The Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board

Current Trustees

Pictured here are the eleven current trustees of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board.  Regretfully, we advise that Cyril Talbot passed away in office in August 2008. Haere ra e hoa. Anahera Morehu, who polled 12th in the last board election, takes over from Cyril on the board.

orakeitrustboard

Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board Trustees L to R: Margaret Kawharu, Tiwana Tibble (CEO), Piripi Davis, Grant Hawke (Chair), Cyril Talbot, Ngarimu Blair, Bob Hawke, Puawai Rameka, Wyllis Maihi, Rangimarie Rawiri (Secretary and Deputy Chair), Moana Tamaariki-Pohe and Whetumarama Porter.

Background

The Ngati Whatua O Orakei Maori Trust Board was originally set up pursuant to the Maori Trust Boards Act 1955, but having its own separate and additional legislation, initially the Orakei Block (Vesting and Use) Act 1978 then the Orakei Act 1991.

In 1977 Ngati Whatua argued that land taken under the Public Works Act that had not been used for the declared purposes, should be returned. The government of the day agreed to return 10 hectares to a Ngati Whatua tribal trust, enshrined in the Orakei Block (Vesting and Use) Act 1978. This is particularly important for the current Trust Board in that the tribal trust determined the beneficiaries as those descendants of the common ancestor, Tuperiri.

In 1987, the Waitangi Tribunal made recommendations to the Crown concerning the claim lodged by people of Ngati Whatua o Orakei. The Crown passed the Orakei Act 1991, recognising the rights of Ngati Whatua o Orakei under the Treaty of Waitangi. The Orakei Act:

  • Recognised the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board as the tribal authority which represents the collective interests of the hapu (sub-tribe)
  • Returned to Ngati Whatua o Orakei an area of hapu (sub-tribe) land. The land has many parts and uses. For example some of the land is set aside for the marae (meeting place), whare karakia (church) and urupa (cemetary). It is the turangawaewae (spiritual and cultural centre) of the hapu (sub tribe).Whereas 1/5th of the land set aside as development land can be leased for the economic development of the hapu (sub tribe) the rest of this area is for housing, schools, health clinics and other activities which allow Ngati Whatua o Orakei to establish themselves back on their lands.
  • Another part of this land is set aside as passive reacreation area for members of the hapu (sub tribe) and citizens of Auckland. The Trust Board named this area Takaparawha Reserve.

In addition, section 19 of the Orakei Act 1991 provides a mandate for the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board to act as a sole authority on behalf of Ngati Whatua o Orakei on any matters that derive from the hapu’s customary authority in the Tamaki Isthmus.

Relationship to Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua

Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua was set up pursuant to Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua Act 1988. The beneficiaries of Te Runanga are descendants of Haumoewarangi. Ngati Whatua o Orakei are a part of Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua with the Act providing:

Paragraph 6. Functions, objects, and powers---sets an objective of bringing the assets of the whole tribe under a unified administration, thereby reaffirming tribal identity, while still preserving local autonomy.

Importantly this affirms, whilst the Runanga represents the wider interests of Ngati Whatua they clearly provide for local hapu (sub-tribal) autonomy. Ngati Whatua o Orakei as a hapu (sub-tribe) of Ngati Whatua is represented on the tribal trust board, Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua.