Parties in talks on Ngapuhi mandate issues - Minister of Treaty Negotiations

Friday, 21 October 2011

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Court finds against attempt to remove Ngati Hine claims from Ngapuhi mandate process

Friday, 7 October 2011

The Māori Land Court today ruled against hapu Ngāti Hine’s attempt to force Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku to remove Ngāti Hine Tribunal claims from its mandate proposal.

Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku, an independent sub-committee of Te Rūnanga-A-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi, is Ngāpuhi’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement entity.

Following a two day hearing in Whangarei, Judge Ambler ruled that this part of Ngāti Hine’s application was outside the jurisdiction of the Māori Land Court, and he dismissed it.

The decision comes a week after the election result that 76% of Ngāpuhi who voted had given their mandate to Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku to begin a negotiated settlement with the Crown. The voting process, the biggest ever exercise in Iwi Māori democracy, was conducted by an independent Christchurch elections company.

Said Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku Interim Chairman, Raniera (Sonny) Tau: “Today’s Court ruling is good news for the overwhelming majority of Ngāpuhi, at home, in Auckland or elsewhere, who wish to see settlement and advancement for our people.”

Mr Tau said the door was always open to Ngāpuhi hapu and Treaty claimant communities who wish to be part of the historic Ngāpuhi settlement journey.

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Ngāpuhi Mandate Results - 76% vote "YES"

Thursday, 29 September 2011

76% vote “Yes” for Ngāpuhi to negotiate Treaty settlement.

Landslide vote by Ngāpuhi gives mandate to Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku to negotiate Treaty settlement.

Ngāpuhi, New Zealand’s biggest iwi, has voted overwhelmingly to begin Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.

In results announced this morning by an independent election management company 76% of Ngāpuhi have voted to give mandate to Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku*, Ngāpuhi’s Treaty settlement entity, to begin settlement negotiations.

Said Tūhoronuku Interim Chairman, Raniera (Sonny) Tau: “This is the most significant development in Ngāpuhi’s modern day history. Ngāpuhi have spoken in large numbers and decisively in the biggest exercise in Iwi democracy ever undertaken in this country.

“Three out of four Ngāpuhi who voted have given their mandate to Tūhoronuku to negotiate a settlement with the Crown. From being the biggest but poorest iwi, Ngāpuhi is now on its way to settlement and cultural, social and economic advancement.

“To Ngāpuhi katoa - thank you for taking the opportunity to vote. We are humbled by your commitment and level of support. Our commitment to you remains the same – we will continue to consult with you, and all Ngāpuhi will benefit from this settlement.

“Settlement will have a profound effect on Ngāpuhi, Northland and the wider Ngāpuhi communities throughout Aotearoa and Australia, just as settlement has done for Tainui and Ngai Tahu.”

Mr Tau said this result also gave other clear messages:

For Government: “It now has a responsibility to accept the democratic wish of Ngāpuhi and recognise this mandate for Tūhoronuku.”

For Ngāpuhi leadership: “We have a responsibility to move forward with settlement now that the overwhelming majority of our people have pointed us in this direction. It will not be easy but it will be worthwhile as we move forward united, as Ngāpuhi did historically.”

Mr Tau reiterated that the door would remain open to Ngāpuhi hapu and Treaty claimant communities who wish to be part of this historic journey.

The result follows a six week election period, during which Tūhoronuku conducted the biggest communications effort in the history of Iwi Maori to reach Ngāpuhi, no matter where they live.

Twenty mandating hui were held throughout the Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Whangarei, Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Invercargill, Sydney and Perth.

Ngāpuhi were also able to vote by post, online or by fax.

In all, 23% of the 29 389 who received voting packs voted in the mandate elections.
This was:

• twice the number who voted during Ngāpuhi’s Constitutional Review in 2001
• 1.5% more than the 21.4% who participated in mandate voting for Ngati Porou in 2007.Te Runanga o Ngati Porou’s mandate was recognised by the Government.

The Ngāpuhi mandate voting process was managed by independent Christchurch Company Electionz.com, who ran last year’s local government elections.

*Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku is an independent sub-committee of Te Runanga-A-Iwi-Ngāpuhi. It will have 15 representatives: seven Hapu (who are appointed by Hapu Kaikorero), Kaumatua and Kuia representatives (appointed by Ngāpuhi Kaumatua and Kuia), Rohe representatives (appointed by rohe groupings) and two Runanga representatives (appointed by Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngāpuhi). Four Hapu representative positions remain open.

