Ngati Manu Celebrates Waitangi Tribunal Decision

The Waitangi Tribunal released the Ngāpuhi Mandate Inquiry Report today recommending that the Crown delay any further negotiations with Tuhoronuku to give Ngāpuhi the time and space needed to address the flaws the Tribunal has identified.

The descendants of Pomare ll and his hapu of Ngāti Manu, Te Uri Karaka and Te Uri o Raewera from the Bay of Islands area are celebrating the result of the Waitangi Tribunal decision today to delay Crown negotiations with Ngāpuhi until recommendations are met.

“For Ngāti Manu, the Tuhoronuku Mandate was flawed on so many levels from the outset and our hapu like so many of the others were completely unhappy with the mandating process and manipulation by the leadership of Tuhoronuku so we filed for urgency immediately” says Arapeta Hamilton, Ngāti Manu spokesperson and lead claimant for Ngāti Manu.

“Ngāti Manu were clear from the outset that we would not support Tuhoronuku settling our extensive land, water and resources claim in the Bay of Islands area with the Crown as they did not have our mandate nor did we have any faith or trust in the leadership or structure proposed because we were never consulted with on the approach” says Mr Hamilton.

“Our struggle and journey that Ngāti Manu have suffered by the Crown since 1840 has been one of treachery, lies, humiliation, greed and theft of our major land and water resources resulting in my people in this century leading a life of poverty and ill health. The Tribunal’s decision has vindicated our stance and will enable Ngāti Manu to move forward to achieving a settlement process without being encumbered by anyone else.” says Mr Hamilton.

ENDS

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