Te Tiriti o Waitangi Claims
‘A Māori without whanaungatanga is like a capitalist without a dollar … Whanaungatanga is the great challenge of the post settlement era’ – Justice Joe Williams.
Below is a list of Waitangi Claims that name our hapū or have been made for or on the behalf of hapū that Ngā Hapū o Te Ahuahu represent. These are brief excerpts from documents filed with the Waitangi Tribunal. We have tried to just capture in summary key points, the claims rohe (land) area, and who the claimants are.
‘Claims to the Waitangi Tribunal are allegations that the Crown has breached the Treaty of Waitangi by particular actions, inactions, laws, or policies and that Māori have suffered prejudice (harmful effects) as a result’ (Waitangi Tribunal website). When a claim is filed it is allocated a number and abbreviated to ‘WAI’ e.g WAI262.
Please get involved and stay connected with hapū on the Wai Claims and hapū wānanga, events, hui and activities by registering with us here for only whanaungatanga can navigate us safely through this journey ahead.
WAI 109: Raurangi Lands
The claim is brought on behalf of Descendants of George Lawrence and Paeata Paraki Yorke (née Mete) and relates to a house site in the area near the caves and the present Yacht Club at Waitangi.
The family was removed from their family homestead, which served as a gathering place, doubling as a marae before marae were consolidated, and the homestead was demolished. The claimants are descendants of Ngāti Rāhiri, Te Uri Taniwha, Te Uri o Hau and Ngāti Korokoro.
Claimant/s: First submitted by Nita Louisa Brougham and others, 1989 Representing: George Lawrence Yorke and Peata Paraki Yorke Concerning: Matilda Shotter, Harriett Wilson nee Mete. Paeata Clarke is the only living claimant for this claim.
WAI 466: Lands and Islands of Kerikeri Inlet.
A claim for and on behalf of Ngāti Hineira & Te Uri Taniwha, for the return of the Islands in the Kerikeri Inlet … ‘ The following area as defined in the Schedule to the Bay of Islands Settlement Act 1858 of approximately 15,000 acres, but not limited to those boundaries shown.’
“Commencing at the Wharau Point at the entrance of the Kerikeri River, thence ascending the main ridge of hills to the hill called Te Puke, thence by the ridges forming the Eastern and Southern boundary of John Edmonds’ claim, thence by a line along the Southern boundary of James Shepherd’s claim to the hill called Pukewhau, thence along the Eastern boundary of the claim known as the “Children’s Land” to its termination at Whiringatau Creek, thence by that creek to the Kerikeri River, and by the Kerikeri River to the Rapid at the Church Mission Station, thence across the river to the road from that Station to the Rangitane Creek , and from that Creek by a line in a Northeasterly direction to the Mangonui River, thence by high water mark to the Ake Ake Point, and thence by a line across the Kerikeri River to the Wharau Point, including all the Islands within the said boundary. Estimated to contain fifteen thousand acres, more or less.”
Claimant/s: & co-claimants:
First submitted by Kerei Anderson, 1994. John Alexander & Paeata Clark added as co-claimants, 2002. Paeata Brougham-Clark is the only living claimant, 2016.
WAI 605: Te Waimimiti Block
The Claim is brought on behalf of direct descendants of, among other Tupuna, Tamati Puketutu and Te Hara who signed Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi on behalf of Te Uri 0 Hawato (“the Claimants”). Relating to Te Waimimiti Block (now known as the Remuera Settlement) from Te Uri 0 Hawato hapu.’
The Claim has the support of the people of “E Koro, kia te tutuki” Marae, which is a marae at Ngawha associated with the people from Te Waimimiti Block. The Claim is on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the descendants of the original owners and people associated with the marae.
The Claimant submitted the claim under Te Uri 0 Hawato. At the original time of filing s/he noted that Claim could have been submitted under several other larger groups or under a slightly different whakapapa basis, and suggest now that Te Uri Taniwha, as descendants of Kare Ariki, would also cover most of those included in the claim for this land.
Te Uri 0 Hawato were a significant whanau grouping, but now struggle for recognition because of the loss of land due to Crown action. This loss of land has led to a loss of the hapu structure and its publicly visible standing.
In particular, the major families who are interested parties are:’
a. Descendants of Heta Te Haara and his sister – Te Haara, Matene, Whiu, Winiata, Mitai whanau;
b. Descendants of Taui Kahi and siblings – Lomax, Ludwig, Falkiner, Allen, Wens or, Werihi, Baker (Ngawha),
Herewini, Le Noel and Kirihi, Kopa whanau;
c. Descendants of Erika Kauwhata – Kauwhata, Tango, Ripia, Kiri, Edmonds whanau;
d. Descendants of Kiwikiwi and relatives – Kiwikiwi, Kawatupu, Maitu, Haika whanau;
e. Descendants of Erika Waikerepuru – Waikerepuru, Rameka, Tane, Cherrington, Woodman whanau; and
f. The Katene whanau.
