The Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board

Current Trustees

The new Trust Board as confirmed in October 2010 comprises

Grant Hawke (Chair)
Phillip Davis (Deputy Chair)
Marama Royal (Secretary)
Mateperua (Mat) Maihi
Stephen Phillips
Jodi-Ann Warbrick
Sharon Hawke
Rangimarie Rawiri
WhetuMarama Porter
Margaret Kawharu
Ngarimu Blair

Click on any of the photographs below for more information on our Board members.

Grant Hawke Matt Maihi Sharon Hawke Stephen Phillips Ngarimu Blair  man_profile  woman_profile  woman_profile  woman_profile  woman_profile  woman_profile

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.