April 09, 2026

#regional: Calls Grow to Sack Goldsmith as Te Urewera Decision Sparks Iwi Backlash

Dale Husband Posted On April 9, 2026

Dale Husband #regional: Calls Grow to Sack Goldsmith as Te Urewera Decision Sparks Iwi Backlash

Pressure is intensifying on Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith, with Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust calling for his immediate removal following the Crown’s decision to transfer six Department of Conservation reserves into the Te Urewera Board.

The Trust says the move risks a range of harms, including environmental decline, weakened oversight and the loss of customary access for Wairoa iwi. Concerns have been raised that shifting control away from the Department of Conservation could reduce accountability and impact how the land is managed in the long term.

At the heart of the dispute is governance. The Trust argues the decision effectively places control of the reserves in the hands of Ngāi Tūhoe through the Te Urewera Board, sidelining overlapping customary interests held by Wairoa iwi. It says the Crown has failed to properly recognise those shared relationships to the land.

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa maintains the decision creates new Treaty grievances rather than resolving existing ones, with the potential to deepen tensions between iwi and the Crown.

The Trust has also criticised the process behind the decision, saying it reflects a lack of understanding of Te Ao Māori and Treaty dynamics. It claims engagement has been inadequate and that the complexity of overlapping interests has not been properly addressed in negotiations.

Examples raised include concerns about limited consultation, the weighting of advice provided to the Minister, and what the Trust describes as a failure to fully consider the cultural and historical connections of Wairoa iwi to the land in question.

In response, the Trust is calling for a halt to the transfer and a reconsideration of governance arrangements. Options being sought include retaining Department of Conservation management or establishing a shared governance model that better reflects the interests of all affected iwi.

There are also calls for changes at ministerial level, with the Trust arguing that confidence in Goldsmith’s ability to manage Treaty negotiations has been undermined.

If their concerns are not addressed, the Trust has signalled it is prepared to escalate the issue, including pursuing further advocacy and potential legal avenues to challenge the decision.

The dispute adds to growing scrutiny over how overlapping Treaty interests are handled, and raises broader questions about the Crown’s role in balancing iwi relationships, environmental stewardship and long-term settlement integrity.