6 March 2019
On 22 February 2019, Minister Andrew Little announced next steps for the Crown in response to Whakatōhea’s vote last
year on the future of their Treaty claims.
The vote resulted in a narrow majority supporting the Whakatōhea Pre-settlement claims Trust to continue negotiating a
settlement with the Crown whilst all six hapū voted in support of a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into their claims.
Despite this, Minister Little has announced that he has asked officials to consider a Tribunal Inquiry process parallel
or subsequent to negotiations. “I intend to explore this possibility and other options for building support before
deciding whether to resume negotiations” says Andrew Little.
Claimants for the historical claim of Ngāti Ira hapū reject exploring the notion that a Tribunal Inquiry could run
parallel to or subsequent to negotiations.
“That is not what claimants asked for nor did the hapū vote on that as one of the questions. It only demonstrates that
Minister Little is again, ill-advised by his officials and is pre-determining the destiny of our Treaty claims by making
such a public announcement without any consultation with those that are most affected. ” says Ms Hata, one of the Ngāti
Ira claimants.
“We have written to the Minister and we demand a response. His announcement is causing further division and confusion
amongst hapū. The questions to vote on were contradictory as it was. He is disingenuous if he thinks any of the
claimants supported by their hapu would agree to the Pre-settlement Trust continuing to negotiate any claims whilst they
are before a Tribunal Inquiry"
“The mandate should be withdrawn, a Tribunal Inquiry held for Whakatōhea into their claims and then fresh mandating
processes begin. Otherwise we are repeating what is happening in Ngāpuhi and we will still be here in 5 years’ time
going around in circles” states Te Rua Rakuraku, lead claimant for Ngāti Ira. “Our hapu have spoken, we voted for a
Tribunal Inquiry – not a parallel process or anything else”
Ngāti Ira claim that the vote in support of the Settlement Trust is still below OTS' threshold for a robust mandate and
that the loss of support for the Trust is clear as votes in favour of the Mandate markedly decreased from 91.6% in the
2016 vote to 56% in the 2018 vote. Four out of six hapū, 67%, opposed the Trust continuing to negotiate. "If a 63% hapū
vote was good enough for Ngāpuhi why isn't it good enough for Whakatōhea?" asks Ms Hata.
ENDS