December 30, 2012
Mandate finally for Kahungunu talks
Wairarapa-based Ngāti Kahungunu will start negotiations on their treaty settlement in the new year.
The government has finally signed off a deed of mandate for Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa-Tamaki Nui a Rua Trust, more than six months after the trust completed a series of mandating hui among its nine constituent hapū.
Trust chair Ian Perry says while about 10,000 people identified with Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa at the 2006 census, the actual number of descendants will be even greater.
The Waitangi Tribunal reported two years ago that the iwi’s claims are well founded.
Issues include the loss of Lake Wairarapa, aggressive Crown land acquisition in the 19th century, and the abuse of the Public Works Act to take remaining land.
Mr Perry says the next step is to develop terms of negotiation, which should be signed by April.
Before securing its mandate the trust had to consult extensively with neighbouring and overlapping iwi, including Muaupoko, Rangitāne ō Manawatu, Te Atiawa, He Toa Takitini, Tuwharetoa and Maniapoto.
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