Joint media release with Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiations Trust

Published on 28 November 2024

A series of summer information and engagement sessions will be held this December and in January to encourage the community to find out more about Whanganui District Council’s post-settlement relationship with Iwi – and share their thoughts about proposed arrangements.

Mayor Andrew Tripe says, “In December 2018, Whanganui District Council made a commitment to explore a relationship that would see the council walk beside Whanganui Hapū/Iwi in support of their Treaty land settlement negotiations.”

Treaty settlement negotiations between the Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiations Trust (WLSNT) and the Crown are now nearing their conclusion and are expected to be finalised in early 2025.

Mayor Andrew says, “The settlement acknowledges the wrongs of the past – and also charts a course for the future.” He says the council will have an important role to play in terms of the relationship with Whanganui Hapū/Iwi. 

Prior to finalisation of the Treaty settlement, the council is being asked to make decisions on a platform for joint work with Takapau Whariki, the post-settlement governance entity for the Whanganui Land Settlement. The platform consists of: 

• Adopting the relationship agreement – Te Tomokanga ki Te Matapihi
• Entering into a Statutory Reserves Board – Ngā Tūtei a Maru, subject to finalisation of the Whanganui Land Settlement 
• Agreeing to the establishment of a charitable trust – Toitū te Whānau

Mayor Andrew says, “These decisions will be the next steps in our relationship journey with Whanganui Hapū and Iwi. We are excited to share where we are at, and keen to have open conversations with our community to support our decision-making.

“The shift into the post-settlement era for Whanganui Hapū/Iwi provides a unique opportunity for the council to embark on new ways of working that will centre local needs and local solutions. We see great potential to build on existing work together.”  

Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiations Trust Chair Ken Mair says, “We are excited to reset our relationship with the council based upon our collective mātāpono (values) and to work together on two exceptional kaupapa (initiatives) that will benefit not just our Whanganui Iwi and Hapū, but our whole hāpori (community) residing within our tribal domain."

A programme of community engagement will run through the summer, starting on Monday, 2 December 2024, when people will be able to access information and submit their thoughts and questions via the Whanganui District Council website. The engagement period will close on Monday, 2 February 2025.  

Two public panel sessions will be held on Monday 9 December 2024, at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre. 

Panellists will include the Chair of the Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiations Trust Ken Mair, Mayor Andrew Tripe, Chief Crown Negotiator Rick Barker, Councillor Jenny Duncan, Whanganui Land Settlement Trust Project Manager Tracey Waitokia and Executive Assistant, Aimee Simon.

Mayor Andrew says, “We’re delighted to be engaging with the community jointly with members of the Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiations Trust and Te Arawhiti (the Office for Māori Crown Relations) which means the information available will be robust, with much expertise in the room.”

Further community engagement will take place in January with Community Kōrero events and he says, “We look forward to meeting members of our community in person at these events where we can share information and hear ideas and points of view. This will help us as we make our decisions at a full council meeting in mid-February.”