Expenditure by Whakatohea Maori Trust Board on Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations
Tim Selwyn made this Official Information request to Minister for Māori Development
The request was partially successful.
From: Tim Selwyn
Dear Minister for Māori Development,
Nga mihi
I am a member of Te Whakatohea whose rangatira signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 27 May 1840.
As the Minister would know he is responsible for the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board (WMTB) under the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955.
As the Minister would have been made aware the WMTB has resolved to give financial support to a group of four (of the six) Hapu that have representation on the WMTB for the purposes of resourcing their Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations under the name 'Tu Ake Collective' (TAC). As the Minister ought to know the TAC documentation describing membership of the group states that the WMTB is an equal partner in this group. As the Minister ought to know this situation is viewed as objectionable, prejudicial and untenable by the two Hapu not part of TAC and those two Hapu view the involvement of WMTB management in TAC as a clear conflict of interest. Therefore I have the following questions:
1. What is the amount spent and the costs of resources allocated to date by the WMTB in connection with assisting TAC and how was this accounted for?
1a. Same question as 1 but 'other Hapu and claimant entities not in TAC' substituted for TAC.
2. How much WMTB staff time was involved in assisting TAC and how much staff time was foregone by WMTB for the reason of staff involvement with TAC activities and how was this accounted for?
2a. Same question as 2 but 'other Hapu and claimant entities not in TAC' substituted for TAC.
3. What policies have been made by WMTB for the expenditure of money and the use of resources and staff time to assist TAC?
3a. Same question as 3 but 'other Hapu and claimant entities not in TAC' substituted for TAC.
4. What advice has the Minister received and what decisions have been made by him or his staff in relation to the legal or political position of the WMTB being a party to TAC and the capability of the WMTB to participate as an equal member of that group in any Treaty settlement negotiation?
5. What Maori Trust Boards (constituted under the 1955 Act) have been, or are currently, directly represented on a group that has negotiated, or are negotiating, a Treaty settlement with the Crown?
Kia ora
Yours faithfully,
Tim Selwyn
From: Gail Robinson
Minister for Māori Development
Tēnā koe Mr Selwyn
Thank you for your email of 24 November 2015 in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:
“ I am a member of Te Whakatohea whose rangatira signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 27 May 1840.
As the Minister would know he is responsible for the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board (WMTB) under the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955.
As the Minister would have been made aware the WMTB has resolved to give financial support to a group of four (of the six) Hapu that have representation on the WMTB for the purposes of resourcing their Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations under the name 'Tu Ake Collective' (TAC). As the Minister ought to know the TAC documentation describing membership of the group states that the WMTB is an equal partner in this group. As the Minister ought to know this situation is viewed as objectionable, prejudicial and untenable by the two Hapu not part of TAC and those two Hapu view the involvement of WMTB management in TAC as a clear conflict of interest. Therefore I have the following questions:
1. What is the amount spent and the costs of resources allocated to date by the WMTB in connection with assisting TAC and how was this accounted for?
1a. Same question as 1 but 'other Hapu and claimant entities not in TAC' substituted for TAC.
2. How much WMTB staff time was involved in assisting TAC and how much staff time was foregone by WMTB for the reason of staff involvement with TAC activities and how was this accounted for?
2a. Same question as 2 but 'other Hapu and claimant entities not in TAC' substituted for TAC.
3. What policies have been made by WMTB for the expenditure of money and the use of resources and staff time to assist TAC?
3a. Same question as 3 but 'other Hapu and claimant entities not in TAC' substituted for TAC.
4. What advice has the Minister received and what decisions have been made by him or his staff in relation to the legal or political position of the WMTB being a party to TAC and the capability of the WMTB to participate as an equal member of that group in any Treaty settlement negotiation?
5. What Maori Trust Boards (constituted under the 1955 Act) have been, or are currently, directly represented on a group that has negotiated, or are negotiating, a Treaty settlement with the Crown?”
The Minister is considering your request in accordance with the Act, and will respond in due course.
Nāku noa, nā
Gail Robinson
Gail Robinson | Hēkeretari mō te Minitā
Te Tari o Honore Te Ururoa Flavell | Kaiārahi Takirua o te Paati Māori | Mema Pāremata mō te Waiariki | Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori | Te Minita Whānau Ora | Te Minita Tuarua Whanaketanga Ohaoha
Papa Tuawhiti o te Whare o Bowen | Te Whare Pāremata | Pūrangi Motuhake 18041 | Te Whanganui-ā- Tara 6160 | Aotearoa
Waea Harihari: 04 817 6824 | Waea Whakaahua: 04 817 6524 | Īmera: [email address]
TĒNĀ TIROHIA MAI: He rongo muna tēnei, na reira kaua e tāruarua ngā tuhinga kōrero. Mehemea kaore koe i te kaitango e tika ana, tēnā tangohia. Ehara i te mea i puta katoa mai ngā tuhinga kōrero nei i te tari Pāremata o te tari nei.
show quoted sections
From: Gail Robinson
Minister for Māori Development
Tēnā koe Mr Selwyn
Further to your OIA request of 24 November 2015, please find attached a response from Hon Te Ururoa Flavell.
Ngā mihi
Gail Robinson
Gail Robinson | Hēkeretari mō te Minitā
Te Tari o Honore Te Ururoa Flavell | Kaiārahi Takirua o te Paati Māori | Mema Pāremata mō te Waiariki | Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori | Te Minita Whānau Ora | Te Minita Tuarua Whanaketanga Ohaoha
Papa Tuawhiti o te Whare o Bowen | Te Whare Pāremata | Pūrangi Motuhake 18041 | Te Whanganui-ā- Tara 6160 | Aotearoa
Waea Harihari: 04 817 6824 | Waea Whakaahua: 04 817 6524 | Īmera: [email address]
TĒNĀ TIROHIA MAI: He rongo muna tēnei, na reira kaua e tāruarua ngā tuhinga kōrero. Mehemea kaore koe i te kaitango e tika ana, tēnā tangohia. Ehara i te mea i puta katoa mai ngā tuhinga kōrero nei i te tari Pāremata o te tari nei.
show quoted sections
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
Offensive? Unsuitable?
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not considered valid requests for Official Information (read more).
If you believe this request is not suitable, you can report it for attention by the site administrators
Report this requestAct on what you've learnt
Similar requests
1996 Treaty of Waitangi Settlement Agreement whakatohea maori trust board
To Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations by Toopi "Jim" Wikotu
Landbanking and protection of Crown assets for Whakatohea Treaty Settlement
To Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations by Tim Selwyn
Hui with Iwi prior to Te Tarata commemoration in Opotiki 4 October 2015
To Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations by Tim Selwyn
