In October 2017 the Waitangi Tribunal released their report on the Ngātiwai Mandate Inquiry. The Tribunal found that the Crown breached:

• The principle of partnership and the duty of active protection by failing to protect actively the tino rangatiratanga of the hapū included in the Deed of Mandate; and
• The principle of equal treatment in relation to the hapū who remain within the mandate and have no realistic prospect of being able to withdraw compared with those hapū who were earlier allowed by the Crown to settle separately or that have been released from the mandate without explanation.

As a result, the Tribunal recommended that negotiations be paused so that mediation or facilitated discussions take place to debate the unsatisfactory elements of the Deed of Mandate.  If agreement is reached on a pathway forward then the Deed of Mandate should be amended and re-submitted to the parties, including the 12 hapū listed in the mandate for endorsement or rejection.  In the event of rejection by the parties the Tribunal then recommended withdrawal of the mandate and the setting up of a new entity such as a Rūnanga or taumata to represent all the hapū and groups in the inquiry district, whether or not they are Ngatiwai.  The Tribunal refers to this second process as the longer route.  In either case the Tribunal recommended that the Crown should fund these processes.

In February 2019, the Board approached the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations to request funding support for the mediation recommended by the Waitangi Tribunal.  We were then advised by the Minister to work with Crown officials to provide them with sufficient information to form the basis for funding to be approved.  We also asked that hapū be provided with independent funding to participate in the mediation on an equal footing.
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In September 2019, the Board wrote to update claimant hapū advising them of the funding that had been approved by the Minister for the Ngātiwai Trust Board to support the proposed mediation process including the costs of mediators/facilitators and other costs.  In May 2020, the Crown wrote to the hapū claimants advising them of their independent funding approval.
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As a result the Board have been working to reach out to request hui with hapū claimants either informally or formally to begin discussions about the proposed mediation.

In December 2019, the Waitangi Tribunal released their report on the Hauraki Settlement Overlapping Claims Inquiry. The Tribunal found that the Crown:

• Acted inconsistently with the Treaty principles of partnership and active protection;
• Had failed in its duties to act honourably and in good faith, and to avoid creating fresh grievances; and
• Failed in its obligation to protect or preserve amicable tribal relationships.

As a result, the Tribunal found that the Crown had prejudicially affected Ngātiwai and recommended that:

• the legislation giving effect to the Pare Hauraki Collective Settlement Deed, and the individual Hauraki iwi settlement deeds, do not proceed until the contented redress items have been through a proper overlapping claims tikanga-based process; and
• that the Crown, when undertaking such a process, fully commits to and facilitates consultation, information-sharing, and the use of tikanga-based resolution processes that reflect the principles identified by the Tribunal.

​Since the beginning of the year we have been actively communicating with all parties including the Crown and Hauraki groups.  A letter was sent to the Prime Minister in January where we sought assurance that the Tribunals recommendations would be followed. We also requested full Disclosure of all Current Overlapping Redress. We received a response from the Minister in February confirming that he does not intend to progress Hauraki settlement legislation and that his strong preference is to support and encourage iwi-led tikanga-based engagement on the disputed redress.

During March we went into the COVID-19 lockdown and as a result refocused our attention on our response to the pandemic and supporting our people. However, we did manage to keep abreast of Zoom hui taking place between Hauraki groups and Ngāti Manuhiri which resulted in a kanohi ki te kanohi hui after COVID-19 travel restrictions were relaxed. Ngāti Manuhiri have indicated that they are confident to get to resolution of their issues shortly.
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In May the Board resumed all pre-COVID workflows and have written to all the Hauraki groups individually to outline our proposal for how a tikanga process could be advanced in a manner that affirms the mana of all parties.  Briefly the proposal includes bringing our tikanga tohunga (experts) together to co-design the process before we engage each other on the disputed redress. 

Hauraki Overlapping Claims

On Tuesday, 17th December 2019 the Waitangi Tribunal released their report on the Hauraki Overlapping Claims Urgent Inquiry. The affected hapū and iwi claimant groups came together to hold the Crown to account for their implementation of the Overlapping Claims Settlement process with Hauraki Iwi.

The Ngātiwai Trust Board’s Treaty Claims Committee Chairman, Aperahama Edwards says, “This report validates the claims we have made and affirms the rightful place of tikanga Māori in resolving our overlapping interests”.

In April 2019, Ngātiwai uri travelled to Wellington to defend the mana of their hapū and iwi at Waiwhetu Marae in front of the Waitangi Tribunal. Along with other groups in a similar position, Ngātiwai asked the Tribunal to look into the Crown’s flawed overlapping claims policies, practices and processes that was set to offer redress within the Ngātiwai rohe to iwi from the Hauraki district.  At the heart of the claim was the mana of the iwi of Ngātiwai.

“Our claim to the Waitangi Tribunal was upheld – this is a win for the important role of tikanga Māori in working in the Treaty negotiations space”, states Aperahama Edwards.

The Waitangi Tribunal said in summarising the findings and recommendations:

•  “Having thus found that the Crown acted inconsistently with the Treaty principles of partnership and active protection; failed in its duties to act honourably and in good faith, and to avoid creating fresh grievances; and failed in its obligation to protect or preserve amicable tribal relationships, we find that the Crown had prejudicially affected…Ngātiwai. Accordingly, we recommend:
• That the legislation giving effect to the Pare Hauraki Collective Settlement Deed, and the individual Hauraki iwi settlement deeds, does not proceed until the contented redress items have been through a proper overlapping claims process…”

The tribunal elaborated on what a proper tikanga-based process would involve and we agree with the tribunal that a tikanga-based process must take place early on and that all parties should participate in the design of the process.
 
Ngati Rehua uri and WAI 1544 claimant, Huhana Lyndon says, “The Urgency was called because once again the Crown sought to settle our hapū and iwi interests without our consent. Further, despite our calls for time to work through our issues, the Crown ignored our position and pushed forward with Hauraki for full and final settlement. This undermines our rangatiratanga guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi”.

The Tribunal recognised that Ngātiwai have expressed a genuine intention to try and resolve the issues raised in this inquiry though tikanga, and suggested the Crown should do all it can to facilitate this process, including by providing funding, administrative support, access to facilitators or mediators, and more.

Huhana Lyndon says, “Tikanga Māori is our foundation, the Crown through their application of the Red Book approach to Treaty negotiations fails to allow hapū and iwi to move at their own pace and time”.

Aperahama Edwards says, “Our experience in the Crown’s overlapping claims process was that tikanga was never engaged in early-on and we were certainly not invited to be part of designing what that tikanga process looked like.  With these findings from the Tribunal, I would hope the Crown can go back and get this fundamentally right”.

“I am proud of our people, particularly the determination and mana they have shown through this.  It is not easy to collectivise yourselves logistically and financially, but it was important that we did so to ensure that the mana of Ngātiwai was upheld.  For me it shows that when our people need to come together as one to defend our rights, that we are able to do so”.

Ngātiwai uri in the affected areas will now meet internally to discuss how to approach the next steps. 

Mandate Mediation
During the last quarter of the year the Board continued to work through the Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendations for an agreed mediation process to take place, funded by the Crown.

Funding for mediation and making this available and fair for all involved has always been a priority for the Board.  The Board have made recommendations that the Crown independently and directly fund claimants so that all parties can equally participate in mediation.  The Board and the Crown have written to claimants in the inquiry inviting them to prepare their funding request.

The Board and the Crown have been communicating with claimants to begin this process, and are currently in communication with hapū Patuharakeke, Te Waiariki, Ngāti Korora/Ngāti Takapari and Te Whakapiko hapū o Ngāti Manaia.  The Board is also conscious of our Whangaruru whanau claimants and encourage them to discuss with Te Arawhiti their options regarding funding.

Hui will need to be held prior to any mediation beginning for all parties to agree on the Terms of Reference for the mediation (i.e. agree facilitators/mediators, specialist advisors, number of hui, venues, milestones, etc.) as recommended by the Tribunal.
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With the work that is being done, and the communication beginning to happen between all parties there are encouraging signs that the process of trying to begin mediation is moving in a positive direction. 

Marine and Coastal Area Act Update
Ngātiwai MACA Applicant Hui
The Ngātiwai Trust Board Treaty Claims Committee hosted a MACA hui on 13th November 2019 at the Ngātiwai Trust Board.  The purpose or kaupapa of the hui was to discuss, “What is the best approach to take to the MACA Act?”.

Over recent times traversing our own journey through a Treaty Settlement, we as an iwi have had our challenges in being able to work together collectively or collaboratively.  However with this kauapapa and the potential impact that it could have on our local whanau, hapū and our iwi, it was pleasing to see that we could come together to discuss the MACA, with a very good turnout of approximately 30 participants.

Discussions were very respectful with everyone being able to present their applications to the hui and talk about where they are up to in advancing them. A number of positive suggestions were made but a lingering concern was raised that the Trust Board was potentially attempting to take over their applications. 
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The Board’s position in relation to all Ngātiwai MACA applications in the High Court has been to support “in principle” those applications and to provide a protective blanket for any Ngātiwai whanau, hapū or marae who were unable to file their own applications by the deadline of 3rd April 2017. The Treaty Claims Committee has been working to identify who those groups are, to offer to include them in the Board’s application.  

Historical Research
Tony Walzl of Whalghan Partners has been engaged by the Board to provide technical support in collating Ngātiwai Historical Research for the purpose of MACA.  The Board contracted Tony to produce a report that contains information on land tenure within the Ngātiwai rohe by identifying things like Maori land titles that is adjacent to the Common Marine and Coastal Area and for land that has gone out of Maori title and when this occurred.  Land ownership or retention since 1840 is a significant factor in meeting the tests under the MACA Act, which requires that applicants must show that they have continuously occupied or used the coastal marine area in question since 1840.
 
Oral History Research
The Treaty Claims Committee begun work with Tony Walzl in November 2019 to start collecting oral history interviews.  Oral history research is a key piece of evidence to prove another test under the Act which requires that the area in question has been used or occupied since 1840 AND that any customary rights have been exercised in accordance with tikanga.  This work will continue during 2020.
 
MACA Kaupapa Inquiry:
The Marine and Coastal Act Kaupapa Inquiry - Stage 2 hearings, are expected to take place in Te Tai Tokerau in April or May 2020.
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The Treaty Claims Committee will be holding another MACA hui early in 2020, and it is hoped that as a collective of Ngātiwai whānau, hapū and Iwi that we continue to work together collaboratively in opposition to the MACA Act and that we can achieve a positive collective approach to and submit strong evidence in this inquiry. 

Mandate Mediation
​Since the Tribunal released its findings on the Ngātiwai Trust Board mandate in October 2017 the Board has discussed these findings and recommendations at hui-a-iwi and kaumātua hui over the past two years.

Discussions have been focused on the Board not being “fit for purpose” and what “fit for purpose” actually looks like; hapū autonomy, hapū rangatiratanga, the consent of hapū to be included in the mandate and the origins of Ngātiwai and the Ngātiwai Trust Board.

As the Tribunal recommended a mediation process funded by the Crown as a next step, the Board has been working on developing draft proposals consistent with the Tribunal’s recommendations for the Crown to fund. The Crown has agreed to support the Ngātiwai claimant community coming together to resolve the current mandate issues with funding to be made available for mediation costs.

The Board realise that working through the recommended mediation process as set out by the Waitangi Tribunal will have its challenges. We also realise that for all parties to enter any mediation with confidence, everyone needs to enter into these having being fairly resourced and funded. So discussions that the Board have had with the Crown about mediation have focused on ensuring that funding allowances are made for all parties.

​These will be tough discussions to have, but the Board is genuine in its desire to enter meaningful mediation in good faith. 

Waitangi Tribunal Hearings

Hauraki Overlapping Claims Inquiry:
The Board filed its reply submissions to the Crown’s closing submissions on Friday 12 July 2019.

In our closing submission we concluded that the Crown has failed to protect the interests of Ngātiwai during the course of the negotiations and overlapping claims processes it undertook with Hauraki. During their negotiations with Hauraki, the Crown has inappropriately acknowledged Hauraki customary interests within the Ngātiwai rohe, and recognised mana whenua and mana moana where it does not exist.

We feel the Crown has not acted in accordance with tikanga and have stated that it cannot ensure tikanga is adhered to even though it has an obligation to ensure tikanga is followed.  We believe through this process, the Crown has allowed the takahi of the rangatiratanga of Ngātiwai.

Through this process the Crown has not acted fairly and impartially towards Ngātiwai. The Crown favoured Hauraki when agreeing with Hauraki that issues between iwi were irreconcilable. This has allowed Hauraki to have an unfair advantage over Ngātiwai and resulted in redress that prejudices Ngātiwai. The Crown has further created divisions and damaged the relationships between Ngātiwai and the iwi of Hauraki.

We now await the findings and recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal.  As an outcome to these hearings, Ngātiwai would like to engage in a tika and pono tikanga process on the marae with the tribes of Hauraki to resolve these important issues.  Ngātiwai would like to korero with Hauraki to understand why their proposed redress extends so far into the Ngātiwai Rohe and why they are continuing to do so without the consent of Ngātiwai.  Through a tikanga process we would like to discuss why we feel the proposed Hauraki redress has undermined the mana whenua, rangatiratanga, mana moana and tikanga of Ngātiwai.  Through this process it is hopeful that we can heal the divisions and damaged relationships both within Ngātiwai and between Ngātiwai and the iwi of Hauraki; and also the partnership between the Crown and Ngātiwai to move forward in a positive way that all parties are happy with.

