Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust draft Deed of Mandate submissions

Overview

The Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana—Te Tari Whakatau invites submissions, views or inquiries concerning the draft Deed of Mandate submitted by the Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust (NWCT), who are seeking a mandate to negotiate the settlement of the historical Treaty claims of Ngāti Whakahemo. 

The NWCT draft deed of mandate is available to view below.

The draft Deed of Mandate sets out the claimant definition, outlines the representative structure, and the process NWCT have undertaken to seek a mandate from the Ngāti Whakahemo claimant community.  

NWCT held five publicly notified mandate voting hui from 3 to 17 May 2025 in Pukehina, Wellington, Auckland, Maketū and Online. Registered members at the hui conducted a mandate vote in accordance with their tikanga on the following resolutions:  

Resolution 1: The iwi of Ngāti Whakahemo approves the terms of trust for NWCT as set out in the trust deed. 

Resolution 2: The iwi of Ngāti Whakahemo gives NWCT the mandate to represent Ngāti Whakahemo in negotiations with the Crown in respect of the full and final settlement of all Ngāti Whakahemo’s historical claims including Wai 1471 and Wai 2536 

The voting results across all hui were as follows: 

• Resolution 1 – 94.30% of voters in support; and 

• Resolution 2 – 96.94% of voters in support. 

You can make an online submission on the draft Deed of Mandate below.

Submissions can also be emailed to submissions@tearawhiti.govt.nz, or mailed to: Keawe Woodmore, Negotiations and Settlement Manager – Kāpiti–Bay of Plenty, The Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana – Te Tari Whakatau, SX10111, Wellington 6011 

Following close of submissions, Te Tari Whakatau will work with the NWCT to make any changes that are needed, before finalising the Deed of Mandate and reporting to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Minister for Māori Development. 

Submissions must reach Te Tari Whakatau no later than 11:00pm on 14 June. Submissions will be provided to the Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust. 

Submissions are subject to the Official Information Act 

Your feedback is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Any request under the OIA that includes identifying information will need to be considered in line with the OIA. If your feedback is within scope of an OIA request for information, the Ministry is required to release the information unless one of the withholding grounds of the OIA apply. 

The Ministry can withhold personal details under the OIA, including your name and address. If you believe there are reasons to withhold specific information from publication, please make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include commercially sensitive or personal information. Any decision Te Tari Whakatau makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may require us to release it. 

The Privacy Act 2020 governs how the Ministry collects and uses the personal information about you and your submission. You have the right to access and correct personal information.