Site visit plan for Whangaroa hearing

Ngapuhii kaumatua Owen Kingi, of Whangaroa. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A draft plan has been filed with the Waitangi Tribunal for the Whangaroa hearing on week 10 of its Te Paparahi o Te Raki inquiry into Ngapuhi Treaty grievances on September 21-26.

The draft includes a proposed site visit scheduled after the powhiri to welcome the tribunal on to the Otangaroa marae at 1-2.15pm on September 21.

The proposed site visit would take in Pororua's pa at Maungahoutoa, a Crown forest area at Kohumaru overlapping with Ngati Kahu, gumdigging sites and soldier resettlement lands at Kahoe, Saies store and Lane's mill at Totara North and Bishop Pompallier's early address at Piwania.

The tribunal could also be shown where Land Court sittings were held at the Pinea/Waipuna settlement, the convent at Waitaruke, Hongi Hika's pa at Wharera the first Weleyan Mission Station Aotearoa and Pohue pa.

The draft hearing plan for September 22-26 identifies witnesses for some claims, although these are still developing.

The draft has Wai 58 claimant Patricia Tauroa giving evidence at the opening of the formal hearing at 9am on September 22, with Terry Tauroa and others appearing later that day.

Owen Kingi is lined up for the first evidence on September 23, with Iris Niha, Rihari Dargaville, Fred and Ruiha Collier, and Mataroria Lyndon on the witness stand later.

Pairama Tahere has the early evidence for September 24, with the Rakena whanau, Louie Katene and other witnesses scheduled to be heard later.

Evidence from Nuki Aldridge and Bryce Smith is expected to take up most of September 25, with technical witness Bruce Stirling to begin presenting a local government report.