The submissions have been uploaded to the Board’s website and can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/32LVgUh

This now concludes the Board’s participation in the urgent inquiry and the next step is for the Tribunal to release its report, findings and recommendations.

​WAI 2840: Hauraki Overlapping Claims Inquiry While working through the MACA Stage 1 hearings, the Board was also preparing to appear again at the Waitangi Tribunal hearings from 8 – 12 April in Wellington. These hearings (WAI 2840) are an urgent inquiry into the Crown’s Treaty Settlement policy regarding overlapping claims and the proposed redress in relation to the Hauraki Collective, Marutūāhu Collective and individual Hauraki iwi settlements.

A pōwhiri for the hearings took place on Sunday 7th April at Waiwhetu Marae, Lower Hutt and the hearings began on Monday 8th April.

The Board’s representatives, witnesses and supporters including our whānau from Aotea, attended the hearings at Waiwhetu Marae in unison. Whānau based in Wellington also attended in support. Ngātiwai presented a very strong presence at the hearings together with Ngāti Manuhiri.

Kiri Tahana from Kahui Legal set the stage for Ngātiwai witnesses with compelling opening submissions. Ngātiwai Trustee for Matapouri Aperahama Edwards and Ngātiwai Chairman Haydn Edmonds were cross-examined and at the last minute the Crown and counsel for Hauraki chose not to cross-examine Ngātiwai Treaty Claims Manager Tania McPherson.

Treaty Claims Committee Chairman, Aperahama Edwards says, “It was great to have the Ngātiwai presence seen and heard, we really appreciated the tautoko from our whānau in Wellington and from across the motu that were able to attend."

“Going through these two hearings simultaneously has had huge impact on our Board and our wider iwi.”

“The time, effort and costs that has gone into defending our Mana is huge, but we cannot sit back and watch our Mana Moana and Mana Whenua be given away by the Crown without anyone having a conversation with us on our marae first.”

 “So we had to travel, we had to fight this injustice and we had to defend the Mana of our people.”

“We would like to thank Kiri and all the team from Kahui legal who presented our case so professionally and ensured that the mana of our iwi was upheld.”

The timetable for the hearings was constantly changing up to and throughout the hearings but live-streaming links to the hearings were provided on a daily basis for claimants and was also screened at the Trust Board's offices.

Although the kaupapa was not a happy one feedback received included:
• Ngātiwai has the strongest case both in terms of poor Crown process and severity of redress, particularly on Aotea.
• Ngātiwai and Ngāti Manuhiri provided a united front with our legal counsels tag teaming in the cross-examination.
• The Crown admitted it had made a number of mistakes in relation to the Ngātiwai involvement in the overlapping claims processes.
• The Tribunal’s questioning of the witnesses demonstrated it was alive to the Ngātiwai case.
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Next steps:
• Claimants closing submissions are due on 8th May 2019
• Crown and interested parties closing submissions are due on 5th June 2019.
• Claimants reply submissions are then due on 17th June 2019.
• The Tribunal's report is likely to take several months to complete given the complexity of the claimants cases.

MACA Stage 1 – Week 1 Hearings
This first week of the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA) Waitangi Tribunal hearings were held in Wellington from Monday 25th March to Friday 29th March 2019.

Ngātiwai were represented at these hearings by Treaty Claims Committee Chairman and Trustee for Matapouri – Aperahama Edwards, Treaty Claims Manager, Tania McPherson and our Legal Counsel, Stuart Henderson and Paula Wilson of Henderson Reeves, Whangarei.  Our Ngātiwai whānau who presented their case at these hearings on behalf of their whānau and hāpu did a great job with their time in the witness stand, and upheld the mana of Ngātiwai proudly.

Ngātiwai were given the opportunity to present evidence on the Tuesday afternoon with Tania McPherson presenting our evidence with our legal counsel, and then continuing to stand to answer cross examination questions.  The Ngātiwai evidence focused solely on the procedural and resourcing issues.

Ngātiwai presented a very comprehensive evidence and this was acknowledged by the Tribunal panel, and also by Crown counsel and senior staff of Te Arawhiti (formerly known as the Office of Treaty Settlements).

The procedural and resourcing issues that Ngātiwai focused on became more evident as the week progressed.  A high court registrar under cross examination conceded that the High Court was clearly not prepared for the tsunami of applications that they were to receive, they had little preparation, no practice notes or guidelines.  They were challenged as to whether the Crown could and should have been better prepared given other large public interest proceedings they have previously been involved in.

