TE TIRITI O WAITANGI

Treaty of Waitangi

Treaty of Waitangi - Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840

Te Paatu ki Kauhanga hapū have long-standing grievances in relation to acts and omissions of the Crown in breach of Treaty of Waitangi since 1840. Te Paatu ki Kauhanga has prosecuted claims against the Crown in the Waitangi Tribunal within the Muriwhenua Inquiry, the Te Paparahi o Te Raki Inquiry and in the Courts seeking redress for their grievances, the return of lands, waters, foreshore, seabed, coastal marine area, all available resources, and restoration of relationships with all levels of government. Te Paatu ki Kauhanga seeks to provide a platform for the rebuilding of their community.

The Crown has a policy for Treaty settlements that indicates it will only negotiate and settle with large natural groupings of iwi or more than one iwi. The Crown does not generally negotiate and settle with hapū. However, Te Paatu ki Kauhanga hapū does not agree that the Crown’s policy is necessarily acceptable because the Treaty of Waitangi formalised relations between the Crown and hapū.

In accordance with that Crown policy, Te Paatu ki Kauhanga has considered joining with other related hapū to collaborate on claims before the Waitangi Tribunal and to investigate entering into negotiations with the Crown to seek a settlement of the Treaty grievances including the takutai moana (marine and coastal area).