Claimant/s:
First submitted by Dr Terri Lomax, 1996.
WAI 862:
Claim for ourselves and the descendants of
1: Hare Matenga (Kiharoa Parker) 2: Turou (John Rameka Alexander) 3: Pito (Terrance Douglas Lomax) and being Te iwi 0 Waimate/Taiamai who associate with at least 15 hapu of this inland area of the Bay of Islands.
The area of claim extends from the vicinity of the Ngawha Springs settlement to Puketi Forest to Upokorau to Te Whau to Mt.Pokaka to West Pouerua to Ngawha Springs and generally reflects the influence at the time of the above named Tupuna whose associates and descendants occupied the region.
It concerns loss of rangatiratanga over their whenua tupuna, awa and moana within this rohe.
Claimant/s:
First submitted by Kiharoa (Gill) Parker, John Alexander, Terrence Lomax in 1999. Added research, 2009. Added Claimants Marianne Parker, 2010. Dion Parker, 2021.
WAI 914: West Auckland
Claim for ourselves and the descendants of:
1. Hare Matenga (Kiharoa Parker)
2. Tukariri (Haare Tukariri)
Being Te Iwi 0 Ngapuhi along with fifteen (15) other Hapuu:
The area from the Whau river named Rangi Matariki known by the Crown as Harbour View Sth extending along the shoreline to Orukuwai, known by the Crown as Waimanu Bay formally reaching the area known by the Crown as Spinnaker Reserve.
Claimant/s:
First submitted by Kiharoa (Gill) Parker, Haare Tukariri being Maori of Ngapuhi and Ngati Whatua, 2000. Added Claimant Marianne Parker, 2010. Added Claimant Hone Tiatoa, 2015. Marianne Parker & Hone Tiatoa are the remaining living claimants.
WAI 1131: Kororipo/ TeAhuahu/ Te Waimate
On behalf of Ngai Te Wake ki te Tuawhenua, Ngati Hineira, Te Uri Taniwha, Te Whanau Whero, Korohue.
‘Ngai Te Wake ki te Tuawhenua, Ngati Hineira, Te uri Taniwha were the original inhabitants of Keri Keri. Kororipo Pa was acquired by a said land transaction with Missionary James Kemp in 1838. … It is asked that Kororipo be returned to its rightful owners.’
Claimant/s & co-claimants:
First submitted by Hone Mihaka, Jan 2004. Amendment added research, March 2004.
Claim and Claimants added: Arthur Ashby and Monica Ashby added as claimants along with extension of the claim area and research, 2011.
‘The claimants assert that prior to and after 1840 Ngati Hineira, Te Uri Taniwha, Te Whanau Whero, Ngati Korohue and Ngati Rangi held mana, rangatiratanga, authority and control including customary interests in the lands, foreshore, seabed, waterways, ngahere, and other resources within the area of the claim.’
The claimants acknowledge that other hapu groups may share interests within the area that is the subject of this claim. In general terms the rohe of Taiamai extends from Pouerua to Ngawha to Maungaturoto to Te Ahuahu to Kerikeri along the south side of the Kerikeri River and including all the Islands in the Inlet over to Oromahoe and back to Pouerua. ‘
Claim and Claimants added: a claim for and on behalf of the Hapu of Te Popoto made by Irihapeti Morgan and Murray Painting adding additional landblocks, 2016.
The claimants assert that prior to and after 1840 Te Popoto held mana, rangatiratanga, authority and control including customary interests in the lands, foreshore, seabed, waterways, ngahere, and other resources within the area of the claim.
In general terms the rohe of Te Popoto is an area delineated by a boundary commencing at Te Ahuahu heading north to Puketotara, then west to Kahikatoa and then follows the Mangamuka River to the Hokianga Harbour then along the river of Waima to Moehau, inland to Ruato and from there to Mataki, to Ninihi and thence back to Te Ahuahu.
Claimants added: *Hone Mihaka advises at Sept hapū hui he has added Ricky Ashby & Hinerangi Himiona as claimants to this claim, 2021.
*More WAI Claims:
The following WAI Claims are identified as including our hapū but are not yet in communications with Ngā Hapū o Te Ahuahu, they are;
WAI 304
The Ngawha Geothermal Resource (Ngawha geothermal field in its entirety)
The Claimants are:
The Trustees of Parahirahi C1 Maori Reservation for and on behalf of the whanau and hapu having an interest in the Ngawha Geothermal resource.
