Korōria ki te runga rawa, nana nei ngā mea katoa. Rātou kua wheturangitia mihia, tangihia. Ngā mihi ki te Kingi, Tūheitia me tōna whānau. Ki a tatou te iwi o Ngāti Hikairo ka piki te ora, tēnā tatou katoa.
Te Runanganui o Ngāti Hikairo is providing information hui for our iwi with respect to the options we have to settle for our remaining Waitangi Tribunal Claims which includes Wai 30.
This is the beginning of negotiating a final settlement with the Crown and requires a number of steps to be completed.
This process is amongst the most important decisions our iwi have made since the arrival of pākehā to our lands and the resulting pakanga and dispossession from our whenua and moana.
The first step is to decide how we will approach the negotiation of our remaining claims. There are four options, which were discussed in the Annual General Meeting in July 2022. The iwi will need to decide which of these options is preferred and if they wish Te Runanganui o Ngāti Hikairo to lead those negotiations on their behalf.
The process will be managed in three parts
1.
A series of hui on zoom (zoom links are in brackets) to discuss the four options being considered, with an opportunity for whānau to seek more information. The Zoom hui will be held on the following dates
a. Tuesday 15 Nov 2022 (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81525062667 )
b. Tuesday 22 Nov 2022 (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81525062667 )
c. Tuesday 29 Nov 2022 (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81525062667 )
2.
A series of face to face hui around the country to discuss the options in more detail, and provide an opportunity for whānau to register with the iwi. The Hui dates and locations are as follows:
a. Auckland 6 December 2022 at 7 pm
b. Hamilton 7 December 2022 at 7 pm
c. Kāwhia 9 December 2022 at 7 pm
d. Wellington 12 December 2022 at 7 pm
e. Christchurch 13 December 2022 at 7pm
f. Dunedin 14 December 2022 at 7pm
g. Kāwhia 2 January 2023 at 7pm
Venues for the face to face meetings will be confirmed shortly
3.
A Final Voting Process Confirming the option the iwi has selected, with a supporting mandate document. The voting process will also confirm who will be the body responsible for negotiating with the Crown on behalf of Ngāti Hikairo.
This process will be led by Lees Seymour, who will be supported by the rest of the Runanganui Executive Committee.
Please email Lees Seymour to let him know which hui you will be attending lees.seymour.ncg@outlook.com
I encourage all our whānau to take part in this critical process for our future. It has been a long journey but one where the final steps forward for our people are beginning.
Regards
Susan Turner
Chair, Te Runanganui o Ngāti Hikairo