Other procedural issues were uncovered with senior Te Arawhiti staff conceding under cross examination that they could have done better with communicating with the effected groups.
As a result of this Waitangi Tribunal Inquiry, Te Arawhiti will undertake a review of the funding amounts and policy for High Court applications, and will contact each of the High Court MACA applicants to participate in the process.

Treaty Claims Committee Chairman, Aperahama Edwards says, “It has been a long week, but I feel we presented our case with mana for all of Ngātiwai.”

“Our Treaty Claims Manager, Tania McPherson, did a great job answering questions accurately and succinctly during her time on the stand.  She did brilliantly in representing this case for our iwi.”
“I would also like to acknowledge our legal team from Henderson Reeves.  Paula Wilson and Stuart Henderson have been fantastic to work with, and presented our case professionally and totally on point, as acknowledged by the Tribunal and others.”

From here, dates for closing submissions for Stage 1 of the MACA Inquiry (WAI 2660) will be announced.  Ngātiwai will shortly decide if we attend the hearings for closing submissions or whether we ask our legal team to present our closing submissions at the hearings on our behalf.
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Aperahama says, “Being involved in these processes comes at huge cost and time.  So the iwi will consider its next steps, while being mindful of how we best use our resources and manage costs.”

Meeting with Minister Little at Waitangi

On Saturday 2nd of February, the Board’s Treaty Claims Committee (TCC) met with Treaty Settlement Minister Andrew Little in Waitangi to discuss the Ngatiwai Mandate Report recommendations and in particular mediation.

At this meeting the TCC signalled to the Minister on behalf of the Ngātiwai Trust Board its intention to meet with hapū to discuss a mediation process.

The Minister requested that a plan be provided to Te Arawhiti (previously the Office of Treaty Settlements) once it is agreed. The TCC committed to doing this.

MACA Update

Ngātiwai Trust Board Chief Executive Office Kris MacDonald and Treaty Claims Manager Tania McPherson have prepared Evidence which was filed in the Waitangi Tribunal on Friday 18 January 2019.

The issues that Kris and Tania covered in their evidence concerned the lack of funding and resources to advance MACA application under the Act.

The TCC have confirmed to control the ongoing costs of the MACA process, only Kris and Tania will be required to attend the hearings to be held in Wellington from 25-29 March 2019 for cross-examination (if required).

This evidence is available on our website in the MACA resources folder.

Dismay after rushed signing of Hauraki Settlement

The Ngātiwai Trust Board are dismayed that the Crown signed another iwi up to the controversial Pare Hauraki Collective Settlement on Thursday last week.

Ngātiwai sought an assurance from Minister Little in November 2018 that the Crown will pause the Hauraki Settlements until the Waitangi Tribunal have held an urgent inquiry concerning overlapping
claims. The Minister provided that assurance in December, but the recent signing with Ngāti Paoa flies in the face of the Minister’s assurance.

Ngātiwai Treaty Claims Committee Chairman, Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards, says, “We are confused by the actions of the Crown last week.”

“Technically speaking the Minister said he would not introduce any settlement legislation into Parliament but to continue to progress signings indicates the Crown’s dogged focus on inching the Hauraki settlements closer and closer to the line.”

“In determining to hold the urgent hearings, the Tribunal pointed out that the Crown had failed to provide any real evidence to refute the applicants and that was part of the reason why that Tribunal
granted the hearings. It seems that the Crown have been more focused on inching the Hauraki settlements closer to completion than putting together any decent evidence for the hearings which is
a real worry.”

“The Crown need to stop rushing through these signings when they know there are many unresolved issues. We have a Waitangi Tribunal hearing coming up in April, so to me it would have made sense for the Crown to wait.”

“Mid last year we had a hui on our marae in Whananaki with the then negotiator for Ngāti Paoa. At this hui we agreed to continue to have ongoing korero to understand their interests for which they claimed, and this was to be done on the marae, guided under tikanga Māori. We were delighted with the initial meeting, and both parties were committed to completing the process.”

“We are dismayed that the Crown have now taken this step while we are waiting for the Hauraki overlapping claims inquiry to get underway.”

“We are extremely disappointed with the Crown’s actions.”

The first week of hearings are scheduled to take place in Wellington from 8-12 April 2019.
All those who have filed affidavits will be asked to make themselves available to attend the hearing if required for cross-examination.

Ngātiwai Trust Board Ask The Crown To Pause Hauraki Settlement
Recently the Ngātiwai Trust sent a letter to Treaty Settlement Minister, Hon. Andrew Little, requesting confirmation that several Hauraki Settlements will be paused pending the outcome of an urgent inquiry.
 
