Media release
25 January 2011

Titewhai Harawira supports a Ngapuhi settlement

Ngapuhi kuia and leader Titewhai Harawira says Ngapuhi, Aotearoa New Zealand’s biggest iwi, are ready to talk to the Crown about settling.

The 78-year-old matriarch has worked tirelessly over the past two years to advance a comprehensive Treaty settlement for Ngapuhi.

“From my experience over the past years, I am confident Ngapuhi hapu and Ngapuhi living in urban areas can be involved in this process. Through Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku - the committee seeking mandate - all Ngapuhi have the opportunity to participate,” said Mrs Harawira.

Just last week the Crown endorsed Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku’s strategy to seek a mandate from Ngapuhi iwi.

Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku will hold a series of mandating hui throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand and Australia during late March and April this year.

Mrs Harawira has travelled the length and breadth of Aotearoa New Zealand several times with Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku to attend hui at which hapu and Ngapuhi have discussed settlement with the Crown.

“The next step in the journey is to seek mandate from our people and I’ll be back on the road in a few weeks to do just that,” said Mrs Harawira.

“Overwhelmingly, our people want to settle. We want to put the grievances behind us so we can become strong again as a people, as we were before colonisation.

“It is time for Ngapuhi to take its rightful place in the leadership of our nation. Settlement will do this – it will advance our people in every way, in education, health, economically and culturally.”

One in every five Maori (20%) are Ngapuhi. The iwi currently has a population of 123 000 (2006 Census), and is predicted to reach about 140,000 in the 2011 Census.

Said Mrs Harawira: “A Treaty settlement for all Ngapuhi will transform Northland’s iwi into an economic powerhouse, in a way other tribes have done for their regions further south.

“I have travelled and talked to Ngapuhi from Hokianga to Invercargill and all stops in between. And I’ve heard what our people want. They want to get on with settlement.

“We are by far the biggest iwi and we should be having input and influence over everything that is happening in our country”.

“Exactly 170 years from when our tupuna (ancestors) signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, by all measures we are in a terrible position. Settlement could turn that around for Ngapuhi and change the mind-set from grievance mode to a proud nation determining our own future.

“I’m pleased to be a part of Ngapuhi moving forward and will be there when Ngapuhi settle – the only thing that will stop us progressing is ourselves.”

An early commitment was given to not seek mandate until after the initial Waitangi Tribunal Hearings – known as He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi – were complete. Closing submissions from Ngapuhi hapu for these hearings will be next month (February).

Tuhoronuku, the project team managing the process, has developed a democratic representative model that includes Hapu Kaikorero to ensure work is hapu-driven.

Said Mrs Harawira, “The model also provides for Ngapuhi representatives who reside outside of Te Whare Tapu o Ngapuhi. Now it’s up to our Hapu and our people wherever they reside, to step up and take responsibility for contributing to the future of Ngapuhi”.

She said the entire two year project has been guided by Kaumatua and Kuia as their collective experience and vision is critical.

ENDS

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