Wai 85 Update

Poua¯kani Claims Trust (L-R) Craig Ahipene,Chair; Ta¯mati Cairns, Kaumatua; Annette Sykes, Lawyer. WMI Committee of Management (L-R) Te Horipo Karaitiana, Sonya Rimene, Kingi Smiler, Anne Carter.

“Wairarapa Moana has a live resumption claim against the Crown in the Waitangi Tribunal and a live appeal awaiting decision before the Supreme Court…. if this Bill is enacted before the Supreme Court’s ruling, we will be denied the ability to have our day in court.

“It’s just not the Kiwi way to deny anyone their day in court. That’s just a slap in the face for natural justice. “We do not wish to hold up the settlement of the rest of the claims, that would be unfair on the other claimants. They are our whanaunga and have been forced into this situation by the Crown settlement process. They deserve to see the claims process concluded quickly,” said Kingi Smiler. “Simply, the only way to restore the mana and honour of the Crown and Parliament is to remove Wai 85 from the Deed of Settlement and allow us to deal with the serious issues that remain.”

It is not too late – we ask both the Crown and our whànau at the Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nui-à-Rua Settlement, to do what is tika / right, fair, and just. The Select Committee is required to report back to Parliament by 11 November 2022 on the Bill, and any amendments to it. After that, the Bill will go through a second reading, Committee of the Whole, and then third reading. All written submissions are available to read on the Parliamentary website at www.parliament.nz

Shareholder Search – Can you help?

We would like your help to trace descendants of shareholder HUTANA FAMILY TRUST

Any information you may be able to share with us will be most appreciated. Call Amethyst on 0800 662 624 or email wmoffice@wairarapamoana.org.nz The Bill becomes law (i.e. an Act) when it is signed by the Governor General – a process referred to as Royal assent. The Committee of Management would like to acknowledge the over sixty written submitters who asked for Wai 85 to be removed from the Bill. Most of the written submissions on the Bill opposed it.

A big mihi to all our whànau who attended personally or zoomed in, to tell the Màori Affairs Select Committee their views. We also acknowledge the Pouàkani Claims Trust, New Zealand Màori Council and the Federation of Màori Authorities who spoke in support of the Incorporation and Wairarapa Moana owners.

The members of the Màori Affairs Select Committee are: Tàmati Coffey (Chair), Arena Williams (Deputy Chair), Willow Jean Prime, Shanan Halbert, Harete Hipango, Joseph Mooney, Teanau Tuiono, Rawiri Waititi.

We concluded that because of the cumulative effect of the deficiencies we identified, the process was unfair, will exacerbate divisions in the claimant community, and will not be durable. We draw your attention in particularly to our finding that the Settlement Trust had no mandate to enter into settlement with the Crown concerning the interests of Ngài Tùmapùhia-à-Rangi and the Wairarapa Moana ki Pouàkani Incorporation in Ngàumu Forest (Wai 429) and land at Pouàkani (Wai 85). Judge Carrie Wainwright Dr Ruakere Hond Dame Margaret Bazley Waitangi Tribunal, November 2021