The Ngātiwai Trust Board submitted an urgent hearing application to the Waitangi Tribunal in July 2017 to ask the Tribunal to look into the Crown’s flawed overlapping claims processes and redress offered to various Hauraki groups within the Ngātiwai rohe and particularly in relation to Aotea (Great Barrier).
 
Ngātiwai Treaty Claims Committee Chairman, Aperahama Edwards says “We have asked the Crown to confirm that they have put a pause on the Hauraki Settlements while our claims are being heard under urgency by the Waitangi Tribunal.”
 
“As a result of this inquiry we would expect that no further steps are taken by the Crown to advance any of the Hauraki settlements involved until the Waitangi Tribunal has completed the inquiry and presented their report.”
 
“Some of our whānau that have logged their own individual applications for urgency unfortunately had their requests dismissed.   We encourage them to work with our team to ensure their voices are still heard.”
 
Through the hearing process it is hoped that the Tribunal can give some definitive recommendations on an improved process consistent with tikanga and what mana whenua and ahikaa means and how that impacts on the Crown’s behaviour and decisions.

Stage One of the MACA Kaupapa Inquiry about to get underway
The Ngātiwai Trust Board filed a statement of claim with the Waitangi Tribunal on 4 July 2018 in relation to the Marine and Coastal Area (MACA) inquiry.  The MACA inquiry is targeted at the legislative framework and applications process established under the MACA Act.
 
The inquiry will address two main questions:  
1)  To what extent, if at all, are the MACA Act and Crown policy and practice inconsistent with the Treaty in protecting the ability of Māori holders of customary marine and coastal area rights to assert and exercise those rights
2)  Do the procedural arrangements and resources provided by the Crown under the MACA Act prejudicially affect Maori holders of customary marine and coastal area rights in Treaty terms when they seek recognition of their rights?

Aperahama Edwards says “The Board has been forced to make applications under the MACA Act by a statutory deadline or otherwise allow Ngatiwai rights in the takutai moana to be extinguished as a matter of Law.”

“Once our applications were lodged we became trapped in a procedural process that does not provide sufficient resources to allow us to protect our customary rights in the takutai moana from being extinguished.”
“Substantive issues set out in our Statement of Claim have yet to be addressed in Stage Two and this will come with considerable costs that are unlikely to be properly funded based on our experience to date”
 
The hearings for this inquiry have been scheduled to take place in Wellington from 25 to 29 March 2019 and again from 27 to 29 May 2019.  The Board is currently preparing evidence for stage one of this inquiry.
 
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act - High Court Process
The Board filed Ngātiwai wide “blanket” applications with the High Court and the Crown before the deadline of 31 March 2017.  This was done to protect Ngātiwai rights in the coastal marine are from being extinguished as a matter of law.
 
Aperahama Edwards says “The test in the Act requiring exclusive occupation to be proven are inappropriate in the Northland context as we do not all fit into the nice tidy boxes that the Crown expects of us.  The number of overlapping applications demonstrates this which is why we are looking closely at the idea of shared exclusivity that was discussed in the first ever case determined in the High Court”
 
“Even if you can meet the exclusive occupation test under the MACA Act the rights available in this legislation are weak by comparison to what the Crown can do. For example, the Crown can still put a Marine Reserve over an area without permission from Maori rights holders.”
 
“The Board has supported all Ngātiwai whanau, hapū and marae applications in principle.  This is because the issue of who should be the holders of any rights is yet to be determined through the prescribed High Court processes. It will be very interesting to see how the High Court or the Maori Land Court deals with representation issues as compared to the Crown or the Waitangi Tribunal in relation to mandating issues”
 
The High Court hearings are not expected to commence before 2021 on Ngātiwai applications as there are a number of prioritise applications that need to be worked through first.
 
Mandate Mediation
The Board’s Treaty Claims Committee have been working on gathering information and developing a mediation options as recommended by the Waitangi Tribunal in its report on the mandate.
 
The Board’s Treaty Claims Committee have also requested kaumātua participation on the committee and a name change to better reflect this change.
 
With the MACA Kaupapa hearings and Hauraki hearings taking place in the first quarter of next year the committee have a lot of work ahead of them, but it is hoped that mandate related mediation can get underway in the New Year if a mediation process can be agreed with affected hapū.

