17 July 2026
REF: OIA88720
Mark
By email: [FYI request #34683 email]
Tēnā koe Mark,
Official information request for information relating to Wai 1896 from 1 January 2008
I refer to your correspondence of 28 June 2026 requesting the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA), in summary:
“all official information held by Te Tari Whakatau relating to the decision-making, assessment,
administration and treatment of WAI 1896 from 1 January 2008 to the present”, and “
without
limiting the scope of this request”, specifically:
1. Decision-making regarding Large Natural Groupings – all documents relating to whether
WAI 1896 was assessed as falling within, or outside of, the Crown’s preferred Large Natural
Grouping settlement approach; was ever considered as an exception to that preferred
approach; any criteria applied when considering whether WAI 1896 should proceed
separately or within a Large Natural Grouping; the identity of every person involved in
making or recommending those decisions; any formal or informal decision that WAI 1896
should proceed only through Large Natural Groupings.
2. Assessment of WAI 1896 interests – all documents assessing, analysing or discussing the
historical, geographical or whakapapa interests asserted through WAI 1896, including but
not limited to Tāmaki/Kaipara/Hauraki areas.
3. Settlement overlap assessments – all documents relating to overlapping interests with
settlements: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Ngāti Pāoa, Te Roroa, Ngāti
Manuhiri, Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Tamaoho,
Tāmaki Makaurau Collective, Marutūāhu Collective, Pare Hauraki Collective.
4. Patuone assessment – all documents created before 11 March 2026 identifying or
analysing Patuone’s whakapapa, tribal affiliations; marriages; political relationships;
residence at Takapuna; residence at Whakatiwai; residence at Pūtiki; Mahurangi interests;
Te Roroa connections; Ngāti Pāoa connections, and if no such documents exist prior to 11
March 2026, to confirm that fact.
5. Internal consideration of WAI 1896 – all documents that discuss WAI 1896 descendants of
Patuone; descendants of Hapi Waka; descendants of Hohaia Patuone; Ngāti Hao;
settlement pathway for WAI 1896; whether WAI 1896 presents difficulties within the Large
Natural Grouping model.
6. Procedural framework – all documents explaining how existing whānau claims lodged
before development of the Large Natural Grouping policy were intended to transition into
that policy; whether any exceptions to the Crown’s preferred Large Natural Grouping
approach have been considered since 2008; the policy governing exceptions to the Crown’s
preference for settlement through Large Natural Groupings; the decision-making
framework applied where a claim spans multiple rohe or multiple settlement areas; and if no
such policy, framework or guidance exists, to confirm that no such documents are held.
Parts 2 - 5 of the request require substantial research and collation
Based on our preliminary assessment, parts 2 – 5 of your request as currently framed are likely to
require substantial research and collation. They encompass overlapping interest processes
across the lifetime of each negotiation you have identified, as well Ngāpuhi mandating
processes, which generates a high volume of documents numbering in the 1000s of pages.
We estimate this would take three months to research and collate this information, which will
significantly impact the other operations of Te Tari Whakatau.
Unless your request is amended, we may have to refuse these parts of the request under section
18(f) of the OIA which applies where the information cannot be made available without
substantial collation or research.
Before making any decision to refuse your request on this basis, we are consulting with you in
accordance with section 18B of the OIA to determine whether your request can be refined in a
way that would remove the reason for refusal. We therefore invite you to consider refining parts
2 – 5 of your request as outlined below.
Option to refine parts 2 - 5 of the request by refining the scope
You may wish to consider refining these aspects of the request by narrowing the scope to:
a) Overlapping interests reports, briefings and correspondence relating to Ngāpuhi or
Patuone interests with other groups in the Tāmaki/Hauraki/Kaipara/Mahurangi areas
since 1 January 2008; and
b) Internal customary interests reports on Ngāpuhi or Patuone interests in the
Tāmaki/Hauraki/Kaipara/Mahurangi areas since 1 January 2008.
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An extension of time is required
The OIA requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working
days after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that
time limit and we are therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
decision to 24 August.
This extension is necessary because your request necessitates a search through a large quantity
of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our
operations. In addition, consultations with external parties necessary to make a decision on your
request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time
limit.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Next steps
Please let us know before
23 July whether you are prepared to amend your request and, if so,
how.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, please contact Sonya Wynne, Senior
Analys
t, at [email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Alex Mellows
Negotiation and Settlement Manager
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