Whakatōhea Urgent Hearing to be held in Awakeri
On the 15 August 2017, Waitangi Tribunal Deputy Judge Savage granted an urgent hearing to the 13 applicants of
Whakatōhea who cover over 28 out of 31 claims of Te Whakatōhea.
The claims cover a wide spectrum of Raupatu issues across the entire Whakatōhea district resulting from the Battle of Te
Tarata to the wrongful and unlawful conviction and imprisonment of Mokomoko in 1865, both significant events that led to
the raupatu of Whakatōhea’s most fertile lands in the name of bringing Christian values and economic prosperity for
Pakeha settlers to Opotiki.
On 20 October 2017, His Honour Judge Doogan confirmed the venue of the hearing at Awakeri Events Centre and will
commence on Monday, 6th November and conclude Friday, 10th November 2017 with an extra day to hear closing submissions on another date. Judge Doogan made his decision about the venue for 'practical and logistical reasons of size, accessibility and availability'.
A hearing time table has been released this afternoon with a mihi whakatau by Ngāti Awa to nga uri o Whakatōhea at
7:30am and the whakatau for the Tribunal and other parties at 8:00am.
ENDS