Te Puni Kōkiri invites submissions, views or inquiries about the Muaūpoko Tribal Authority (“MTA”) Deed of Mandate.

The submission period will open on Wednesday, 5 June 2013 and submissions must reach Te Puni Kōkiri by no later than 5pm Wednesday, 26 June 2013.

Submissions should be addressed to the Director, Treaty Settlements, Te Puni Kōkiri, PO Box 3943, Wellington 6040, or email to mandatesubs@tpk.govt.nz. All correspondence will be subject to the Official Information Act 1982.

In June 2013, the MTA submitted a Deed of Mandate to the Crown to represent Muaūpoko in direct negotiations with the Crown for the comprehensive settlement of all of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Muaūpoko.

The Deed of Mandate states that the MTA held four mandate information hui on 1 and 2 December 2012. The MTA mandate information hui were held in Hastings, Palmerston North, Levin and Wellington.

The MTA held a postal ballot process on the mandate, held between Monday 19 November 2012 and Sunday 16 December 2012. Muaūpoko iwi members 18 years and over were eligible to vote on the MTA mandate resolution. The postal ballot process was independently managed by ElectioNZ.

The result of the MTA postal ballot process was 23% of eligible voters participated and 392 votes were received in total. Of those eligible members who voted, 340 (87%) voted “yes” to the resolution and 51 (13%) voted “no”.

The Deed of Mandate sought by the MTA is to negotiate an initialled Deed of Settlement only. Any final Deed of Settlement will be ratified by Muaūpoko iwi members before being signed by the MTA.

The MTA sought a mandate to represent any Muaūpoko person who descends from Tara, Tūteremoana and Tupatunui and also affiliate to one or more of the following hapū: Ngāi Te Ao, Ngārue, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Pāriri, Ngāti Tamarangi, Ngāti Whanokirangi and Punahau. This mandate also covers the following historical hapū in so far as they relate to Muaūpoko: Ngāti Tairatu, Ngāti Kuratuauru, Ngāti Rongopatahi, Ngāti Te Ruinga, Ngāti Puri, Ngāti Akahu and Ngāti Rangi.

The historical Treaty of Waitangi claims to be negotiated by the MTA are all of the Muaūpoko claims whether registered or unregistered relating to Crown actions and omissions that occurred prior to 21 September 1992, including but not limited to: Wai 52, 108, 215, 237, 493, 623, 624, 770, 1490, 1491, 1621, 1622, 1629, 1631, 2045, 2046, 2048, 2050, 2051, 2052, 2053, 2054, 2056, 2093, 2139, 2140, 2173, 2175, 2284, 2306, 2326 and MIR/5912, MIR/6031 (insofar as the claims relates to Muaūpoko) The listing of the above Wai numbers does not purport in anyway the support of the named claimants towards the mandate.

It also describes the Muaūpoko area of interest extends from Pukerua Bay in the south and the Manawatū River Catchment in the north, bordered by the Tararua Ranges in the east and the Tasman Sea in the west, including Kāpiti Island.

If any person consider them to be a descendent of Muaūpoko, and would like to register or seeks further information then they should contact the Muaūpoko Tribal Authority Chair person, Brenton Tukapua on 06 367 3311 or email treatyinfo@muaupoko.iwi.nz

If you have any queries please contact Te Puni Kōkiri by email at mandatesubs@tpk.govt.nz .

For further information including a copy of the Deed of Mandate visit the MTA’s website: www.muaupoko.iwi.nz .

Note that the Muaūpoko Tribal Authority will be given copies of all correspondence. received by officials in relation to this matter.