Profiles of the current 11 representatives can be found under the "About" tab on this website

Ngāpuhi– the facts:

• 122,214 identify as Ngāpuhi (Census 2006) making it by far the biggest iwi in Aotearoa
• 13% of Ngāpuhi live in the tribal area of Northland, while more than 60% reside in greater Auckland
• 39% are under 15, while 3% are 65 or older
• 56% of those over 15 earn less than $20,000 annually (Census 2006)
• Half over 15 have no formal education qualification
• Māori make up 33% of the Northland population – the national Māori population is 14.6%
• GDP per capita in Northland is a third lower than the national average

The Ngāpuhi journey to settlement

• At the Annual General Meeting of Te Runanga-A-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi in October 2008, the Runanga was directed by Kaumatua and Kuia to lead Ngāpuhi into settlement with the Crown over its breaches against Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• In March 2009 the Runanga board set up an independent sub-committee called Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku (Tūhoronuku) to progress the settlement.
• Over the past three years Tūhoronuku has held 44 consultation hui throughout Aotearoa and parts of Australia to consult with Ngāpuhi about whether they wished to progress to settlement, and the structure they wanted for this journey.
• Online forums and other forms of communication were also undertaken, so that as many Ngāpuhi as possible would be informed and could be part of the process.
• In January 2011, the Crown endorsed Tūhoronuku’s Deed of Mandate strategy, describing it as “sound” and “in line with Crown criteria for a robust and transparent mandating process.” The endorsement letter was signed by the Minister of Maori Affairs and the Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.
• For those hapu who have had concerns, Tūhoronuku delayed the mandate process three times in 2011, and entered into Crown-sponsored facilitation by respected statesman Rt Hon Jim Bolger.
• Mandate voting opened on 10 August and closed on 21 September 2011.

Next steps

Tūhoronuku is now preparing its Deed of Mandate application for submitting to the Crown.

 During this period, Tuhoronuku will continue to hui with Hapu, whanau and claimants and is participating in a working party to develop a process that enables Ngapuhi to negotiate a comprehensive settlement on behalf of Ngapuhi and claimants in Te Paparahi o Te Raki inquiry to have their issues heard before the Waitangi Tribunal (Stage 2 Hearings).

 Once the Deed of Mandate application is submitted, the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) will publicly advertise the Deed of Mandate application and hold a public submission process, seeking comments from interested parties.  Four weeks is the usual timeframe within which submissions are received.

 After reviewing any submissions, OTS, in consultation with Te Puni Kokiri, will then report to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Minister of Māori Affairs.  The Ministers will then decide whether to recognise the mandate on behalf of the Crown.

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Most significant development in Ngāpuhi's modern history

Thursday, 29 September 2011

“This is the most significant development in Ngāpuhi’s modern day history. Ngāpuhi have spoken in large numbers and decisively in the biggest exercise in Iwi democracy ever undertaken in this country", said Tūhoronuku Interim Chairman, Raniera (Sonny) Tau.

“Three out of four Ngāpuhi who voted have given their mandate to Tūhoronuku to negotiate a settlement with the Crown. From being the biggest but poorest iwi, Ngāpuhi is now on its way to settlement and cultural, social and economic advancement.

“To Ngāpuhi katoa - thank you for taking the opportunity to vote. We are humbled by your commitment and level of support. Our commitment to you remains the same – we will continue to consult with you, and all Ngāpuhi will benefit from this settlement.

“Settlement will have a profound effect on Ngāpuhi, Northland and the wider Ngāpuhi communities throughout Aotearoa and Australia, just as settlement has done for Tainui and Ngai Tahu."

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Final hours - mandate voting closes noon 21 September 2011

Monday, 19 September 2011

The Ngāpuhi mandate voting process closes within hours - at noon on 21 September.

Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku, Ngāpuhi settlement entity, is seeking mandate from the 123 000 who proudly affiliate to Ngāpuhi to enter into negotiations with the Crown on what will be the last big Treaty settlement.

The New Zealand Herald (3 September 2011) said: “Tainui and Ngai Tahu, with assets worth a collective $1.2billion, are the giants of the Māori economy, but experts say Ngāpuhi, with about 20 percent  of the Aotearoa Māori population … has the most growth potential of any iwi as it prepares for further settlement following fisheries settlement.”

Said Tuhoronuku Interim Chairman Sonny Tau: “The Herald is absolutely correct. Settlement will bring huge advancement opportunities for our people – not just economically but in social upliftment and cultural renewal”.

“Every year settlement is delayed is holding back our people, our Iwi, Northland and Aotearoa.”

Mr Tau said Tūhoronuku had held 20 mandating hui - in the Bay of Islands, the Hokianga, Whangarei, throughout Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Invercargill, Sydney and Perth. He said the hui had been well attended, with discussions robust and at times vigorous.

“This is to be expected with an issue as big as this for Ngāpuhi.

“We are under no illusion that there is some opposition to the pathway of Tūhoronuku going into direct negotiations with the Crown for an early settlement.

“There are those who would like individual TeTiriti claims heard first in the Waitangi Tribunal.

