This is a significant settlement for Whakatōhea. Our Settlement is one of the largest packages ever negotiated and is unique with many firsts. Whakatōhea were the first Iwi to get a commitment from the Tertiary Education Commission and the first to negotiate moana space as part of a Settlement package. To illustrate the financial value of this Settlement, only 7 Settlements have been more than $100 million and they were for significantly larger iwi.
The significant land assets, over 6692ha, will be held by a trustee company called NgāHapū o TeWhakatōhea. The land blocks being returned include areas like Kotare Scenic Reserve, Waiotahi Scenic Reserve, Te Papa, Marawaiwai, and Oroi. We are also getting land back from the Opotiki District Council including the Tirohanga Dunes which will be jointly managed by the council and TeTāwharau o TeWhakatohea.
A successful ratification will bring immense prosperity and wellbeing to TeWhakatōhea. Be part of this journey toward a new future and create the next chapter of history for TeWhakatōhea.
Signing the Deed of Settlement
To oversee the elections for the initial Trustees to Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea, the new PSGE
The Establishment Trustees are appointed by the WPCT and have been chosen for their involvement and support of the Settlement process in some cases since the first attempt to settle back in the 1990s.
In order to ensure complete transparency and no conflicts the Establishment Trustees are not eligible to run in the election for the PSGE Trustees for Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea.
Robert has been involved in hapū and Iwi development since returning home to Opotiki. Robert is one of Ngāti Rua’s representatives on the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board where he serves as the Chair and the Board’s rep on the Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust.
Bruce currently serves as the Kaumātua marae representative on the Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust and is an active member of Whakatōhea Taumata Kaumatua and the Komiti Whiriwhiri Hitori advisory group. Bruce has also served on the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board as one of the two representatives for Ūpokorehe.
Erin has been directly involved in the Whakatōhea Settlement since 2003 when she was elected as one of the Ngāti Patu reps to the Whakatōhea Working Party. Erin currently serves as the Waiaua marae representative on the Whakatōhea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust.
Tahu served as the Secretary to the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board as well as serving as an appointed member to the Whakatōhea Raupatu Committee for the initial settlement negotiations with the Crown 1993 – 1998. Tahu is the Terere Marae representative on the Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust.
Better known as Keita, she was born in the Waiotahe Valley where she has resided for most of her life. Keita has served her marae of Maromahue, Roimata and Kaumātua, tirelessly for over 37 years. Within that time Keita also represented her hapū Te Ūpokorehe and marae on the Whakatohea Maori Executive, for two terms as one of the 2 Ūpokorehe reps on the Whakatōhea Maori Trust Board. Keita was also the selected rep for Maromahue Marae to the Whakatōhea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust.
Vaughan has had a long involvement in the Whakatōhea claim, including as a member of Te Tāwharau o Whakatōhea in 1996 and more recently as a member of the raupatu working party that prepared Te Ara Tono – a report recommending how we could settle our claims which was adopted by Whakatōhea hapū in 2007.
Anau has been involved with different Whakatōhea Iwi Raupatu roopu since 2006. She has been on the Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust as the Ngati Ira hapū representative for almost 4 years. Anau believes in our Whakatōhea whānau, hapū and iwi having a prosperous future just as our Tīpuna desired prior to colonisation. Over the past 15 years Anau has joined other Whakatōhea leaders in various hapū and iwi kaupapa, and like many other Whakatōhea leaders, she is dedicated to her hapū and Iwi.
Graeme has been involved in Marae and Iwi politics for over 30 years serving as the current Chair of Waiaua Marae Committee as well as a current sitting Trustee for the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board. As a retired farmer Graeme has also lent his skills as a Trustee to 3 dairy farms within the Whakatōhea rohe.
In comparison to other Iwi, we are in the top 8 Settlements of all time. Only 8 Settlements have been more than $100 million and all of the others have had higher populations than ours. See the table below to see how this Settlement compares against other Iwi Settlements.
| Group | Quantum | Added Value | Total | Population (2013) | Raupatu | Report at AIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waikato-Tainui (Raupatu) | 170 million | 60 million (approx.) | 230 million | 40,083 | Yes | No |
| Ngai Tahu | 170 million | 50 million (approx. and still contested) | 220 million | 54,819 | No | No |
| Tuhoe | 169 million | - | 169 million | 34,887 | Yes | No (had inquiry) |
| Maniapoto | 165 million | - | 165 million | 35,358 | Yes | No (had inquiry) |
| Ngati Porou | 90 million | 20 million | 110 million | 71,049 | No | No |
| Heretaunga Tamatea | 100 million | 5 million | 105 million | 15,900 | No | No |
| Te Tira Whakaemi | 100 million | - | - | - | No | No |
| Whakatōhea (2022) | 85 million | 85 million + marine space | + 4 million interest | 12,177 | Yes | No |
| Whakatōhea (1996) | 40 million | - | 40 million | 8000+ (1996 estimate) | Yes | No |
The date is yet to be confirmed for the ratification vote, however once it is known we will be advising Whakatōhea when voting will start and how to get involved.
