The draft mandate strategy proposes a mandate hui process by which a new representative entity, the Whakatōhea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust, will seek a mandate from Whakatōhea iwi members to represent them in Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.

The mandate sought is to negotiate all Whakatōhea historical Treaty of Waitangi claims whether registered or unregistered that arise from Crown actions and omissions that occurred prior to 21 September 1992, including but not limited to: WAI 87, 203, 287, 339, 558, 864, 1092, 1433, 1511, 1758, 1775, 1781, 1782, 1787, 1794, 1795, 1884, 2006, 2008, 2055, 2066, 2107, 2160, insofar as they relate to Whakatōhea.

All members of the Whakatōhea claimant community over 18 years of age are invited to vote either by a postal vote, an internet vote or by attending and voting at mandate hui on the following resolution, that:

“The Whakatōhea Pre-settlement Claims Trust is mandated to represent Whakatōhea in direct negotiations with the Crown for the comprehensive settlement of all of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Whakatōhea.”

For those who wish to vote, but are not registered with the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, or who wish to vote but do not want to register, you will be able to make a special vote.

The voting period opens Friday 6 May 2016 and closes Friday 3 June 2016. The vote will be administered by Election Services.

Mandate hui are as follows:

Date	Venue	Time
Friday 6 May	Terere Marae, Opotiki	6:00pm
Saturday, 7 May	University of Waikato, A Block, Gate 8 Hillcrest Road, Hamilton	11:00am
Saturday, 7 May	Whatua Kaimarie Marae (Auckland DHB), 11 Sutherland Rd, Pt Chevalier, Auckland	6:00pm
Sunday, 8 May	Terenga Paraoa Marae, 10 Porowini Ave, Whangārei	11:00am
Saturday, 14 May	Pataka Museum, Cnr Norrie and Parumoana Streets, Porirua	11:00am
Sunday, 15 May	Te Korowai Atawhai Rooms, Hillmorton Hospital, Annex Road, Christchurch	11:00am
Friday, 20 May	Maungaroa Marae, SH 35, Te Kaha	6:00pm
Saturday, 21 May	Eastern Institute of Technology, Te Whatukura Māori Studies<, 77 Cobden St, Gisborne	6:00pm
Sunday, 22 May	Tahuwhakatiki (Romai) Marae, >Welcome Bay Rd, Tauranga	11:00am
Friday, 27 May	Taharangi Marae, 26 Tarewa Rd, Rotorua	6:00pm
Saturday, 28 May	Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Heretaunga Park, 821 Orchard Rd, Hastings	11:00am
Sunday, 29 May	Tokaanu Marae, Tokaanu, Mangaroa St, Tūrangi	9:00am

For the purposes of the mandate being sought the Whakatōhea claimant community is defined as the descendants of Muriwai and Tūtāmure who affiliate to one or more of the recognised hapū (Ngāti Rua, Ngāi Tamahaua, Ngāti Patumoana, Ngāti Ngāhere, Ngāti Ira and Te Upokorehe) and marae (Omarumutu, Opape, Waiaua, Terere, Opeke, Roimata, Kutarere and Maromahue) of Whakatōhea.

Copies of the draft mandate strategy are available on the Office of Treaty Settlements website, the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board website, or click the links below:

Whakatōhea Trust Deed [PDF, 505KB]
Whakatōhea Mandate Strategy [PDF, 1MB]

For further information please contact:

Graeme Riesterer
Chairman Tū Ake Whakatōhea Collective
graeme.riesterer@gmail.com