MEDIA STATEMENT

On behalf of Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa

21 July 2016

Voting opens for $100M Wairoa Treaty Settlement

Voting is open for the Iwi and Hapū of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa to have a say on whether their Treaty of Waitangi Settlement goes ahead.

The voting process is crucial to the completion of the Treaty Settlement journey for the Wairoa Inquiry District, which started more than thirty years ago.

If sufficient support is achieved, mandated negotiating body Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa (Te Tira) is set to secure redress of $100 million on behalf of the Iwi and Hapū of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa.

This would become the country’s fifth biggest Treaty of Waitangi Settlement in terms of financial redress.

Te Tira Chairman Tāmati Olsen says the Settlement would give Wairoa Iwi and Hapū the ability to restore and advance the cultural, economic and social wellbeing of its people and the entire region.

“We are strongly encouraging all those who whakapapa to the Iwi and Hapū of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa, and who are 18 or over, to vote in support of the Settlement,” says Mr Olsen.

“The history of Treaty of Waitangi claims in Wairoa is long and significant; we are now at the all-important stage where everyone needs to unite to vote for a better future for our whānau.”

To provide background and voting information, ratification packs have been sent to all registered members, with a unique ID and password for use when voting.

Te Tira will also hold a series of nine Information Hui across the country from 22 July to 7 August, for Iwi and Hapū members to get more information, register and vote.

“These Hui will be a great chance for people to come along and find out more about the details of the Settlement and why their vote is so important for our future,” says Mr Olsen.

Voting is available online, by post or in-person at the Information Hui.

All nine Information Hui will be live-streamed on the Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa Facebook page.

For more information, visit www.tetirawhakaemi.iwi.nz

ENDS

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