The Ngātiwai Trust Board participated in the MACA inquiry along with other claimants at hearings that were held in Wellingtons Waiwhetu Marae in March 2019.
Ngātiwai Trust Board Treaty Claims Committee Chairman Aperahama Edwards says “We see today’s report as very favorable and clearly confirms our argument from the hearings that we are being trapped in an expensive High Court process with costs that are beyond our control.”
“The report tell us that Te Arawhiti cannot operate as as the funder and the negotiator. This is a conflict of interest. However of greater concern is a process that can result in damage to whakawhanaungatanga relationships.”
Keatley Hopkins who submitted evidence on behalf of Ngāti Takapari, says “The Crown’s approach potentially causes division and tension amongst the various applicant groups, pitting whānau and hapū against one in another in a fight to have their respective customary interests recognised.”
Waitangi Tribunal Claimant of this inquiry, Mylie George, says \”Ngātiwai ki Whangaruru applicants are heartened by the tribunals findings. It acknowledges and reflects our true experience as whānau and hapū of Te Uri o Hikihiki, Ngāti Te Rahingahinga, Ngāti Te Awa and Ngāti Rehua ki Tuparehuia.”
“We maintain and uphold the mana of our whenua and Moana as we continue to fight and refuse to be subject to the winds and power of the coloniser\”
The Tribunal report warns the Crown not to create further overlapping interest conflicts and points out that there are obvious comparisons with the approach the Crown takes to resolving interests in Treaty Settlement negotiations.
Aperahama says “This report and our own experiences with overlapping claims tells us that the Crowns approach to resolving overlapping interests inevitably creates further Treaty breaches. We have always advocated for tikanga-based process to resolve these types of issues.”
“In this Crown-designed process, the Ngātiwai Trust Board are expected to respond to hundreds of resource consent applications that are received, but the Crown does not resource us to be able to respond.”
“As a consequence, we are unable to respond to applications for consents that will see the construction of private jetties, moorings and structures and discharge in the Ngātiwai rohe, without our input.”
“This process has the potential to change the face of the Ngātiwai Takutai Moana forever, and we will not stand by and allow this to happen.”
ENDS
Contacts: Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards, Chairman Ngātiwai Treaty Claims Committee
Phone: 09 430 0939
E-mail: aperahama.edwards@ngatiwai.iwi.nz
Barry Caldwell, Communications Advisor, Ngātiwai Trust Board
Phone: 021 728 291
Email: barry.caldwell@ngātiwai.iwi.nz