Bay of Islands hapū achieves Ngāpuhi-first Treaty milestone
The Trust received its Crown Deed of Mandate recognition on July 16 - the first for a group of Ngāpuhi hapū.
Te Whakaaetanga Trust chairperson Herb Rihari (Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā) said the milestone was of 'historical significance'.
'Te Whakaaetanga is looking forward to discussing and negotiating the full spectrum of their redress options,' Rihari said.
Ngāpuhi — New Zealand's largest iwi with almost 185,000 people — has not yet achieved Treaty of Waitangi settlement.
ADVERTISEMENT
The hapū grouping's area of claim encompasses most of Pēwhairangi/the Bay of Islands.
It includes the eastern Bay of Islands' Ipipiri Islands where wealthy American writer Zane Grey set up his gamefishing base at Urupukapuka Island's Otehei Bay in 1926 and described New Zealand as the 'Angler's El Dorado'.
It also includes Motukōkako (Piercy Island) which features the internationally-famous Hole in the Rock boat trip tourist destination, and Cape Brett.
Rihari said Te Whakaaetanga Trust's Crown Deed of Mandate had been recognised after 18 years' mahi.
Te Whakaaetanga Trust's achievement comes 14 years after the Government's controversial 2011 Tūhorunuku Deed of Mandate, which was towards a single settlement for all of Ngāpuhi.
That Deed was rescinded in 2019, after major rejection from within the iwi's 100-plus hapū.
The July Deed of Mandate meant the Crown formally recognised the trust's mandate to negotiate a Treaty of Waitangi settlement on behalf of its affiliated hapū.
ADVERTISEMENT
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the atmospheric river arrives, Epstein's girlfriend pushes for appeal, and Jennifer Lopez's wardrobe malfunction. (Source: Breakfast)
Rihari said it also opened the door to "negotiate redress that acknowledges the mamae (hurt) of the past and creates meaningful opportunities for our hapū and mokopuna".
'It provides a foundation for enduring redress, cultural and economic revitalisation and the restoration of hapū mana across our rohe,' Rihari said.
Te Whakaaetanga Trust represents coastal hapū Ngāti Kuta, Ngāti Manu me ngā hapū rīriki - Te Uri o Raewera and Te Uri Karaka, Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā and Patukeha.
The trust is made up of two people from each of the hapū it represents.
Rihari said the hapū grouping's area of claim approximately encompassed an area bounded in the north by the Bay of Islands' Purerua Peninsula.
Its boundary ran from the peninsula's tip, south-east across the waters of the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and Rāwhiti.
ADVERTISEMENT
Te Whakaaetanga Trust chairperson Herb Rihari (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)
Rihari said the boundary then travelled south-west to Karetu.
From there, the claim's western boundary headed roughly north to Tāpeka Point and included Opua and Russell settlements. It continued northwards across Bay of Islands waters including Moturoa Island on the way to Te Puna Inlet.
From there it continued to the northern side of Purerua Peninsula, the claim encompassing all of the landform to the east, including the maunga (mountain) Matakā at the peninsula's tip.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith told Local Democracy Reporting Northland the Crown Deed of Mandate for Te Whakaaetanga was a positive achievement.
"We're pleased to be making progress,' Goldsmith said.
Northland Māori leader and Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene said it was a major milestone for Ngāpuhi hapū working towards Treaty of Waitangi redress.
ADVERTISEMENT
It offered a model for Ngāpuhi tribes, such as those around Waimate, Taiamai, Kaikohe and Whangaroa who were collectivising towards the same goal.
Tipene said it was important the Government approached any Ngāpuhi Treaty of Waitangi hapū redress on a hapū-based commercial and cultural basis.
However, Minister Goldsmith poured cold water on that.
'The Government has indicated its preference for a single financial redress for Ngāpuhi, with a small group of cultural-based settlements sitting underneath,' Goldsmith said.
'Te Whakaaetanga is now mandated as one of the groups with which we will be discussing a cultural settlement,' Goldsmith said.
Rihari said the next stage would be preparation for formal negotiations with the Crown and the trust was committed to ongoing kōrero with all who 'held an interest in our shared future'.
Rihari said many hands, hearts and minds — past and present — had contributed to the kaupapa of achieving the deed of mandate milestone over many years.
ADVERTISEMENT
'Ehara tēnei i te mahi māmā, engari he mahi nui mō ngā uri whakatupu. Mā tātou katoa tēnei e kawe, mā te rangimārie, mā te kotahitanga, mā te aroha hoki.
'This is not easy work, but it is important work for the generations to come. Together, through unity, peace and aroha, we carry it forward.'