“Tūhoronuku supports these hearings, but while we respect the right of individual claimants to choose a process for their claims, experience from other iwi settlements show that this process takes many, many years – sometimes decades.”

Mr Tau said that Ngāpuhi and Northland did not have time on its side, as they experienced some of the worst social statistics in the country.

Mr Tau said Tuhoronuku allowed all Ngāpuhi over 18, no matter where they lived, the opportunity to participate in the future direction of their iwi.

There are four ways of voting during the mandate process: online, by post or fax, or at a mandating hui.

Tūhoronuku has contracted independent Christchurch company Electionz.com Ltd – who managed last year’s local body elections – to run the mandating elections. 

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Ngapuhi in Australia can take part in historic Treaty Settlement journey

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

With voting in the historic Ngapuhi Treaty of Waitangi settlement mandating process almost complete, Ngapuhi living in Australia will have an opportunity to participate later this week.

Ngapuhi’s settlement entity Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku (Tuhoronuku) is to hold the following hui:

15 September                   Hamersley Community Centre,

                                           Belvedere Road, Hamersley, Perth

17 September                  Te Wairua Tapu, 587 Elizabeth Street,

                                          Redfern, Sydney  

For further information about these hui, please call Kipa Munro, +64 275553852

Eighteen mandate hui have been held in Northland, Auckland, Wellington during August and September, with Tuhoronuku seeking mandate to represent the iwi in settlement negotiations with the New Zealand Government.

In August almost 30 000 voting packs were sent to all registered Ngapuhi, no matter where they live in the world.

However, many more than this have been voting. All Ngapuhi over 18 have four voting options:

• online
• post
• fax
• and at mandate hui.

Full information on voting options and hui dates and venues, is available on the www.tuhoronuku.com website.

The election process is being managed by independent Christchurch-based organisation Electionz.com Ltd, who also ran the 2010 Local Government election.

This will be the last big Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty) settlement.

One in five Maori proudly affiliate to Ngapuhi, which is Aotearoa’s biggest Iwi.

Ngapuhi have a population of 122 214 (2006 Census), of whom 60 percent live in the greater Auckland area. Approximately 13 percent live in the Ngapuhi home region of Northland.

Said Tuhoronuku interim chairman, Raniera (Sonny) Tau: “Every year settlement is delayed is a year of wasted opportunity for our people, especially our young people.

“It is time for Ngapuhi to take their rightful place in Aotearoa and become an economic force that is able to provide cultural, social and education advancement.

“After 44 hui and talking to Ngapuhi over the last three years in Aotearoa, Sydney and Perth, we are finally ready. Mandate voting will give all Ngapuhi the opportunity to have their say.”

In June, Tuhoronuku commissioned an independent Horizon Research survey to gauge how Ngapuhi were thinking. The survey found:

• 91% of Ngapuhi want to negotiate a settlement
• 69% support for Tuhoronuku holding mandate
• 50% want settlement negotiations to continue in parallel with Waitangi Tribunal hearings

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Ngāpuhi Treaty mandate voting enters last weeks

Monday, 5 September 2011

The biggest exercise in iwi Māori democracy, Ngāpuhi’s mandate voting process, is now into its last weeks.

Voting opened on 11 August, and ends at noon on 21 September.

Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku, Ngāpuhi’s settlement entity, is seeking mandate from the 123 000 who proudly affiliate to Ngāpuhi to enter into negotiations with the Crown on what will be the last big Treaty settlement.

The New Zealand Herald (3 September 2011) said: “Tainui and Ngai Tahu, with assets worth a collective $1.2billion, are the giants of the Māori economy, but experts say Ngāpuhi, with about 20 percent  of Aotearoa’s Māori population … has the most growth potential of any iwi as it prepares for further settlement following fisheries settlement.”

Said Tuhoronuku Interim Chairman Sonny Tau: “The Herald is absolutely correct. Settlement will bring huge advancement opportunities for our people – not just economically but in social upliftment and cultural renewal.

“Every year settlement is delayed is holding back our people, our Iwi, Northland and Aotearoa.”

Mr Tau said Tūhoronuku had so far held 15 of the scheduled 21 mandating hui. These had been in the Bay of Islands, the Hokianga, throughout Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Invercargill. Three hui will be held in Whangarei today and tomorrow.

He said the hui to date had been well attended, with discussions robust and at times vigorous.

“This is to be expected with an issue as big as this for Ngāpuhi.

“We are under no illusion that there is some opposition to the pathway of Tūhoronuku going into direct negotiations with the Crown for an early settlement.

“There are those who would like individual Te Tiriti claims heard first in the Waitangi Tribunal.

“Tūhoronuku supports these hearings, but while we respect the right of individual claimants to choose a process for their claims, experience from other iwi settlements show that this process takes many, many years – sometimes decades.”

