The old and new members of Tama Potaka's Waitangi Tribunal. Photo / Te Pāti Māori.
The old and new members of Tama Potaka's Waitangi Tribunal. Photo / Te Pāti Māori.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka’s Waitangi Tribunal appointments have been labelled a “whitewash” by Te Pāti Māori.
Potaka announced eight new members, highlighting their private and commercial sector expertise.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer criticised the removal of experienced Māori thinkers.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka’s new-look Waitangi Tribunal has been labelled a “whitewash” by Te Pāti Māori.
Last week, Potaka announced eight new appointments, commenting that their expertise in the private and commercial sectors would enable the Waitangi Tribunal to remain “fit for purpose.”
Five current members of the 20members of the Waitangi Tribunal also had their terms renewed.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Māori/Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka.
“As the tribunal nears its 50th anniversary, the appointments coming on board will give it the right balance of skills to continue its important mahi hearing and reporting Māori Treaty claims in a timely manner,” Potaka said.
He thanked the outgoing members for their contributions.
“Nei aku mihi mahana ki ngā kaiwhiri hou tae atu ki ngā mātanga i whai tūranga anō ai. Kāore i ārikarika āku kupu whakamiha ki te hunga ka wehe atu nei, oti rā ki ō rātou takoha whakahirahira mai.”
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the new candidates as well as to the experts who have been appointed again. My words of appreciation are not enough for those who are leaving, but for their valuable contributions.”
The new members, appointed for a three-year term, are:
Tipene Chrisp (Whāngai to Rangitāne) has held senior roles across the public service, with extensive knowledge of Waitangi Tribunal hearings and negotiation experience. He is currently the general manager of Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust.
Philip Crump has practised law for over 20 years in both Aotearoa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, giving him significant experience in statutory and contractual interpretation, negotiation and dispute resolution procedures. He is currently a board member of NZ on Air.
Vanessa Eparaima (Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is an experienced Governor across a range of nonprofit organisations and commercial and investment boards. Her experience includes Treaty negotiator for Ngāti Raukawa. She is currently the Chairperson of Te Wananga O Aotearoa council.
Rex Edward Hale is an author and experienced public servant, including information and data management and experience in preparing oral and written resources to support Tribunal claimants.
Grant Hadfield is a Councillor on the Manawatū District Council and serves as chair of the Chief Executive’s Employment Committee. He has held various executive and governance roles, including CEO and executive secretary of Manawatū Agricultural and Pastoral Association and former CEO of FarmSafe.
Kingi Kiriona (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Apa) is an orator, kapa haka exponent, composer, educator and broadcaster. He is currently a director of Whakaata Maori and a member of Te Mātāwai. He is the managing director and founder of Tupu Ora Education and Development Ltd, which supports building Māori capability for iwi and public sector agencies.
Ron Mark served in the New Zealand Army (1971 – 1990) before entering governance and politics. He has been a respected Member of Parliament and has served as Minister of Defence and Veterans. Mr Mark is currently serving his second term as Mayor of Carterton.
Professor Tafaoimalo Tologata Leiland Tuala-Warren is the Dean of Te Piringa Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato, making her Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Pacific Dean of Law. Professor Tuala-Warren has held a range of senior roles over her 26-year career, including becoming the second woman to act as Supreme Court Justice of Samoa. In 2022, she was recognised as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Waikato.
The five members reappointed to the tribunal are Dr Ruakere Hond, Derek Fox, Kim Ngarimu, Dr Hana O’Regan and Professor Sir Pou Temara.
Chief Judge Dr Caren Fox of the Māori Land Court chairs the tribunal and other judges of the Māori Land Court, while not members of the Waitangi Tribunal, can be appointed as a presiding officer for a tribunal panel.
A panel of three to seven members is appointed to the tribunal to conduct an inquiry. Each tribunal panel must have at least one Māori member.
Ron Mark has served as Minister of Defence and Veterans. Mr Mark is currently serving his second term as Mayor of Carterton.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said of the appointments: “It’s a whitewash. Tama Potaka has removed some of Te Ao Māori’s greatest thinkers from the Waitangi Tribunal and replaced them with pale, stale males.”
Ngarewa-Packer is referring to the experience of three outgoing Waitangi members: Professor Rawinia Higgins, Professor Tom Roa and Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith.
“The calibre and knowledge and experience alone is extraordinary. In the reshuffle, the Prime Minister demoted the highest-ranking Māori minister, Shane Reti, and now he has Minister Potaka continuing this divisive agenda.
“Why Richard Prebble would even want to be on the tribunal is anyone’s guess.
“Some of the appointments have no Treaty of Waitangi experience and I’m not sure how that is going to be of use to the Waitangi Tribunal. This is a real disappointment.”