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
24 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
Letters: Despite Donald Trump's tariffs, we continue to produce world-class meat, dairy and wine
So, in summary and even factoring in US state sales taxes, in totality, New Zealand is only marginally disadvantaged. Further mitigating factors both in favour of the American consumer and the New Zealand exporter is the ongoing strength of the US dollar and Donald Trump's recent big, beautiful tax bill, which will pass significant tax relief and buying power into the hands of millions of American consumers. Also front of mind should be that other countries and direct New Zealand competitors are facing similar, if not greater, tariff increases than New Zealand. Given we continue to produce world-class meat, dairy and wine products, it's unlikely, after a period of adjustment, that price increases at the retail level will have any meaningful impact on American consumers. Bruce Eliott, St Heliers. Voting changes People are criticising the Government for closing voting enrolments two weeks before the election. If you don't want to vote, that is fine. However, if you do, but can't be bothered to put in a small amount of effort to enrol over two weeks before an election, the problem isn't the system, it's you. If you want to vote, make an effort. Mark Young, Ōrewa. Electoral requirements If it is a legal requirement to be enrolled on the electoral roll, as stated by the Government on national television Q&A programme yesterday, why are all those on a benefit or Superannuation or in public services jobs not being checked by either employers or Winz? Who is responsible for checking that all New Zealanders are enrolled and are therefore not in breach of the law? Or does this Government not care about the 'dropkicks' or those who have been removed from the Māori roll? What happens to those who turn 18 on or near polling day? If the enrolment time is shortened, how will NZ Post guarantee that all New Zealanders are enrolled in time, and also the many thousands of Kiwi who have moved to Australia this past year who are still New Zealand citizens? Where is the democratic right for all New Zealanders? It behoves every Kiwi eligible to vote and all parliamentary parties to check the electoral roll in 2026 to make a concerted effort to gather those who are in breach of the law. Marie Kaire, Whangārei. Credit card fees So, the Government is banning credit card fees, whoop de do. Not all retailers charged extra anyway and the ones that did will recover them in some other covert way instead. A waste of Government time and energy all round. A.J. Petersen, Kawerau. Lions v Australia In a dead rubber, Australia won one test against the British and Irish Lions which, in spite of rugby's prevailing conflicting laws, held a passing interest. The game again was an eight-man-a-side wrestling contest with hardly any flowing seven-man backline plays. The tries scored were due only to individual opportunism, rather than teamwork. Once again, rugby was ... the loser. Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay. Jami-Lee Ross' political return Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross has said he is aiming for a political comeback, and will run for a seat on the Howick local board in the Flat Bush subdivision. No doubt he has weighed up the pros and cons of this move, but given the way the final chapters of his previous time in politics played out in the media, I'd suggest it would probably be best to give it a miss. He would open himself up for scrutiny, old controversies will be brought up, and his new venture, running an escort agency, will no doubt be 'grist for the mill' for his opponents. The message in Kenny Rogers' song The Gambler says it best: 'You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run...' Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Public Water, Private Profits? Tauranga Vote On Waters Done Well Raises Alarm Bells Over Secrecy, Power, & Past Agendas
Tauranga, NZ - 3 August 2025 This Tuesday, Tauranga City Council will vote on whether to opt into the Government's new "Waters Done Well" water services reform framework, a deceptively simple decision with massive consequences for local democracy, public ownership, and the future cost of living for every Tauranga resident. While officials are pushing the proposal as a "streamlining" of services, watchdogs and local advocates say it's anything but. 'This isn't just pipes and pumps, this is about whether public control of water remains public at all,' said Erika Harvey, spokesperson for Lobby for Good. 'We've seen this play before, dress up centralisation as 'efficiency,' then open the door to corporate control behind closed doors.' A Legacy of Sell-Offs - Are We Repeating the Past? Todd McClay, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, has denied any intent to privatise water. But scrutiny is growing over his links to one of New Zealand's most notorious sell-offs, the 1990s electricity sector privatisations overseen by his father, Roger McClay, under the National government. 'Let's not forget what happened when electricity was deregulated and handed to the market: prices soared, and public power was lost, literally and politically,' Harvey said. 'Now his son is overseeing a framework that removes water from councils, centralises decision-making, and could make it far easier to privatise later.' What's at Stake in Tuesday's Vote? Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council will vote on whether to opt in to the Government's new 'Waters Done Well' framework, a decision that will lock in the future of local water services for decades. This vote isn't just procedural. It decides whether our local drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure remains accountable to the communities who use and pay for it, or whether it's handed over to a new centralised entity with limited public oversight. Councils hand over key water assets to new centralised "service delivery organisations". Local accountability is diluted, with communities having little say over how water is managed Once transferred, these assets could be harder to return to public control Governance structures are vague, with key decisions potentially made by political appointees or private advisers Cr. Crowther's Warning: 'A Trojan Horse for Corporatisation' In a must-read Substack post this week, Councillor Glen Crowther called the proposal what it really is: "a Trojan Horse for corporatisation." He outlines how the new entities will operate more like commercial utilities than community services, despite still being technically owned by councils. Cr. Crowther also questions why the Government is rushing councils to opt-in without clear public consultation, funding guarantees, or transparent rules for asset control. His analysis echoes concerns already raised around the Marine Precinct, Durham Street, and other high-value local asset deals: the public is being shut out of decisions that will shape the city for generations. The Big Questions Tauranga Deserves Answers To As councillors prepare to cast their votes, Lobby for Good is demanding they publicly address: Why is this being rushed with so little public scrutiny? What protections will exist to stop privatisation by stealth in the future? Why are ratepayers being asked to give up control without guarantees on price, quality, or transparency? How will this governance structure avoid the same failings seen in past council-controlled organisations (CCOs)? And most importantly: who stands to profit, and who stands to lose? If this is the wrong decision, who is held accountable? 'This vote isn't just about water, it's about whether Tauranga is governed for the public good or private gain,' said Harvey. 'Once control is lost, it's near impossible to get back. We've learned that lesson the hard way. The question now is; will our council learn from it, or repeat it?' Call to Action Lobby for Good is urging Tauranga residents to contact their elected members, speak up before Tuesday's vote, and demand full transparency and public consultation before any irreversible decisions are made.
1News
6 hours ago
- 1News
PM wants NZ to get behind development, stem tide of Kiwis leaving for Oz
National leader Christopher Luxon has told his party's annual conference that the country needs to "say yes" more. Addressing about 550 delegates, MPs and supporters at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch yesterday, Luxon bemoaned "activists" who opposed housing developments, agriculture, cruise ships and mines. "If we're serious about keeping Kiwis at home, creating jobs and increasing wages for all New Zealanders, we can't afford to keep saying no to every opportunity that comes our way." Opposition parties have heavily criticised the Government for its economic policies and laid the blame at its feet for the 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia last year, but Luxon said the opposition would make it worse. "Take a look at Australia," he said. "If they shut down their mining industry or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch." ADVERTISEMENT Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses 550 delegates at the annual National Party conference in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter (Source: Luxon's speech came hot on the heels of an announcement from the United States that it would increase tariffs to 15%. Still digesting the announcement and what it would mean for New Zealand exporters, Luxon acknowledged "challenging" global conditions. "We can't just batten down the hatches and hope for the best," he said. Luxon's speech made no mention of National's coalition partners, New Zealand First or ACT, or even the word "coalition" itself, although deputy Nicola Willis acknowledged the "energy" it took to keep Winston Peters and David Seymour under control. Instead, Luxon's speech was heavy on shout-outs to his National ministers and their policies, and also on blaming the previous government for the cost-of-living struggles New Zealanders currently faced. "In the years to come, immediate action on the cost of living isn't enough," he said. ADVERTISEMENT "The last government spent billions of dollars in failed handouts, only to watch inflation roar and the economy falter. "We have to keep our eyes on the prize." Echoing his speech at Monday's post-cabinet press conference, Luxon leaned on the economic policies the Government had introduced, such as tax changes, FamilyBoost and the removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax. "We're doing what we can," he said. The speech contained an announcement that the Government would make it easier to get a concession on Department of Conservation (DOC) land. "That means more certainty for businesses, less bureaucracy and much faster decisions, so the businesses that should be operating can get up and running." There would still be restrictions on some parts of the DOC estate. ADVERTISEMENT "Where it does make sense, we need to get to the 'yes' much faster - instead of being bogged down in process and uncertainty," Luxon said. Charges of $20-40 for foreign visitors to high-volume sites, such as Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook, were being introduced, but New Zealanders would be exempt from the fees. Party president Sylvia Wood, who was re-elected at the conference, said the party would select candidates for the 2026 election shortly. Speaking to media afterwards, Luxon said there was more to do 18 months into the term. Before the 2026 election, Luxon said he expected to be judged on rebuilding the economy, restoring law and order, lowering the cost of living, and delivering better health and education. "Everyone's dealing with a really challenging global environment right now, but what we can do is control what we can control and that New Zealand has a plan. We can navigate some pretty choppy seas to get to the destination that we want to get to, but for that to happen, you've got to have the right people with the hands on the tiller, which is us." He committed to leading the party into the 2026 election and staying on another three years, if re-elected. ADVERTISEMENT While joking he wanted 100% of the vote, Luxon talked up National's relationship with ACT and New Zealand First. "I'm very proud of the fact that we've worked incredibly well with the three parties in a coalition in the way that we have," he said.
