Have your say!

To be able to enter negotiations with the Crown, hapu must organise themselves into a “Large Natural Grouping” (LNG). Ngati Kuta and our partner hapu done this by formalising their alliance as Te Whakaaetanga Trust (“TWT”) on January 14, 2023. The hapū are Ngati Kuta, Patukeha, Ngati Manu and Ngati Torehina ki Matakaa. TWT takes its direction from the collective voice of each hapū through its nominated representatives. If we approve, TWA will represent Ngā Hapū in our Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.

TWT upholds the tikanga of hapu rangatiratanga and therefore takes its direction from the collective voice of each hapū through its nominated representatives. It is the vehicle required by the Crown in this historical process. The Minister has formally acknowledged that Te Whakaaetanga Trust hapu have met this requirement.

You can download the following files about TWT:

• Te Whakaaetanga Trust Mandate Strategy
• Te Whakaaetanga Trust Deed
• Te Whakaaetanga Trust Mandate Hui Presentation

Now that we have achieved a LNG, the next step is to host a series of hapu information hui to seek a mandate from Ngati Kuta whanau to negotiate with the Crown. Each of our fellow hapu must also do the same.

A mandate is permission, an authorisation given by a claimant group to their representatives, allowing them to negotiate with the Crown to settle historical Treaty claims.

Basically, TWT must get approval from each hapū for any initial deal with the government before finalising the settlement. If we vote yes, then TWT will be responsible for resolving our hapū’s historical Te Tiriti complaints on our behalf.  Each hapū will get to select their own negotiator after TWT is approved.

Each hapū has its own way, based on its tikanga, to decide on confirming the mandate of Te Whakaaetanga. Your vote is important in this process.

A detailed resolution that you will be voting on is presented here. The language is formal and legally relevant. Even though this doesn’t make sense to most people, below this legal version, we have also got a simplified version.

“The acceding hapū of Te Whakaaetanga Trust established by Deed dated 14 January 2023 (collectively referred to as “Ngā Hapū Te Whakaaetanga”) mandate Te Whakaaetanga Trust to represent them in negotiations with the Crown in respect of the comprehensive settlement of all of Ngā Hapū Te Whakaaetanga historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi claims and further, mandate Te Whakaaetanga Trust to present an initialled deed of settlement to Ngā Hapū Te Whakaaetanga for ratification prior to a Deed of Settlement being signed.” 

“On January 14, 2023, a group of hapū, called Ngā Hapū Te Whakaaetanga, agreed to form the Te Whakaaetanga Trust. They have given this Trust the job of talking to the Crown for them. The Trust’s task is to sort out and settle all the old claims these hapū have in relation to breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Most importantly, the Trust needs to get approval (a mandate) from these hapū before the Crown will negotiate.”