Tamehana Tamehana for and on behalf of Ngati Hine hapu.
Ellen reihana for and on behlaf of Te Hikutu hapu.
Rewa Marsh for and on behalf of Te Uri Taniwha hapu.
Bob Cassidy for and on behalf of Te Mahurehure hapu.
Ron Wihongi for and on behalf of Te uriohua hapu.
Tu Kemmp for and on behalf of Ngati Rehia hapu.
Kataraina Sarich, Te Arama Pou Te Haua Witehira, Manga Tau for and on behlaf of Ngai Tawake hapu.
Wereta Hauraki for and on behalf of Ngati Hau hapu.
Bishop Waiohua Te Haara for and on behalf of Ngati Rangi hapu.
Joe Pihemau for and on behalf of Ngati Tautahi hapu.
The claimants are collectively referred to as Nga hapu o Ngawha. Sept, 1992.
WAI 1522
The Claimants’ rohe falls within the Bay of Islands district and extends out to Lake Omapere, its outfalls and catchment areas; and includes the Kerikeri Inlet along with its islands, tributaries and catchment areas.
The Claimants occupied their traditional rohe by right of take tūpuna and have maintained their ahi kaa roa within their traditional rohe in an unbroken manner from ancient times to the present day.
The Claimants claim tino rangatiratanga over all the land and waterways within their rohe as well as the foreshore and seabed area.
The Claimants hapū lands included the islands situated in the Kerikeri Inlet.
Those islands are small but are significant areas where the Claimants’ mana whenua has been recognised.
The Crown acquired those islands without payment to the hapū. Despite this the Claimants hapū have continued to occupy and/or hold mana whenua over the islands.
The islands include:6
a. Pirikawau;
b. Onaia (or Ipuroa)
c. Wainui (or Old Woman’s Island)
d. Motutapu
e. Moturahurahu (or Cabbage Island)
f. Rahui
g. Tikorangi
h. Motupapa
i. Pahi Islands
j. Taranaki Islands.
k. (“the islands”)
The Claimants do not make assertions of exclusive rights and therefore acknowledge the rights of other hapū in the area.
Claimant/s: Esther Horton for and on behalf of herself, her whānau and Ngāti Hineira, Te Uri Taniwha, Te whānau Whero and Ngāti Korohue hapū, Ngāpuhi iwi.
WAI 1680
The customary area of the Claimants falls within the Bay of Islands Inquiry District from the southside of the Kerikeri inlet including the Kerikeri River then east of the Okura River, then north of the Waitangi River out to the coast to the Black Rocks then south west to Brampton, to a place traditionally known as Takitaki.
This claim concerns the wahi tapu of Otahuao; an urupa located in Edmonds Road, Kerikeri (“urupa”).
Claimant/s: A claim by Caley Strongman for and on behalf of Uri Taniwha and Ngati Hiwira.
WAI 1716
Prior to te Tiriti, the Taiamai collective, which included Ngāti Hineira and Te Uri Taniwha, drove out one of the dominant tribal groups in the Bay of Islands known as Ngāti Pou.
Since defeating Ngāti Pou, Ngati Hineira, Te Uri Taniwha and others have maintained kainga and pā in the rohe, starting at the Kerikeri inlet in the east, through to Lake Omapere in the west.
Ngāti Hineira had a pā called Rangitane. This pā is located near Kerikeri by the Kerikeri Inlet. The descendants of this hapūhapū, along with others such as Ngāti Rangi and Ngāti Mau, are court registered shareholders of Māori lands in the area today.
Ngāti Hineira and Te Uri Taniwha still have a large community living by Rangitane pā.
The Claimants claim tino rangatiratanga over all their lands and waterways which they have occupied by right of take tupuna and have maintained their ahi kaa roa within their traditional rohe in an unbroken manner to the present day.
The rohe includes the islands situated in the Kerikeri Inlet. The islands are small but are significant areas where the Claimants’ mana whenua has been recognised.
The Crown acquired these islands without payment to the hapū.3 Despite this the Claimants have continued to occupy and/or hold mana whenua over the islands.
The islands include:4
a. Pirikawau;
b. Onaia (or Ipuroa)
c. Wainui (or Old Woman’s Island)
d. Motutapu
e. Moturahurahu (or Cabbage Island)
f. Rahui
g. Tikorangi
h. Motupapa
i. Pahi Islands
j. Taranaki Islands.
The Claimants do not make assertions of exclusive rights and therefore acknowledge the rights of other hapū in the area.
Claimant/s for/by: Ian John Mitchell for and on behalf of himself, his whānau and Ngati Hineira and Te Uri Taniwha hapū, Ngapuhi iwi.