Wai 45 Renewed Muriwhenua Inquiry

Historical Claims and Collective Action


The claimants have long‑standing grievances arising from Crown breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi dating back to 1840. Our registered claimants have participated in the Muriwhenua and Te Paparahi o Te Raki Waitangi Tribunal inquiries, seeking redress, the return of lands and waters, and the restoration of respectful relationships with the Crown.


Our claimants are working together to progress their historical Treaty claims and prepare for future engagement with the Crown. This collective effort ensures strong representation of our collective interests and clear communication with whānau.


Registered Claimants Working Together


  • Wai 1842: Ngaire Tauhara‑White, Waha Tauhara
  • Wai 1359: Tina Latimer
  • Wai 1662: Leah Wright
  • Wai 295: Tarewa Rota
  • Wai 1670: Emily Latimer, Sharlene Haughton
  • Wai 1886/1668: Robert Gabel (Proxy: Henare Gabel)
  • Wai 2000: Chapman Harrison (Proxy: Geneva Harrison)


The claimants are preparing for future discussions with the Crown and aim to reach a Deed of Settlement that returns available Crown lands and resources within the rohe as part of resolving their historical claims.

Te Tiriti Settlement Journey

Historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi claims are made by Māori for breaches of Te Tiriti that occurred before 1992. These claims seek to address past injustices and restore what was lost. When a settlement is reached, it is passed into law and becomes the final resolution of those historical claims.


Many claims are negotiated through Large Natural Groups (LNGs), which are groups of iwi or hapū from the same region working together. A settlement usually includes four parts:


  • a historical account of what happened,
  • a Crown acknowledgement and apology,
  • cultural redress, and
  • commercial and financial redress.


The Treaty settlement process has four stages:


  • Pre‑negotiation – preparing to engage with the Crown
  • Negotiation – agreeing on the settlement package
  • Legislation – passing the settlement into law
  • Implementation – putting the settlement into action


The goal is to reach a fair, just and final settlement of historical Te Tiriti claims. To support this work, the claimants and Te Paatu ki Kauhanga worked together to form a cluster agreement in August 2020. This agreement helps coordinate their efforts and ensures they are ready when the Crown begins negotiations in the Ngāti Kahu rohe.


In March 2021, an application was made to the Crown Forestry Rental Trust (CFRT) to support ongoing research and preparation for Waitangi Tribunal hearings.


Together, the claimants continue to work collectively to progress their historical claims and prepare for future engagement with the Crown.