Negotiators Appointed for Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust

Posted November 19, 2021

Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust (MPWCT) are pleased to announce the appointment of its principal negotiators for Mōkai Pātea Treaty settlement negotiations

Che Wilson, Tracey Hiroa, Richard Steedman and Tama Potaka are the successful candidates appointed as the principal negotiators by the Trustees of MPWCT following a call for expressions of interest and nominations through each of the Mōkai Pātea Iwi Rūnanga and as recommended by an appointment panel. Whilst the negotiators have various Mōkai Pātea iwi affiliations, the negotiators are to represent the whole Mōkai Pātea Nui Tonu claimant community.

Each negotiator affiliates to the Mōkai Pātea claimant community and collectively they bring a formidable range of experience and skills to the negotiations table. This includes previous Treaty Settlement Negotiations, Iwi Chair and Pou Arahi roles, directorships on agency, and commercial entities, political and management roles within local, regional, and central government bodies.

Importantly their expertise includes Mōkai Pātea Mātauranga historical and contemporary knowledge, Commercial Negotiations, Investment Fund management, legal and governance frameworks and commentators on Māori Development & Māori Legal Issues.

The MPWCT Trust Chair Utiku Potaka said that the Trustees were unanimous in confirming the appointment of negotiators and “we congratulate them and extend our thanks to them for their availability to take on this significant task.”

Potaka also expressed the Trust’s appreciation to all applicants endorsed by their Rūnanga. Whilst some were not successful for role of negotiator, they have been invited to be part of the Negotiation Advisory Team during Negotiations, particularly in areas relevant to their expertise.

The Negotiators will commence the next critical aspect of Treaty Negotiations in the Crown’s settlement framework, with the aim to achieve an agreement in principle for the Mōkai Pātea Claimant Community with the Crown over the next 18 months. The negotiators are responsible for negotiating the best redress and comprehensive settlement for Mōkai Pātea Nui Tonu historical Treaty of Waitangi Claims.

It is the responsibility of MPWCT to govern the settlement process and maintain the balance of its two underlying principles: kotahitanga of Mōkai Pātea Nui Tonu and rangatiratanga of the four individual Iwi.

Earlier this year the Crown advised its appointment of Katherine Gordon as the Chief Crown Negotiator (CCN) for the Mōkai Pātea Settlement. Katherine has been a CCN since 2015. In that role, she concluded the Ngāti Rangitihi Deed of Settlement in December 2020 and is CCN for Te Korowai o Wanuiārua and Taranaki Maunga negotiations.