Wakatu Incorporation has filed a claim against the Crown on behalf of the families seeking compensation to restore the shortfall in the Tenth Reserves.

James Wheeler, a spokesperson for the families says the Crown abused its position of Trustee of our lands and was unjustly enriched through its receipt of the shortfall of the Tenths, when it received the balance of the New Zealand Company land after its collapse.

To learn more read our detailed Legal Update prepared by our lawyer.

Te Tau Ihu Iwi are working closely with the Crown to reach their Treaty settlements.

The Crown wants WAI56 to be part of our Iwi settlements, and not a settlement in its own right.

WAI56 is different to the Iwi claims.  Our claim is specific to our treatment as a group of people that come from different hapu groups.  The WAI56 claim relates to our lost hapu land, not Iwi land.

If the Iwi deals are ratified, under the Treaty settlement process our rights as owners of the Tenths legacy will be extinguished.

 In March this year the United States Human Rights Committee gave its support to our WAI56 claim during its final session with the New Zealand Government. 

The UN Committee expressed concern about our failed WAI56 negotiations and the New Zealand Government's refusal to negotiate with Te Kahui Ngahuru Trust. 

UN Committee member Rajsoomer Lallah, a human rights expert from Mauritius said even though Te Kahui Ngahuru Trust remained dissatisfied with the terms of settlement, the Government intended to go forward and enact it into law.  In light of this, Mr Lallah urged the NZ Government to consider further negotiations, rather than merely "clinching the deal".

To download this media release click here.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the UBCIC, Canada criticised the NewZealand Government's failure to negotiate with Te Kahui Ngahuru Trust. 

In a media release Grand Chief Phillip pointed out similarities between New Zealand's and Canada's Governments in their continued injustices against indigenous people.  He said ongoing injustices such as woefully inadequate land reserves or "Crown mismanagement of Te Kahui Ngahuru or the many outstanding specific claims in Canada, add to the severe economic, cultural and social suffering of our Indigenous communities."

"Grand Chief Phillip is so right when he says as Indigenous Peoples, our fight is the same the world over.  Our Title and Rights are being ignored, trivialised and dimissed.  Maori are totally disillusioned by the Crown's flawed claims settlement process", says Te Kahui Ngahuru Trust Chairman James Wheeler. 

On behalf of the WAI56 owners we recently took action in the Waitangi Tribunal for an urgent inquiry into the Crown's decision not to negotiate a WAI56 claim settlement, as separate to current Te Tau Ihu Iwi Treaty negotiations.  Our inquiry comes at a time of sharp increases in the number of applications for urgent hearings to the Waitangi Tribunal to inquire into the Crown's settlement policies.

The Tribunal found in favour of the Crown, a decision which is being fought.

To learn more read the WAI56 story recently published by The Nelson Mail.

The owners of the WAI56 claim acknowledge the Maori Party for their success in progressing the Public Works (Offer Back of and Compensation for Acquired Land) Amendment Bill to select committee.

In September last year the Local Government and Environment Committee heard the WAI56 oral submission on this Bill.

Chair Paul Morgan said “this is very timely and a poignant moment in time. Significant Māori lands have been lost over many decades as a result of the Public Works Act and other legislation, and as a result our people have suffered serious economic, cultural and social hardship because of alienation from their land.”

To download this media release, click here.

In November 2009, we undertook a roadshow to Auckland, Hamilton, Te Kuiti, New Plymouth, Blenheim, Christchurch and Nelson to update our whānau on progress, or lack of progress, with our claim.

We thank our whānau who attended and for providing their support.  Throughout the country the support and belief for our kaupapa was unanimous.