Maniapoto Treaty Claims
The Maniapoto claimant community has confirmed through a series of hui, their
desire to be proactive in making significant progress towards engagement with the
Crown for the settlement of the historical Maniapoto claims within the King County
claims District against the Crown for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its
principles.
There are currently a number of claimant groups within Maniapoto as well as
interested parties, generally represented by; the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board, the
Te Wananga o Aotearoa Research Group, and Claimant Group Clusters
representing a number of WAI Claims in the Maniapoto district.
The Maniapoto Maori Trust Board convened a number over 2004 & 2005 to explore
whether the Maniapoto Claimant Community and interested parties wish to advance
the Maniapoto Claims on a collective basis, and what the preferred entity would be
to facilitate the process on behalf of Maniapoto.
As a result of these hui and discussions, the Maniapoto Claimant Community
expressed an interest in progressing the Maniapoto Claims on a collective basis,
with the Trust Board identified as the logical entity to progress those claims.
Among other things, the Maniapoto Claimants acknowledge that current Crown
policy will most likely require that the Maniapoto Claims will need to be progressed
on a collective basis.
As a result of a resolution passed at a Hui A Iwi (Treaty Claims) at Te Tokanganui a
Noho Marae in May 2005, the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board prepared a draft Terms
of Reference. These Terms outline and define the roles and responsibilities of the
Trust Board should the Trust Board be mandated as the management entity to
progress towards the settlement of all Maniapoto Claims.
At this time, the Terms are still with the Claimants and other interested parties for
their consideration and input.
In addition to the work being undertaken by the MMTB, other groups outside the
MMTB have been contracted to progress Maniapoto claims. While we support
progress we also recognise the need for a collective approach to represent the
wider Iwi.
An Interim Steering Committee for Maniapoto Claim was established in January
2006 for the purpose of developing a District Plan to progress Maniapoto Claims.