WAI2521 – Nga Hapū o te Moutere o Motiti

(G Hoete and others) Claim

The Wai 2521 claim is seeking findings from the Waitangi Tribunal that in respect of Motiti there is another hapū outside of Te Patuwai, Ngāti Maumoana and Te Whānau ā Tauwhao who are tangata whenua.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te Patuwai Tribal Committee jointly oppose this claim on the basis that the Ngāti Awa Settlement did include the tangata whenua of Motiti, namely Te Patuwai and Ngāti Maumoana who are of Ngāti Awa descent.

While Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te Patuwai Tribal Committee do agree that the Crown needs to do a much better job at resourcing activities on Motiti and providing a voice for the island in terms of resource management and other matters, who the tangata whenua are of Motiti is already confirmed.

The Tribunal considered the claim over 18 months, culminating in the final hearing being held in Tauranga on 4 and 5 September. In the past year, the Te Patuwai Tribal Committee, members of Te Patuwai, Ngāti Maumoana, Ngāti Awa and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa have attended 5 hearings, over 23 days.

A considerable amount of effort, time and resources was required to represent our opposition to this claim. We are now awaiting the Tribunal findings which are expected in early 2020. Te Patuwai Tribal Committee and hapū members also spent numerous voluntary hours participating in this claim and preparing evidence.