31. Who is financing the Land claims?
Trust Board Reply:
All Treaty Claims that confirm they are the body mandated by their iwi to negotiate and settle their Claim are funded by the Crown, usually through the Office of Treaty Settlements, to research, negotiate and settle those Claims.
29. Who gave the right for the Trust Board to carry the mandate for WAI 116?
Trust Board Reply:
The Trust Board received the mandate from the people of each of the Marae and in Tamaki Makaurau after elections held in 1998, 2001 (this election was facilitated by TPK) and 2003. At each of these elections, this Trust received the support of the people to carry the mandate. The Trust had to meet rigorous requirements from the Crown, in terms of advertising Hui, maintaining a database of people who attended and voted, minute-taking at these meetings, and reporting to the Crown.
28. Why are the Land claims only for lands in the areas of Taemaro and Waimahana?
Trust Board Reply:
The WAI 116 Treaty Claim includes all the rohe of Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, which is 50,000 acres. This amount of land was used in the calculation of the ‘quantum’, the amount that the Crown would give back to the tribe. The lands around Taemaro and Waimahana are less than 25,000 acres. However, the majority of land that the Crown controls and can return to the Iwi is around Taemaro, Waimahana and Ranfurly Reserve.
20. Is the PSGE not setup yet?
Trust Board Reply:
The PSGE will not be set up until the Iwi have decided what form that should take. This usually occurs after the Deed of Settlement is signed between the Trust Board and the Crown
18. The workshop that is going around. Are we promoting PSGE or AIP?
Trust Board Reply:
The Consultation Hui, also known as the ‘Road Show’ are informing members of our iwi about both the Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) options, and what is contained in the Agreement In Principle (AIP).
17. What is the voting process?
Trust Board Reply:
Everyone who is registered will be sent an information pack after the Consultation Hui have concluded, asking for peoples’ views on the pathway forward. Your responses will shape the trust Board’s actions in the final negotiations and discussions with the Crown, which will inform the Deed of Settlement. Once the deed of Settlement is signed, everyone who is registered will be included in the vote for ratification of the Post-Settlement Governance options, and vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the offer from the Crown. If the majority of the people vote ‘Yes’, the iwi and Crown will progress to settlement. If the majority of people vote ‘No’, the negotiations for WAI 116 will have to start all over again.
16. What happens with the Minority and the Majority of votes? If the Majority win then what happens with the Minority?
Trust Board Reply:
As with any voting system, the majority wins and the minority loses. It is important to be registered with the Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa Trust Board if you want your vote to count.
15. Is the package that the Government is offering what we want?
Trust Board Reply:
It is up to the Iwi to decide if the offer is acceptable, during the ratification, after signing the Deed of Settlement
14. Was it a fair process setup the appointment process in March 2013?
Trust Board Reply:
The process for appointing Marae delegates is set at the Marae, not the Trust Board level. The process for appointing the Post-Settlement Advisory group (PSAG) was decided by the Trust Board, who representatives come each of the seven Marae, and it was considered fair at the time by the Trust Board.
13. Is it true that there were only 5 Marae and Otangaroa Marae was not included in the Claim 1997?
Trust Board Reply:
No, this is not true. Otangaroa has been included in the Claim since it was first lodged in 1987.