Parihaka and Negotiations with the Crown

For the last twenty odd years various Iwi within the Taranaki region have been in negotiation with the Crown to resolve the actions of the Government against them and to seek redress for their grievances.  To date four of the eight Iwi have settled and three Iwi are close to finalising their settlements.

Within each of these settlements acknowledgements were made of their association with Parihaka and their subsequent loss and deprivation as part of their cultural redress.  Those remedies among Iwi do not necessarily mean there is an impact on supporting the kaupapa of Parihaka.

Within Parihaka many hui have been held to see how the issues specific to Parihaka might be resolved as part of a redress process.  Discussion even centred around the potential for Parihaka to undertake their own Treaty claim process.  However the settlement process as it is presently stands is based on whakapapa, whānau, hapū and iwi association in relation to land claims.

During the earlier stages of the  Treaty Settlement process for Taranaki Iwi dissent occurred between Taranaki Iwi and Parihaka because the process for registration to be considered a beneficiary of the Taranaki Iwi claim was based on whakapapa and did not recognise the unique situation of Parihaka.

Despite this initial conflict Taranaki Iwi recognised they had a responsibility to seek a resolution that would allow Parihaka to determine its own remedies should they so wish.

As a result the Taranaki Iwi Trustees and Claims Negotiators made a decision to withdraw from signing their settlement agreement until the Crown responded with an appropriate remedy to facilitate for Parihaka to seek redress from the Crown.

Taranaki Iwi met with representative of Parihaka who have become known as the Working Party to progress this position with the Crown.

Working Party

This rōpu was established to progress discussions with Taranaki Iwi and to identify opportunities for negotiations with the Crown.  The rōpu was made up of representatives from the three marae and the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust and included Ruakere Hond and Aroaro Tamati (Takitūtū Marae), Te Akau Wharehoka and Maata Wharehoka (Paraahuka Marae), Whakaarahia Koroheke (Toroānui Marae) and Amokura Panoho, Rawinia Leatherby and Rita Rukuwai (Parihaka Papakāinga Trust).
The Working Party oversaw the interaction between Parihaka and Taranaki Iwi Trust and Kawe Tutaki and the Crown

The Working Party also appointed Maata Wharehoka as their project manager to oversee a number of projects that provide advice and information to support the work of the Working Party, Kawe Tutaki and organise for various hui  held at Parihaka. Dr Mihi Ratima also reported to the Working Party on her research.

The Working Party reported on its activity at the Tōpū Tikanga hui held on the afternoon of the 19th each month. The activity of the Working Party was supported by funding from the Office of Treaty Settlements.

Kawe Tutaki

Taranaki Iwi Trust, the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust and Parihaka Tōpu Tikanga wrote to the Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister for Culture and Heritage and the Attorney-General (“the Minister”) on 14 April 2014 outlining the aspiration of the Parihaka community to achieve self-sufficiency and reconciliation – a position whereby Parihaka can determine its own path and uphold the legacy of Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai.

Taranaki Iwi proposed the establishment of a working group to identify and prioritise concrete initiatives to improve conditions at Parihaka, ensuring that they are targeted, measured and relevant.

This was supported by Minister Finlayson and after some discussion Kawe Tutaki was  established with the following terms of reference agreed:

  • Understand the aspirations of the Parihaka community;
  • Formulate an approach for the Crown to assist Parihaka to build the capacity of its community to achieve its aspirations;
  • Provide direction for the Crown to best support the enablement of Parihaka’s institutions;
  • Engage with the Parihaka community, Taranaki Iwi, Crown agencies and interested parties for framing the broad approach to be reported;  and
  • Submit a report to the Attorney-General and the Minister for Māori Development as a basis for government consideration of potential support for the Parihaka community.

