Media release – for immediate release – 16-07-14 

WHAT’S THE BIG SECRET? MINISTERS HOLD BACK ON CLARIFICATION OF RANGITĀNE O MANAWATŪ TREATY OF WAITANGI SETTLEMENT VOTE

PROCESS

A meeting has been called for Ministers’ Finlayson, Tūria and Sharples to front up to Rangitāne o Manawatū and clarify the results of voting regarding a Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) tasked to take control of iwi resources.

In February\March this year Rangitāne o Manawatū iwi members were asked to vote for a PSGE to handle all its’ treaty settlement monies and resources on behalf of the iwi.

However tensions arose due to the lack of engagement with the iwi itself. Ko te Pou Marangatahi o Rangitāne ki Manawatu spokespeople, representative of the 5 principal lines of Rangitāne o Manawatū say there was no consultation with the wider iwi of Rangitāne o Manawatū beforehand and the voting process appeared to be prejudicial.

“We were landed with voting forms and books to get information from at the last minute”. The entity involved Tanenuiarangi Manawatu Inc. (TMI) gave little notice of the process beforehand. Without funding and appropriate resourcing “we did our best to inform and prepare our Rangitane o Manawatu people to register and vote within the allotted 3 week timeframe”. There was not adequate time for people to absorb and understand all of the implications of the process.

Nearly four months since the initial voting date and after constant requests from the iwi. The Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) have not informed the iwi of the votes’ results. The many enquiries regarding the matter have been met with a standard response of “It’s with the Ministers”.

When asked in February about the voting process, Treaty Settlements Minister Chris Finlayson and Minister Tariana Turia assured Rangitāne o Manawatū iwi members that the voting process was to be independently run. Iwi members could either register with the group putting themselves forward to be the PSGE or register with an independent service.

However this appeared to be untrue when it was found that the PSGE candidate group actually paid the ‘so called’ independent service to oversee the registration and voting process. Further to that peoples’ information was left with the PSGE candidate group for up to 3 months. That information which includes Whakapapa and according to feedback received had left people feeling vulnerable and mistrustful of an entity from another iwi viewing and handling their sensitive information. Rangitane o Manawatu iwi members have long protested the handling of their treaty claims by those from a hapu belonging to another iwi.

A date has been confirmed at short notice for iwi to meet with Minister Turia and the emcumbent member for Te Tai Hauauru, Chris MacKenzie this Thursday 17/7/14 at St Michael’s Church Marae at 7pm. Rangitane iwi members are encouraged to attend.

END

For further information, contact Mrs Brigitte Te Awe Awe-Bevan on (0274759597), Ms Ngaire Eruera on (021986090), Moana Sinclair (0800 662 625 or 027 238 5854) Dr Ra Durie on (0212439277 or 063575488), and Mr Charles Matenga (0276969373 or 063296748)