Hapū to lodge their claims at Waitangi Tribunal for future of community

Sunday, 1 October 2023

The taking of their whenua is the main issue for a number of Ōtaki hapū presenting their claims to the Waitangi Tribunal this week.

The Porirua ki Manawatū inquiry resumes this week at Raukawa Marae in Ōtaki and spokesperson Denise Hapeta says the hapū have lost large tracts of land in the area.

This is despite their tūpuna (ancestors) gifting land to the community, including land given to the Church Mission Society to establish schooling for the community, such as the then Ōtaki Native Boys’ School on the Tasman Road lands.

This is where Te Wānanga o Raukawa now stands. Hapeta praised the vision of her tūpuna to create a better world for their children and this is Hapeta wants Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki to achieve through the tribunal hearings process.

The loss of te reo is another major issue and, despite revitalisation efforts, Hapeta said there was there’s still a long way to go.

There are positives with the tribunal process: “We get together to work towards a common cause.

“It’s similar to what our tūpuna did, it was mō te āpōpō (for the future).

“We are the same, no different. Just like Uncle Whatarangi, we want to be working collaboratively for the future of the coming generations.

“Despite the behaviour of the Crown, Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki continue to be generous to the community and to its people.”

The Waitangi Tribunal will be hearing presentations from several of the hapū, comprising Ngāti Pare and Ngāti Maiotaki from Raukawa Marae and Ngāti Huia ki Katihiku, who are south of the Ōtaki River.

Iwi historians Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins will present reports on Ngā Pakanga o te Ao about Ngāti Raukawa’s contribution to Aotearoa’s war efforts overseas.

The other research report is on Ngāti Raukawa customary interests in the Ōtaki area and all the hapū of the Raukawa confederation who were originally based in Ōtaki.

A broad range of issues will be discussed, including the environment and mana wāhine. Iwi members discussing this includes Deanna Rudd, principal Hēni Wirihana Te Rei, Mari Ropata and Hemaima Williams.

Claimants also want to acknowledge and express their gratitude for the extensive work and commitment of iwi historian and Rangatira Te Waari Carkeek.

He led the claims process for the Ngā Hapū Ahi Kaa o Ōtaki cluster inclusive of Ngāti Pare, Ngāti Huia ki Katihiku and Ngāti Maiōtaki.

WAI1626 was originally a claim filed by Carkeek on behalf of the descendants of Hoani Taipua, his whakaaro rangatira demonstrated through his collective approach to adapt the claim to represent Ngāti Pare, Ngāti Huia ki Katihiku and Ngāti Maiōtaki. Sadly, Carkeek passed November last year.

The Porirua ki Manawatū claim is one of the claims to be heard acrossthe country.

It started in 2020 in Manawatū and progressed south. It will finish in Ōtaki next year.

The original claim was lodged in 1989 by kaumātua Whata Karaka Davis, Ngārongo Iwikatea Nicholson, Te Maharanui Jacob and Pita Richardson, who have since died.

This is the 14th sitting of the tribunal, hearing the Treaty grievances of a confederation of iwi that comprise Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kauwhata, hapū of Te Reureu, Ngati Wehiwehi and Ngāti Tukorehe.

The other Ōtaki hapū will be presenting their claims during week 15 next month and week 16 next year.

These iwi migrated to the Manawatū, Horowhenua and Ōtaki alongside Ngāti Toa, Te Āti Awa and other iwi during the early 19th Century.

They represent about 30,000 descendants who affiliate to 21 marae, stretching from Bulls in the northwest to Ōtaki in the southwest.