who have passed on and haven’t been here to see this day,” Mr Gilbert said.

“It has been a privilege, an honour to be a part of this and finally be able to start to see an end this journey started so long ago.

“Our journey hasn’t ended, it will never end, our tamariki and mokopuna will continue to the legacy left to us by our tūpuna.”

Hīkoi to initial Te tehi o te rae, our Deed of Settlement

11 December 2022

15 March 2022:

Three Tribes – One Settlement
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua is the name of the Large Natural Group recognised by iwi and the Crown as representing the descendants of three tūpuna – Uenuku, Tamakana and Tamahaki. Through Uenuku Charitable Trust, the group has been mandated to negotiate settlement of claims against the Crown for its breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Te Korowai o Wainuiārua: Treaty Claims – Uenuku Charitable Trust

On 1 February 2014, a Hui-ā-Iwi at Mangamingi Pā called for a new tribal authority, and Uenuku Charitable Trust (UCT) was established. Three tūpuna – Tamakana, Tamahaki and Uenuku – were identified as unifying our Treaty of Waitangi claims area as a Large Natural Grouping (LNG). The LNG was named Te Korowai o Wainuiārua. In July 2015, the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua claimant community supported the resolution:

“That Uenuku Charitable Trust is mandated to represent Te Korowai o Wainuiārua in negotiations with the Crown for the comprehensive settlement of all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims that relate to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.”

The Deed of Mandate for negotiations was formally recognised in July 2016. In February 2017, Uenuku Charitable Trust signed the Terms of Negotiation in which we determined the rules for how we act during negotiations with the Crown. An Agreement in Principle was signed with the Crown in November 2018. The Agreement in Principle outlines a broad settlement package, including provisional Crown acknowledgements of its Treaty breaches, financial and commercial redress of $21.7 million, and the return of sites of cultural significance to Uenuku, Tamakana and Tamahaki.

The Agreement in Principle will be developed into a Deed of Settlement through further negotiations between the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Negotiations Team and the Crown. These negotiations are expected to continue through 2019 and into 2020. In this phase crucial decisions will be required on the Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) that will receive the settlement and manage assets going forward. To be clear, UCT will not be the entity that receives settlement assets – a new entity will be created for that task, and we will be looking for direction on who you want to receive and manage the assets, and how.

We have held extensive rounds of hui to inform negotiations, including with kaumātua, Wai claimants, hapū, local authorities, land trusts, government agencies, and neighbouring iwi. We have held talks with Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Hāua and the Whanganui Land Settlement Trust on overlapping land interests and the Treaty settlement process, some of them ongoing. We have taken great strides in settling our respective and shared interests, or – because of our extensive shared whakapapa – how we might look after each other’s interests. All of these conversations – although sometimes challenging – have been good, and we are committed to continuing to work through these discussions.

As well as comprehensive land settlement, we are involved in a number of other settlements, including:

• Tongariro National Park, which will be negotiated by a collective of iwi with interests in the park.
• Whanganui National Park, a significant portion of which sits within our area of interest. In 2016, we facilitated a number of hui of iwi with interests in Whanganui National Park for preliminary discussions.

Negotiations Team

UCT has appointed a team to drive negotiations with the Crown and represent the interests of our people.

• Lead Negotiator – Chris McKenzie (leads all aspects of our multiple-settlement workstreams)
• Negotiator – Paora Haitana
• Negotiator – Aiden Gilbert
• Treaty Manager – Steve Hirini

The Negotiations Team is supported by specialist advisors, an historian, a research committee, and the UCT Board of Trustees.

Historian – Professor Richard Boast, ONZM

We are proud to have with us Professor Richard Boast, ONZM, who specialises in legal history and Māori land law. A Queen’s Counsel and lecturer at Victoria University’s School of Law, Professor Boast has written many research reports for the Waitangi Tribunal process and has been an expert historian over many years in settlement negotiations between iwi and the Crown. He has made special submissions to the Tribunal, including on the law relating to the foreshore and seabed, Crown purchasing of Māori land, and the Native Land Court. Professor Boast has published a three-volume critique of leading judgments of the Native Land Court and in 2009 his book ‘Buying the Land, Selling the Land’, which dealt with Māori land and the Native Land Court from 1865-1920, was awarded the Montana Book award for history. In 2015 Professor Boast was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in recognition of his contribution to legal-historical scholarship. In the New Year Honours 2018, Professor Boast was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the law and Māori. Professor Boast is working with our Research Team to complete a comprehensive report incorporating traditional history, the Native Land Court and an historical account.

Research Team

We have a core team of researchers which includes Don Robinson, Boy Cribb, Gaye Whitu, Kura Wanikau and Edward (Fred) Clark – and we draw on other expertise as needed. Uncle Jim Edmonds is our  kaumātua and cultural advisor. Mapping research and support is provided by Jake Robinson.

Three Tribes – One Settlement 

Native Land Court records and other primary sources identify Uenuku, Tamahaki and Tamahaki as the eponymous ancestors of their own discrete tribes. Whilst these tribes are also known as tribes of the Whanganui River they have been recorded as their own distinct entities. This is in line with our own traditional histories. Each tribe had numerous hapū aligned to them.

The Crown expectation that all three tribes settle in one collective has caused significant discomfort and unrest amongst the various tribal entities and is a complicating factor in settling historical claims.

Area of Interest  

The Te Korowai o Wainuiārua area of interest is large and extends across four Waitangi Tribunal Inquiry districts. Our interests have been evidenced in these respective tribunal inquiries including Taihape, Whanganui, Rohe Pōtae and Tauponuiātia.

12 December 2019 Pōkākā Information Flyer

2 August 2019: Pōkākā Ecosanctuary Video

23 November 2018: Agreement in Principle

20 February 2017: Terms of Negotiation

20 June 2016: Recognition of Mandate

5 February 2016: Deed of Mandate

5 February 2016: Notification of Mandate to Negotiate

5 February 2016: Appendix A – Mandate Declaration of Result

5 February 2016: Appendix B – Uenuku Trust Deed

5 February 2016: Appendix C – UCT Representation Protocol

5 February 2016: Appendix D – UCT Engagement Strategy

5 February 2016: Appendix E – UCT Registration Form

5 February 2016: Appendix F – TKoW Whakapapa Form

5 February 2016: Appendix G – Mandate Hui Public Notice

5 February 2016: Appendix H – Mandate Hui Presentation

5 February 2016: Appendix I – TPK Summary Report

5 February 2016: Appendix J – Disputes Resolution

He karanga atu rā

There are many, many challenges and opportunities facing our people, including pressing environmental, social, cultural, political and economic issues. As we move carefully and steadily toward a settlement that may help provide a foundation from which to address these issues, we will need your ideas, involvement and support. We call for those who can to bring their skills and energy home to National Park, Raetihi, Makaranui, Ohakune, Pipiriki, our rivers and maunga, and the wider rohe to assist in the vast amount of mahi required to protect the interests of our taonga whenua, maunga, awa and whānau.