The Whakauae staff were on hand to help welcome Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little, into the rohe pōtae (territory) of Ngāti Hauiti and Mōkai Pātea-nui-tonu. The pōwhiri (formal welcome) for the Minister, along with the Chief Crown Negotiator, Glenn Webb, was held at the Rātā Marae on the 8th of March and was the start of a day long programme to apprise them of the key factors that underpin treaty negotiations of the confederated iwi of Mōkai Pātea-nui-tonu. The confederation includes the iwi of Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Ngāi Te Ohuake and Ngāti Tamakōpiri.
During his visit, Minister Little was taken on a comprehensive tour of the rohe pōtae by helicopter, not only to get a feel of the geographical expanse of the area (which is comparable in size to the Tainui rohe pōtae) but to view the remote hinterlands where much of the remaining Māori land interests are ‘land locked' - a situation which essentially renders the iwi landless. It was also a chance to view the substantive area taken for defence purposes which now forms Waiouru Military Camp.
As an iwi owned research centre, we are acutely aware of the contemporary issues that face iwi regarding health, economic, cultural and social disparities which are often a consequence of colonisation, Crown breaches Treaty of Waitangi and the assimilation policies of early governments. The visit by Minister Little represents another step in the pathway towards healing those historic injustices and moving forward as Hauiti into a future abundant with potential.
Pictured L to R: Minister Little, Iwi Negotiator Richard Steedman and Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust Chair Utiku Potaka