Ngātiwai Trust Board Treaty Committee Restructure

The September meeting of the Ngātiwai Trust Board approved a restructure of the Treaty Claims Committee, with the Board appointing new Trustees to the Committee and a new Chairman.
The new members endorsed by the Board are:

• Gary Reti (Ōtetao Marae), Kathleen Caldwell (Whananaki Marae), Ropata Diamond (Tuparehuia Marae) and Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards (Matapouri Marae) are appointed to the committee, and
• Aperehama Kerepeti-Edwards is appointed as the Chairman of the Committee.

Board Chairman Haydn Edmonds also stood aside as the Board appointed negotiator.  With the pause that has been applied to our current Settlement, the Board feel that this position can be reconsidered and an appointment made in the future.

The new Committee then requested an opportunity to update the Ngātiwai Kaumātua Rōpū which took place on 29 October 2018 at the Trust Board where the following matters were discussed:

• The restructure of the Trustees on the committee (as above) which received unanimous endorsement;
• Request for kaumātua participation on the committee and a name change to better reflect this as well as the essence of the committee which is to be further discussed by kaumātua;
• Push back on the Crown’s proposed protocol areas for Hauraki Iwi within the Ngātiwai rohe and research to get underway to support the Ngātiwai position on a range of Treaty related matters which also received unanimous support; and
• Support to initiate hui with hapū to discuss an agreed mediation process as recommended by the Waitangi Tribunal in its Ngātiwai Mandate Inquiry Report. 

Ngātiwai Trust Board explore Court Action

On the 17th of September the Supreme Court of New Zealand released its ruling in favour of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and confirmed that the transfer of land as part of proposed Treaty of Waitangi settlements can be judicially reviewed.

This is a very significant decision as the ruling confirms the concerns that the Ngātiwai Trust Board has had for a long time now about the way the Crown approaches overlapping claims, the lack of respect the process has for tikanga Māori and the impact it has on the relationships we have with other iwi.

For the past sixteen months the Ngātiwai Trust Board has been waiting for the Waitangi Tribunal to make a decision on an application for an urgent hearing into the Crown’s overlapping claims policy and practice as well as the redress it proposes to provide to Hauraki iwi as part of their Treaty Settlements within our rohe.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Ngātiwai Trust Board is now exploring the possibility of taking a case to the High Court.  The Ngātiwai Trust is currently in discussions with its legal counsel Kahui Legal to assess the potential of going down this path.
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Aperehama Kerepeti-Edwards, Chair of the Treaty Claims Committee says “We acknowledge the mahi that Ngāti Whātua ki Orākei have done, as this now paves the way for ourselves and other iwi who have for a long time now been battling the Crown’s approach to overlapping claims.”

On 23 and 24 March 2018, the Trust Board held a hui-ā-iwi at Tuparehuia Marae, Bland Bay. This hui was facilitated and supported by the Ngātiwai rōpū kaumātua.  The purpose of the hui was to discuss the findings and recommendations set out in the Tribunal’s report on the Ngātiwai mandate. The outcomes from the hui-ā-iwi were agreement that:

1. There should be a hohourongo between the Trust Board and Patuharakeke first and before anything else happened;
2. There should then be a series of wānanga on the common topics identified from the workshop sessions held at the hui-ā-iwi or in the mandate report; and
3. Then mediation.

Following the hui-ā-iwi, communications were had to establish a date for the hohourongo, but due to unforeseen circumstances outside of the Ngātiwai Trust Board’s control, various proposed dates had to be postponed. The rescheduled date is now set for 18 November 2018.
The first in the series of wānanga-a-iwi was hosted by Ngātiwai Marae, Ngaiotonga on 31 August through to 2 September 2018.

Although an agenda had been set, the main day Saturday tended to roll out spontaneously, as people felt motivated to share their knowledge, their versions of the history of Ngātiwai and their own hapū stories which touched on the whakapapa associated with their stories.

Acknowledgements must go out to the amazing speakers, who willingly shared their experiences and knowledge and to the Taumata for their kōrero.

Ngaiotonga Marae Chairman and Ngātiwai Trust Board Trustee, Merepeka Henley said “All those present shared their positive kōrero about the wānanga, compliments about the kai, the venue and the positive atmosphere.  The whole wānanga was premised on our tikanga, wairua and manaakitanga, which was openly expressed.”

“Everyone present felt honoured to have great orators recite whakapapa and link the links back to the whare (Ngātiwai Marae). For a number of participants the day’s kōrero was awe inspiring.”
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The second wānanga-a-iwi in the series has been scheduled for the 16th and 17th of November 2018 at Ngunguru Marae, and whānau and hapū are strongly encouraged to attend and participate.
A further wānanga-a-iwi may take place in January or February 2019.

