Titewhai Harawira

• Ngāti Hau Kuia
• Tāmaki Makaurau

From my experience over the past years, I am confident Ngāpuhi hapū and Ngāpuhi living in urban areas can be involved in this process. Through Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku - the committee seeking mandate - all Ngāpuhi have the opportunity to participate.

The next step in the journey is to seek mandate from our people and I’ll be back on the road in a few weeks to do just that.

Overwhelmingly, our people want to settle. We want to put the grievances behind us so we can become strong again as a people, as we were before colonisation.

It is time for Ngāpuhi to take its rightful place in the leadership of our nation. Settlement will do this – it will advance our people in every way, in education, health, economically and culturally.”

A Treaty settlement for all Ngāpuhi will transform Northland’s iwi into an economic powerhouse, in a way other tribes have done for their regions further south.

I have travelled and talked to Ngāpuhi from Hokianga to Invercargill and all stops in between. And I’ve heard what our people want. They want to get on with settlement.

We are by far the biggest iwi and we should be having input and influence over everything that is happening in our country.

Exactly 170 years from when our tupuna (ancestors) signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, by all measures we are in a terrible position. Settlement could turn that around for Ngāpuhi and change the mind-set from grievance mode to a proud nation determining our own future.

I’m pleased to be a part of Ngapuhi moving forward and will be there when Ngāpuhi settle – the only thing that will stop us progressing is ourselves.

The model also provides for Ngāpuhi representatives who reside outside of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi. Now it’s up to our Hapū and our people wherever they reside, to step up and take responsibility for contributing to the future of Ngāpuhi”.

The entire two year project has been guided by Kaumātua and Kuia as our collective experience and vision is critical.