Ngāti Whakahemo
Claims Trust
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Mō Tā Tātou Rōpū Kerēme
About our Claims Trust
The origins of Ngāti Whakahemo are deeply tied to the renowned ancestor, Maruahaira, whose conquest of this whenua laid the foundation of our iwi identity. Through his leadership and the battles fought to secure this land, the spirit of Ngāti Whakahemo was born. It is from Maruahaira and the tūpuna who followed — walking this whenua — that we inherit the stories, the tikanga, and the mātauranga that define us today.
This land is our tūrangawaewae — the sacred maunga, the flowing wai that carry the wisdom and wairua of those who came before. Under the mana of Maruahaira, Ngāti Whakahemo was established here, and thus, this whenua is us, and we are the whenua.
In the spirit of that legacy, the Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust has been established to lead our iwi through the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process. While the Trust will guide negotiations with the Crown, it will not accept any settlement offers — final decisions rest solely with the iwi.
This is a significant moment, where every uri of Maruahaira has the opportunity to help choose the kaiārahi who will represent us with integrity and strength.
The Trust’s responsibilities include:
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Developing the mandate strategy
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Defining Ngāti Whakahemo as a claimant group
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Identifying claims and confirming the rohe
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Leading hui and communications
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Managing pūtea responsibly
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Appointing skilled negotiators
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Maintaining a register of adult uri
The Trust is being established under a tailored trust deed based on the Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) model and will operate until a formal PSGE is in place. The deed is designed to reflect and uphold the tikanga of Ngāti Whakahemo in every decision and direction taken.
Current Claims Committee members will become the first trustees under the Trusts Act 2019. These trustees will appoint negotiators, form a Taumata Kaumātua to provide cultural guidance, and ensure accountability and transparency as we move forward together.
This is more than a legal process — it is a continuation of our story.
A step taken in the footprints of our tūpuna, toward justice, restoration, and a future written by our own hands.