Unresolved overlapping claims with Pare Hauraki – The Latest

• On the 2nd August 2018 the Crown proceeded with signing the Pare Hauraki Collective Redress Deed which sets the scene for significant redress within the Ngātiwai rohe, particularly around and on Aotea Great Barrier Island.
• Ngātiwai have not been involved in any discussions, negotiations or agreements with the Pare Hauraki Collective or their negotiators whatsoever, yet the Crown proceeded to sign the Deed.
• Ngātiwai have been seeking a tikanga based process on our marae to resolve the overlapping issues with iwi of Hauraki.
• Only three of these iwi met with us to discuss these issues; Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Hako and Ngai Tai ki Tamaki. These were positive and all parties committed to further discussions to resolve these matters.
• Ngātiwai advised the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and the Treaty Settlement Minister, Andrew Little, that it is crucial that these hui are allowed to happen under tikanga Māori before any Settlements are signed off.
• Ngātiwai have still not been approached for any tikanga based hui by a number of the Hauraki Negotiators.
• Ngātiwai will continue to fight what it considers as a Mana and Land grab in the Waitangi Tribunal with 15 other applicants.

Who is being offered what Redress by the Crown on and around Aotea

1. The Name change of Great Barrier Island
The Pare Hauraki collective redress deed allows the Hauraki Collective to officially change the geographic name of “Great Barrier Island” to “Aotea / Great Barrier Island”, if their legislation is given effect before the Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea settlement legislation comes into effect.  This redress effectively gives Pare Hauraki naming rights and is an indication of mana whenua that is inconsistent with tikanga Māori.
 
2. Exclusive Cultural Redress - Statutory Vesting
This redress will give ownership of the following properties to Ngāti Maru and Ngāti Tamaterā.
The Ruahine Scenic Reserve (26.57 ha) will be vested to Ngāti Maru
The Rangitawhiri site (16.25 ha) and Te Rohu (0.28 ha) will be vested to Ngāti Tamaterā
 
3. Exclusive Commercial Redress (Rights of First Refusal)
Otherwise known as Right of First Refusal (or RFR’s), this redress gives Hauraki iwi the right purchase the following Crown owned properties if they become surplus to the Crown’s needs within the next 177 years:

Exclusive RFR to Ngāti Whanaunga to purchase the Tryphena Hall Local Purpose Reserve (Land Only) (1.1750 ha)

Shared RFR’s with Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Tamaterā and Te Patukirikiri to the following properties; Komahunga Conservation Area (7.6760 ha), Harataonga Scenic Reserve (264.4292 ha), Wairahi Forest Sanctuary (477.1587 ha), Okupu Conservation Area (14.6015 ha), Oruawharo Creek Recreation Reserve (0.6076 ha), Oruawharo Creek Government Purpose Reserve (6.1629 ha), Pa Point Recreation Reserve (2.6450 ha), Ruahine North Conservation Area (57.7863 ha), Ruahine South Conservation Area (32.3748 ha), Shoal Bay Conservation Area (0.2053 ha), Tryphena Scenic Reserve (428.0561 ha),  Medlands Wildlife Management Reserve (9.7842 ha), Te Atamira Scenic Reserve (0.8093 ha), Oruawharo Marginal Strip (27.1000 ha), Rosalie Bay Marginal Strip (1.4080 ha), Sandy Bay Marginal Strip (0.8050 ha)

​4. Statements of Association, Statutory Acknowledgements and Deeds of Recognition
These types of non-exclusive redress can be offered to multiple iwi including Ngātiwai.  This redress applies to sites of significance such as rivers, lakes, mountains, wetlands and coastal areas etc, where land is owned by the Crown.  This type of redress acknowledges the Hauraki iwi statements of association on and around Aotea.
 
It is the Board’s view that this type of redress gives Hauraki iwi a modern form of mana whenua status in that this redress enhances their ability to participate and influence Resource Management and Department of Conservation management processes within the Ngātiwai rohe.

One example is that Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāti Maru will have influence over the Whangapaoa Conservation Area, despite not being hau kainga on the island.
 
The Board feels this undermines the mana whenua status of the hau kainga of the Island and gives Hauraki recognition, status and influence over Aotea that is inconsistent with tikanga.

There are also other redress options being offered to Hauraki such as protocols and fisheries quota right of first refusal.  An example of a protocol redress is the establishment of a process for determining ownership or export of any taonga tuturu found on or around Aotea.

Essentially all of this cultural redress gives the iwi of Hauraki legal rights and influence at a Crown and local Council level, that they do not hold under tikanga māori.  In the world of Te Ao Maori, this effectively gives them mana whenua status which Ngātiwai say has never existed for the iwi of Hauraki on Aotea.