Membership of Kawe Tutaki was as follows:

  • Dame Hon Tariana Turia (Chairperson) – Independent appointee
  • Rt Hon Jim Bolger –  Independent appointee
  • Hon Mahara Okeroa –  Taranaki Iwi appointee
  • Amokura Panoho – Parihaka Papakainga Trust appointee
  • Dr Ruakere Hond – Parihaka Tōpū Tikanga appointee

Kawe Tutaki attended a number of hui at Parihaka and reported to the community at the 2015 July Raa. The activity of Kawe Tutuki was funded by the Office of Treaty Settlements.

Needs Analysis

In order to inform negotiatons between the Crown and Parihaka, an agreement was reached that a Needs Analysis should be undertaken that would give an overview of the following;

  • The significance of Parihaka
  • Background
  • Parihaka today
  • Aspirations
  • Parihaka development plans
  • Crown assistance
  • Consultation with the Parihaka community
  • Recommendations

Dr Mihi Ratima was contracted to undertake this work and it was completed in June 2015.  A presentation on her findings was made to Parihaka. Funding was provided from Te Puni Kōkiri.

Role of the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust

The role of the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust is to;

Administer, maintain and develop property of the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust on behalf of its beneficiaries and the followers of Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o (Erueti) Rongomai.

In 1962 a total of 19.6070 hectares of land was set aside as a Maori Reservation under section 439 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953 and its administration is now subject to section 338(7) of Te Ture Whenua Act 1993 and the Maori reservations Act 1994.

The Parihaka land is known as ‘Parihaka Papakāinga’ in the Maori Land Court district of Aotea.

Maunga shots - 05

The Trustees are made up of two representatives from each of the three marae as well as six independently elected members.  Each of the marae determine their appointment process and term of their representative(s). However independent trustees have a three year term and can only be on the Trust for a consecutive period to the maximum of six years.

Presently the trustees are;

Independent:

Tina Mason

Sharron Cassidy

Aroaro Tamati (secretary)

(Tihikura Hohaia)

Marae Representatives;

Takitūtū – Dr Ruakere Hond and Moana Pedersen (Treasurer)

Paraahuka – Te Akau Wharehoka and Puna Wano-Bryant (Chairperson)

Toroānui – Potaua Rangitaawa and Rewi Aperi

 

Reports on Reconciliation Process

Key Documents for Reconciliation Process

 

Events Coming Up

Reconciliation Ceremony – 9th June 2017

Pōwhiri for the haukāinga at 8am

Pōwhiri/Formal welcome at 10am

Parihaka Pā, Mid Parihaka Road

Pungarehu, Taranaki

Please RSVP by Monday 29 May to Victoria McQuillan at the Office of Treaty Settlements at Victoria.McQuillan@justice.govt.nz or on 04 494 9844
Any Parihaka queries to Parihaka Papakāa-inga Trust to Aroaro Tamati parihakapatrustsecretary@gmail.com
A PDF of the invite/poster can be downloaded here.

Past Events

30th April 2017 11-1pm Report back / Planning on Ceremony

30th April 2017 2-4pm Public Parihaka Papakāinga Trust hui
• Fisheries Kaitiaki, Code of Conduct

9th March 2017 – Legacy Statement/Crown Apology wānanga

This wānanga is held at Te Niho o Te Atiawa, 5.30pm. Please send your feedback to parihakapatrustsecretary@gmail.com or handwritten to PO Box 929 Taranaki Mail Centre New Plymouth – no later than 24 March 2017! A DRAFT Legacy Statement  (dated 24th February 2017) is available here as a PDF.

2nd April 2017 – Presentation on Crown Response

The Parihaka Papakāinga Trust will present the Crown’s response and updates on Crown package. 1-4pm at Te Paepae o Te Raukura. The Trust sent a letter to Hon Christopher Finlayson on 28th February 2017 outlining Parihaka’s position.

Parihaka Reconciliation Engagement Programme

These  hui will commence with a whakatau and kai, followed by a presentations by the Trustees of the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust. Please direct all queries to secretary Aroaro Tamati (parihakapatrustsecretary@gmail.com). Please also visit our website http://parihaka.maori.nz for all key documents, updated pānui and information.

