March 16, 2018
Whanau a Apanui seeks own legal path
Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Te Whanau a Apanui have told Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little they want to be able to make the own laws.
The Minister met yesterday in Te Kaha with iwi members.
He got a bird’s eye view of the rohe by helicopter and and overview of the claim from negotiators Rikirangi Gage, Matanuku Mahuika and Natalie Coates.
Consultant Willie Te Aho says even though the iwi owns 90 percent of its land, it is held by individuals and families and the hapu own no land apart from marae reserves.
He says the effect of Pakeha law can be seen in the iwi’s low socioeconomic rating compared to other tribes.
"We met with the minister yesterday in the place Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed. We understood that we would govern ourselves. Pakeha law intruded into our rohe. It has had a devastating effect and the notion land loss is an indicator of treaty breaches is irrelevant to us within Te Whanau a Apanui," Mr Te Aho says.
The crown has agreed to negotiate Te Whanau a Apanui’s marine and coast area claim and its historical claim in the one package.
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