Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei sends support to Tauranga Moana

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust (the Trust) says it supports Tauranga Moana iwi 100% in their stand against the Crown’s proposed Treaty of Waitangi Settlement with the Hauraki Collective.

Tauranga iwi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāti Pukenga, have gathered in huge numbers today to protest a settlement between Hauraki iwi and The Crown. Tauranga iwi say the deal has been done in secret and will give Hauraki iwi mana and decision-making over Tauranga Harbour.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei spokesman Ngarimu Blair has congratulated Tauranga Moana iwi for turning out in force to protect their mana.

“We fully support Tauranga Moana and it is awesome to see the local community also backing iwi in this battle against the Crown.

“It’s deeply concerning that the Government is trying to pull together a deal with Hauraki iwi and not respecting the people who have actually continued to live in the area for centuries.

“Unfortunately, the Crown is taking the same flawed approach in Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato and North Auckland,” says Mr Blair.

Hauraki iwi have also made claims over parts of Auckland, including in front of Bastion Point and the Central Business District, which is regarded as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei mana whenua.

Mr Blair says like in Tauranga, Hauraki Collective interests should not be treated the same as the iwi in residence or with ahi kaa. Every tribe has a heartland and any offers to iwi with lesser interests should only be done with the agreement of the host iwi.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is currently waiting for a decision from the Court of Appeal, where with the hapū is seeking to have a case heard to clarify the Crown’s process in its negotiations with Ngāti Paoa and the Hauraki-based Marutuahu Collective.

“It’s unfortunately that we are seeing iwi like Hauraki taking advantage of the Crown’s approach and overreaching into areas where their interests are not strong.

“We have similar concerns to Tauranga iwi. The Crown needs to understand it can’t continue this approach or more iwi will take a stand,” says Mr Blair.

ENDS

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