Hapu splits from Te Arawa council

By CHERIE TAYLOR in Rotorua
Another hapu has added its name to the growing list of Te Arawa iwi dissatisfied with the group mandated to negotiate its historical treaty claims with the Crown.

This week Ngati Whaoa members held a hui at Reporoa College at which they voted to withdraw from the Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa Executive Council.

The hapu is now in the same position as Te Arawa iwi Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Rangiwewehi and Ngati Wahiao who have applied to the Waitangi Tribunal to have their claims heard separately.

In an submission to the tribunal, taumata (speakers) claim the executive council has the support of only half of Te Arawa.

Ngati Whaoa had elected to set up a working party to make its own application to the tribunal, said Te Runanga o Ngati Whaoa secretary Teressa Te Moni.

Ngati Whaoa had been lumped in with Ngati Tahu for the purposes of the claim but would not accept this, said Ms Te Moni.

"The vote was unanimous that we withdraw. We are a separate entity. We have been coupled for the convenience of the settlement but we will not be subsumed within Ngati Tahu," she said.

The hapu had never recognised the Ngati Tahu/Ngati Whaoa representative on the executive council, Roger Pikia, as the person to arbitrate on its behalf, said Ms Te Moni.

The group was also wanting control of Reporoa's Lake Opouri. Title was vested for all Te Arawa with a historical settlement signed at Ohinemutu in January.

"Ngati Whaoa has never been represented on the Te Arawa Maori Board. We have lost our resources and land to the Government and we have been done over by our own relations at the same time," she said. Hapu members would never give up the struggle, said Ms Te Moni.

"In the old days our people pulled up the pegs the Crown put in the ground. This is an old, old fight and we want to be acknowledged as the rightful owners," she said.

Ngati Tahu/Ngati Whaoa representative on the Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa executive council, Roger Pikia, said the bulk of the hapu was satisfied with the current process.

A majority of Ngati Whaoa descendants voted at a hui in July 2003 to enter into direct negotiations with Nga Kaihautu, he said.

"I acknowledge the group's wish to go it alone ... The realities of maintaining a united front will always be difficult in the claims process, but now we can focus on the job ahead and seek the best possible outcome for our people," he said. Nga Kaihautu O Te Arawa chairman Eru George said the executive council was constantly being monitored by the Office of Treaty Settlements.

Although Ngati Whakaue had withdrawn one of its hapu, Ngati Te roro o Te Rangi and Tuhourangi, the iwi of Ngati Wahiao, had opted to stay, he said.

The executive council was hoping to enter into formal negotiations with the Government next month with an Agreement in Principle (settlement offer) reached by August, Mr George said.

"[We have] the full support of a large grouping of Te Arawa iwi and hapu and the minister is keen to negotiate ... so these groups can settle their grievances and access assets to assist in their future development," he said.