If you can’t make it to any of the hui, please have a look at the presentation (PDF, 4.3Mb) and still fill out our feedback form online.

We really encourage people to use the Google Feedback Form, however, if you prefer to do this with pen and paper, you can download a PDF version here and print it out.

He Puanga Haeata

Parihaka-Crown Reconciliation Ceremony – 9th June 2017

 

Given the overall support for the crown package, the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust remains committed to continuing our mahi with Attorney General, Hon Christopher Finlayson and his team and confirms the ceremony date of Friday, 9th June 2017 which will be a day of national and international significance.

 

  • Pōwhiri for the haukāinga / Motu at 8am
  • Pōwhiri/Formal reception for Crown & Government Officials at 10am

 

Parihaka Pā, Mid Parihaka Road, Pungarehu, Taranaki

 

Please RSVP by Monday 29 May

A PDF of the invite can be downloaded here

 

Any Parihaka queries to:

Aroaro Tamati
Parihaka Papakāinga Trust
parihakapatrustsecretary@gmail.com
All Media queries to:
Mina Mathieson
Parihaka Papakāinga Trust
mina@m3media.co.nz

 

Important things to note

  • No amount of money will ever compensate for injustices of the past
  • This is a starting point
  • Our process has been transparent
  • Trustees: we recognise differences, we move ahead together
  • We appreciate your kōrero, participation and support
  • Our open-door policy remains (at your request to meet)

 

 

Funding Arrangements

    • $ 9million + 15%
    • Lump-sum payment direct to Parihaka
    • Subject to the Governance review
    • Interest
    • Relationship Agreement
    • Legacy donors

 

Workplan Priorities

  • Legislation
  • Te Kawenata o Rongo (Deed of Reconciliation)
  • Tikanga Tuku Iho (Legacy Statement)
  • Crown Apology
  • Financial modelling
  • Governance review
  • Fisheries Kaitiaki, Code of Conduct

Feedback for Reconciliation Process

UPDATE: The feedback was presented by the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust on 26th February 2017. You can see the presentation here and watch a video of the hui here.

Given this reconciliation process is unique there will be no voting based on a membership database. We seek to go a step further than ticking yes or no on a voting form and seek meaningful feedback which will be incorporated into a Feedback Report.

The Feedback questions are based on the information presented at the engagement hui and will provide an opportunity for the community of Parihaka near and far to participate. In addition to attending hui which in some cases will be livestreamed or pre-recorded people will have the opportunity to assess the information and provide their whakaaro right up until Friday 17 February 2017.

On Sunday 26 February the Papakainga Trust will present the findings of the Report which will provide a consensus on whether to accept and move forward with the Crown’s support package.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the feedback form. There are 15 questions we are seeking feedback on. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7jVD2N4KTT7DRb2Rvu8wO3DOzDKH69p2zi-kSoSHVu3M0jA/viewform

We really encourage people to use the Google Feedback Form, however, if you prefer to do this with pen and paper, you can download a PDF version here.

Presentation Video

The Parihaka Papakāinga trustees have been traveling around Aotearoa with a presentation. The hui at Te Niho o Te Atiawa in January 2017 was filmed by Digital Mountain Media. You can watch it below.

Feedback Report Hui Video

The Parihaka Papakāinga Trust held a hui on 26th February 2017 at Toroānui Marae, presenting the findings of the feedback received by over 150 people.

The people sitting at the table are the Parihaka Papakāinga trustees. From left to right: Ruakere Hond, Puna Wano-Bryant, Tina Mason, Aroaro Tamati, Atahere Te Akau Wharehoka, Potaua Rangitaawa, Sharron Cassidy and Rewi Aperi, ensuring that Parihaka people from across the globe can be involved in the future of their Papakāinga

The video was filmed by Digital Mountain Media. You can watch it below.

The presentation is available here as a PDF.