The Maniapoto Māori Trust Board has been endorsed by the Crown to negotiate the treaty claim on behalf of the tribe. Deputy Chair, Keith Ikin says despite differences between the tribes within the King Country region, nearly three quarters of their beneficiaries agreed that the board should settle the claim with the Crown.
For the last three months the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board has met with its tribes to decide the mandate for their historical treaty claims, which hasn't been easy.
Keith Ikin, Deputy Chairman, Maniapoto Board says, "This issue can really cause division amongst the tribe, therefore in our meetings, some within the tribe didn't agree, but, in the end, we left it for the beneficiaries to decide, and last month 72 percent voted that the board should be mandated to lead the claim with the crown."
Ngāti Rereahu was one of the tribes pushing for their own settlement, rather than coming under the umbrella of a wider Maniapoto claim. The Maru Rereahu board is waiting to see the mandate, before they advise beneficiaries of the details.
Ikin says, “Recently we sat with the Te Maru Rereahu Trust to talk. At the conclusion of that meeting Maru Rereahu agreed to work together with the board to complete their claim.”
In August, former Te Wānanga o Aotearoa head, Rongo Wetere uplifted potraits of significant Manaipoto tūpuna from the Maniapoto trust board, he claimed are his, to show his concerns about settling with the crown.
Ikin says, “The paintings have been returned to their rightful place at the Rongo does not agree that we should settle our claim with the crown, instead he thinks it should be heard in the courts, but we don't want to return to the court.”
The Maniapoto Trust board is now seeking nominations for three negotiators. Applications by midday tomorrow. The successful applicants are expected to be announced next week.