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April 20, 2016
Urban Maori seeking control of Whakatupu putea
Waatea Team
Posted On April 20, 2016
Urban Maori advocates are in the High Court today arguing for greater control of a trust set up to recognise their stake in the Maori fisheries settlement.
Te Putea Whakatupu Trust administers a $20 million fund which they say was intended to provide for all Maori who might not benefit from the settlement through iwi, who will in future hold the rest of the settlement assets.
Instead the National Urban Maori Authority and Waipareira Trust say there has been a pattern of blocked access leading to years of frustration.
They say iwi representatives who have the majority on the three-member trust have repeatedly denied countless well considered proposals submitted in good faith seeking funds to support social and economic developments for city-based Maori.
They want the court to declare that urban Maori are the primary beneficiaries of Te Putea Whakatupu, and its funds should be exclusively for urban Maori.
The National Urban Maori Authority should be consulted when directors are appointed, and all directors must have knowledge and skills that are directly relevant to urban Maori.
The defendants are the Maori Fisheries Settlement Trust, Te Ohu Kaimoana, and the directors of Te Putea Whakatupu, Rikirangi Gage and Richard Jefferies.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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