29 March 2015

Media Statement

Ngapuhi settlement negotiators appointed

Three prominent Ngapuhi have been appointed as negotiators for the historic Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement negotiations to begin soon between the Tuhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority (Tuhoronuku IMA) – representing all Ngapuhi - and the Crown. The three negotiators are:

• Alison Thom (Ngāti Horahia, Ngāti Toki) For the last ten years Alison has held senior management roles with Te Puni Kokiri, the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Education. Prior to this Alison was the inaugural CEO for Te Runanga-a-iwi o Ngapuhi. She is a social worker by profession, having worked in a range of roles with Child, Youth and Family and as director of SAFE Network – a community based programme for sex offenders.

• Joe Davis (Ngāti Kopaki) A specialist in Maori development, he is currently a trustee of the Hauraki Maori Trust Board, Pare Hauraki Fishing Trust and sits on other iwi trusts and committees. For 15 years he was a researcher of his iwi’s claim, and for the past five years he has been a settlement negotiator. Joe is a mechanical engineer by trade.

• Hemi Toia (Te Māhurehure) Has held senior management and advisory roles with government agencies, including the State Services Commission and ACC. He is a former chair of Taitokerau Forests Limited, and has lectured in accountancy and Maori resource management at Victoria University and at the University of Auckland. He is currently CEO of Te Rūnanga o Ngati Rarua.

The three negotiators were appointed by the Trustees of Tuhoronuku IMA after a lengthy nation- wide advertising and recruitment process.

The Tuhoronuku IMA Trust Deed provides for a minimum of three negotiator positions and a maximum of six.

Said Raniera (Sonny) Tau, chair of Tuhoronuku IMA: “We are delighted with the calibre of our first three negotiators, all Ngapuhi leaders in their own right who have a wealth of experience in management, iwi development and working with Government and government agencies at the highest level.”

Mr Tau said he wished to thank all those who had applied for the negotiator positions. “As the negotiations begin, it will be possible to make more appointments if required, as we navigate our way through these complex negotiations. The logistics of managing the Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement of all historical grievances of the largest iwi in this country is huge and we want to get the foundation right from the beginning.”

He said that work had begun in earnest and initially the negotiators would be focussed on the hapu of Ngapuhi to establish their settlement aspirations.

“This is an exciting time for Ngapuhi. After eight years of working hard to secure a mandate from Ngapuhi and planning for negotiations, the most important mahi – negotiating the best and fairest settlement possible with the Crown – is about to begin. Again we invite all Ngapuhi to ensure your Hapu Kaikorero are on board and we continue to leave the door open for those who have chosen to sit outside the whare at this time.”

The primary source for Ngapuhi settlement information is www.tuhoronuku.com

ENDS

Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority is the mandated entity to represent all Ngāpuhi - no matter where we live – to negotiate a settlement of all Crown grievances against Ngāpuhi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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