Wai 45 Renewed Muriwhenua Land Inquiry

Wai 45 Renewed Muriwhenua Land Inquiry


Te Paatu ki Kauhanga have long-standing grievances in relation to acts and commissions of the Crown in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi since 1840. Te Paatu ki Kauhanga have prosecuted claims against the Crown in the Waitangi Tribunal within the Muriwhenua Inquiry, the Paparahi o Te Raki Inquiry and in the courts seeking redress for their grievances, return of lands, waters, foreshore, seabed, marine and all available resources, restoration of relationships with all levels of government. Te Paatu ki Kauhanga seeks to provide a platform for rebuilding their community. 


In anticipation of the Crown engaging with various hapū and other organisations to negotiate a settlement of the historical Treaty claims in the Ngāti Kahu rohe, Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board is established as the hapū entity to receive and manage any settlement benefits for Te Paatu ki Kauhanga hapū. 


In the late 20th century and into the 21st century, together with other tribal relations from Muriwhenua, Te Paatu ki Kauhanga participated in the Waitangi Tribunal and other legal and political engagement processes in respect of their interests and claims over their lands, waters, coast, and seas. Te Paatu ki Kauhanga has taken steps to establish a Post Governance Settlement Entity (“PGSE”) intended to hold and administer those lands, waters, and resources on behalf of the beneficiaries.


Te Paatu ki Kauhanga claimants will continue to have direct input into negotiating their historical claims, and its representatives will ensure their mandate by maintaining ongoing, organised hapū communications and structures.


Te Paatu ki Kauhanga claimants intend to be ready to enter into discussions with the Crown and aspire to reach a stage where Te Paatu ki Kauhanga may negotiate and enter into a Deed of Settlement with the Crown to achieve the return of any available Crown land and resources in their rohe to them as an on-account part settlement of their historical Treaty claims against the Crown.


To meet the settlement requirements prescribed by the Crown, a post-settlement governance entity needed to be established to sign the Deed of Settlement and receive and administer the settlement assets received as part of the Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Treaty settlement. Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Hapū Trust is established and settled for this purpose and for the protection and advancement of Te Paatu ki Kauhanga.


In accordance with the Trust Deed, the whānau are entitled to benefit from settlement redress.

Wai 45 Renewed Muriwhenua Land Inquiry

Historical Treaty of Waitangi Claims are made by Māori against the Crown for breaches of the Treaty before 1992. Historical settlements aim to resolve claims and provide some redress to the claimant groups. When a settlement is reached, it becomes law.


Large Natural Groups (LNGs) are known as claimant groups and can consist of a single iwi, a group of iwi, or a collection of hapu from the same geographical area.


The settlement provides three types of redress: a historical account of the Treaty breaches, a Crown acknowledgement and apology, cultural redress, and commercial and financial redress.


The treaty settlement process has four stages: pre-negotiation, negotiation, legislation, and implementation. The key objective is to negotiate a settlement of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.


A cluster agreement was formulated in August 2020 between the Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board and the claimants to achieve this.


An application was made to Crown Forestry Rental Trust to support the ongoing operations for claims before the Waitangi Tribunal in March 2021. The trustees authorise the Land & Takutai Moana sub-committee to lead Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) claims before the Waitangi Tribunal and the High Court.

Land & Takutai Moana Sub-Committee

The Waitangi Tribunal cluster of claimants and applicants for Nga Hapu o Ngāti Kahu under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 include:

  • Nga Hapu o Ngāti Kahu applicants under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011; the late Rev. Pereniki Tauhara, the late Glen Larkin Kaiwaka, Trevor Wi Kaitaia, and Atihana Moana Johns.
  • Wai 1842, the Tauhara, Waiaua and Te Kaitoa Whanau Lands claim. A claim was made by Rev. Pereniki Tauhara, Ngaire Tauhara-White, and Waha Tauhara on behalf of the descendants of Matiu Tauhara, Terina Kingi Waiaua, Pene Te Kaitoa, and Te Paatu ki Kauhanga hapu.  
  • Wai 1359, the Muriwhenua Blocks Claim. On behalf of the late Sir Graham Latimer and Tina Patricia Latimer and on behalf of themselves and the descendants of Te Paatu tupuna. Paora, Paerata, Hare Reweti Hukatere, Ratima Aperahama and Ratima.
  • Haititaimarangai Marae 339 Trust for an on behalf of the beneficiaries of Haititaimarangai Marae. The principal hapu of the marae are Te Whanau Moana and Te Rorohuri, led by Atihana Johns.  
  • Wai 1662, the Muriwhenua Hapu Collective Claims. On behalf of Leah Wright and herself, whanau and Ngāti Tara, Te Paatu, Werowero, and others.
  • WAI 295, on behalf of the beneficiaries, including the Mangahoutoa Trust, the Te Tahaawai, and the Te Uri-o-te-Aho tribes. Tarewa Rota is the only surviving claimant for WAI 295; the original named claimants also included Lucy Te Awa (secretary), Pokai Tahere (treasurer), Basil Flavell, Della Snowden, James Heke, Guy Kaio (trustees), and kaumatua Karena Malcom, Hone Tahere, and Simon Snowden.
  • Wai 1670, the descendants of Te Uri o Ratima claim. Emily Latimer, Sharlene Houghton, and the late Ricky Houghton on behalf of Te Paatu and Te Uri o Ratima.
  • Wai 1886, the Ngāti Tara (Gabel) claim. Robert Gabel on behalf of Ngāti Tara.
  • Wai 1668, the descendants of Henare Piripi & Keiti Raiti (Gabel) claim. Robert Gabel, Kelvin Piripi, on behalf of themselves, their whanau, and Ngāti Tara.
  • Wai 2000, the Harihona Whanau Claim. On behalf of Chapman Harrison, Robert Gabel, Hone Bassett, Kelvin Piripi, Merv Priestley, and Tina-lee Raiti Yates, on behalf of themselves, their whanau, and Ngāti Tara.