Mr Tau said that Ngāpuhi and Northland did not have time on its side, as they experienced some of the worst social statistics in the country.

Due to cancelled venues, some hui were held at new locations. Mr Tau apologised for this inconvenience and late notice, which was beyond the control of the Tūhoronuku project team.

Mr Tau said Tuhoronuku allowed all Ngāpuhi over 18, no matter where they lived, the opportunity to participate in the future direction of their iwi.

There are four ways of voting during the mandate process: online, by post or fax, or at a mandating hui.

Tūhoronuku has contracted independent Christchurch company Electionz.com Ltd – who managed last year’s local body elections – to run the mandating elections. Those wishing to receive a voting pack can request one from Electionz.com Ltd at free phone 0508 666 447.

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Mandate Hui Venue Changes

Friday, 2 September 2011

New venue:	Fri 2nd September	06.30pm - 09.30pm	Kawakawa Primary School Hall Albert Street, Kawakawa Te Huruhi Marae Owhainga Rd off Mangakahia Road Awarua
New venue:	Sat 3rd September	10.00am - 01.00pm	Kaeo Rugby Club Whangaroa Road, Kaeo Te Kotahitanga Marae 155 William Jones Dr Otangarei
New venue:	Sat 3rd September	06.30pm - 09.30pm	Kaeo Rugby Club Whangaroa Road, Kaeo Te Kotahitanga Marae 155 William Jones Dr Otangarei
Whangarei New venue:	Mon 5th September	10.00am - 01.00pm	Whangarei Cricket Pavillion 79 Okara Drive, Whangarei North Tec Marae 55 Raumanga Valley Rd Raumanga
New venue:	Mon 5th September	06.30pm - 09.30pm	Whangarei Cricket Pavillion 79 Okara Drive, Whangarei North Tec Marae 55 Raumanga Valley Rd Raumanga
New venue:	Tues 6th September	10.00am - 01.00pm	Flames International Hotel 2 Waverley Street, Onerahi Pehiaweri Marae 99 Ngunguru Rd Glenbervie

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Te Ropu O Tuhoronuku Deed of Mandate Hui Pukerata Marae Reschedule

Thursday, 1 September 2011

The Deed of Mandate hui which published in the public notices to be held at Pukerata Marae, 31 August 2011 has been rescheduled for the 13th September 2011, 10am at Pukerata Marae.


Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku would like to apologise to anyone who has been inconvenienced by the rescheduling of this hui and we look forward to our hui with you on the 13th September.

Mauri ora

Raniera (Sonny) Tau
Interim Chairperson
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Ngapuhi mandate a decision for Ngapuhi, not the Waitangi Tribunal

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Deciding who represents Ngāpuhi and whether to start settlement negotiations with the Crown is a matter for Ngāpuhi, not the Waitangi Tribunal, said Tuhoronuku Interim Chairman, Raniera (Sonny) Tau.

This follows the filing of papers by Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu o Ngāpuhi (9 Northland Hapu), seeking Waitangi Tribunal intervention in the current Ngāpuhi mandate process. 
Mr Tau said he did not believe there were any grounds for the Waitangi Tribunal interfering with Ngāpuhi's right to determine its own future.

“The Ngāpuhi mandate process is transparent, democratic and robust,” he said.

All Ngāpuhi over 18, no matter where they live, have been given the opportunity to have their say between 10 August and 21 September 2011 on what path to follow.

The Ngāpuhi mandate voting process is being managed by independent Christchurch-based Electionz.com Ltd, who ran last year’s local government elections. Every public Ngāpuhi mandating meeting has independent observers who will report independently to the Crown on the process.

Te Rōpū O Tūhoronuku (Tuhoronuku), an independent sub-committee of Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngāpuhi, is seeking mandate to represent Ngāpuhi in Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement negotiations with the Crown.

Said Mr Tau: “If Ngāpuhi give Tuhoronuku mandate, discussions on the management of the next stage will begin with Ngāpuhi and settlement negotiations will begin with the Crown. If they do not, we go back to the beginning and start again.”

There are four ways Ngāpuhi can vote: online, by post, fax or at hui.

The Tuhoronuku website www.tuhoronuku.com has full details of the voting options, also dates and venues for the 20 mandate hui throughout Aotearoa, Sydney and Perth. Or, Ngāpuhi can call free phone 0508 666 447 to receive a voting pack. 

Ngāpuhi is Aotearoa’s biggest iwi, with approximately 123 000 members (2006 Census) who mostly reside in the greater Auckland area, with 13% living at home in Northland.

Said Mr Tau: “The mandate process is about the future of Ngāpuhi. Every year settlement is delayed is a year of wasted opportunity for our people, both culturally and economically.  This is the last big Treaty settlement, so delay also means a wasted opportunity for Northland and Aotearoa.”
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