Taking of land main issue
O¯ taki hapu¯ strive to create better world for their children
The taking of their whenua is the main issue for O¯ taki hapu¯, and several of these hapu¯ presented their tribunal claims to the Waitangi Tribunal at a sitting this week at Raukawa Marae, O¯ taki.
This was according to spokesperson Denise Hapeta who says, in O¯ taki, the hapu¯ lost large tracts of land.
This was despite their tu¯puna gifting land to the community, including land given to the Church Mission Society to establish schooling facilities, such as the O¯ taki Native Boys’ School on the Tasman Road lands.
This is where Te Wa¯nanga o Raukawa now stands. Hapeta praised the vision of her tu¯ puna to create a better world for their children. This is exactly what she wants Nga¯ Hapu¯ o O¯ taki to achieve through the tribunal hearings process.
The loss of te reo is another major issue, and despite the revitalisation efforts with regard to the language, Hapeta says “there’s still a long way to go”.
There are positives with the tribunal process, and she says, “We get together to work towards a common cause.”
“It’s similar to what our tu¯ puna did - it was mo¯ te a¯po¯po¯ [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,” says Hapeta.
“Despite the behaviour of the Crown, Nga¯ Hapu¯ o O¯ taki continue to be generous to the community and to its people.”
The Waitangi Tribunal heard presentations from several of the hapu¯ , comprising Nga¯ti Pare and Nga¯ti Maiotaki from Raukawa Marae and Nga¯ti Huia ki Katihiku, who are south of the O¯ taki River. Iwi historians Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins presented two of their reports on Nga¯ Pakanga o te Ao regarding Nga¯ti Raukawa’s contribution to Aotearoa’s war efforts overseas. The other research report was on Nga¯ ti Raukawa’s customary interests within the O¯ taki area, and talks about all of the hapu¯ of the Raukawa confederation who were originally based in O¯ taki.
A broad range of issues were being addressed, including environmental issues and mana wa¯hine. Outlining these issues were iwi members that include Deanna Rudd, principal He¯ni Wirihana Te Rei, Mari Ropata and Hemaima Williams.
Claimants also wanted 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 Nga¯ Hapu¯ Ahi Kaa o O¯ taki cluster inclusive of Nga¯ti Pare, Nga¯ti Huia ki Katihiku and Nga¯ti Maio¯taki. WAI1626 was originally a claim filed by Te Waari on behalf of the descendants of Hoani Taipua, his whakaaro rangatira demonstrated through his collective approach to adapt the claim to represent Nga¯ti Pare, Nga¯ ti Huia ki Katihiku and Nga¯ ti Maio¯taki. Sadly, Te Waari passed November last year.
This was one of the larger Treaty of Waitangi claims to be heard throughout the country. It commenced in 2020 in the Manawatu¯ and progresses south to its conclusion in O¯ taki later next year. The original claim was lodged in 1989 by kauma¯tua Whata Karaka Davis, Nga¯rongo Iwikatea Nicholson, Te Maharanui Jacob and Pita Richardson. They have now all passed on. This was the 14th sitting of the tribunal hearing the Treaty grievances of a confederation of iwi that comprise Nga¯ti Raukawa, Nga¯ti Kauwhata, hapu¯ of Te Reureu and Nga¯ ti Wehiwehi, and Nga¯ ti Tukorehe. The other O¯ taki hapu¯ will be presenting their claims during week 15 (November 27 to December 1) and week 16 (next year).
These iwi migrated to the Manawatu¯/Horowhenua/O¯taki area alongside Nga¯ti Toa, Te A¯ ti Awa and other iwi during the early 19th century. They represent an estimated population of some 30,000 descendants who are affiliated with 21 marae stretching from Bulls in the northwest to Te Reureu in the northeast and Otaki ¯ in the south-west.