By chance review on the Parliamentary website last Wednesday it came to our attention that the Māori Affairs Select Committee (MASC) has issued its Report on the TMIC Redress and Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill and the Bill is at the stage of 2nd Reading.
 
A copy of the MASC’s Report can be viewed via the following link https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/00DBHOH_BILL66514_1/tauranga-moana-iwi-collective-redress-and-ng%c4%81-hap%c5%ab-o-ngati
 
We have raised concerns with the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) and MASC regarding their lack of communication on the progress of their Report and status of the Bill. Although after the fact, an OTS official has apologised for their lack of communication relating to the progress of the submission process and status of the Bill. This apology was followed up with written confirmation from OTS that “There will be no second reading of the omnibus Bill until such time all parties are happy for it to do so.”
 
We requested and recently received and reviewed the information provided to the MASC from OTS. In our view OTS have not portrayed the dynamics or agreements of the position that the Settlement Trust took to protect our Moana. We have raised concerns with the MASC regarding: their considerations that appear to be ill-founded and based on misinformation; and errors in their Report that need to be corrected (i.e. the inclusion of Pirirākau as 1 of the 8 hapū of Ngāti Ranginui, correct spelling of Ngāti Pango and population data).
 
We continue to maintain the direction provided by the Iwi, i.e.

• We object to the Hauraki Collective participating in the fifth seat for the Tauranga Moana Framework;
• We do not accept the Crown’s determination that the Hauraki interests in Tauranga Moana are equivalent to the rights and just interests of Ngāti Ranginui without basis;
• We are not prepared to accept a Framework that risks changing the cultural identity and landscape of Tauranga Moana forever; and
• Ngāti Ranginui will never be fully settled without our Moana;

therefore we cannot support our Bill if these conditions are not met.
 
An update on overlapping claims matters will be communicated in the near future.

​Te Mātāwai is an independent statutory entity established under Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori 2016 Māori Language Act 2016.  Te Mātāwai is responsible for delivering over $10million annually to Māori communities for the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori.  Te Mātāwai has primary responsibility for the development of the Maihi Māori, Māori language strategy focusing on te reo Māori language revitalisation at the iwi, hapū, whānau and community levels.  It also advises on the Maihi Karauna, Māori language strategy led by the Crown and focusing on the language revitalisation at a national level.  The legislation provides Te Mātāwai with several statutory roles including making nominations for appointments on the Boards of Te Taura Whiri and Te Māngai Pāho, and appointments and oversight of another statutory corporation, the Māori Television Service.

​As the inaugural Tumu Whakarae, Te Atarangi Whiu is responsible for the overall organisational leadership and development of Te Mātāwai ensuring the effective management of the agency and its operations.  In line with its legislation, Te Mātāwai is accountable to 10 National bodies (te Reo Tukutuku) and over 60 iwi who have been clustered by region.  Te Tumu Whakarae will be responsible for ensuring Te Mātāwai is responsive to these entities in delivering the services provided by Te Mātāwai. 

For more info, checkout Te Karere  

Aunty Aroha, Te Atarangi Whiu, (Ngāti Ranginui iwi) Pio Kawe (Ngāti Ranginui Trustee) and Marina Kawe