Maniapoto to hold treaty negotiation hui

7:18 am on 13 October 2015

Treaty settlement expectations will be on the agenda when the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board begins consultation with iwi members at the end of the month.

Marokopa Falls

The iwi's rohe runs from Marokopa (pictured) to Otorohanga and down past Te Kuiti, Piopio and Bennydale, and includes Waitomo Caves. Photo: 123RF

A new board was appointed in July, and the iwi will soon seek a mandate to enter into settlement negotiations after the Waitangi Tribunal found significant treaty breaches by the Crown.

Maniapoto Māori Trust Board deputy chair Keith Ikin said he anticipated iwi members would want to discuss financial aspects of the settlement, as well as the iwi's future relationship with the Crown.

"What is the potential around co-governance between Maniapoto and the Crown in the future, what is the potential for Maniapoto and the Crown to work together much more in partnership around some of the real challenges we face as a people, in terms of health, education, employment."

Mr Ikin said the board wanted to meet with as many iwi members as possible to ensure its focus was in alignment with the aspirations and the needs of all Maniapoto people.

"Part of the conversation that I expect we will have is how we can create change that will provide opportunity and benefits to our people, how much of that will be driven solely from within our own resources, and led by ourselves as the tribal leadership, but also how much of this is the responsibility of the relationship and the partnership that we might have with the Crown."

Mr Ikin said the board was committed to making positive changes.

Ten hui-ā-iwi will be held from 30 October to 6 December in Auckland, Hamilton, Otorohonga, Te Kūiti, Taumarunui, Rereahu, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.

Maniapoto is one of the country's largest iwi with more than 35,000 members. Ninety percent of tribal members live outside the iwi's rohe.