Hapū decisions on endorsement of evolved mandate

Hapū endorsement

In order to provide evidence of a hapū endorsement decision, hapū were invited to participate in a formal hapū endorsement decision process. This process involves at least:

1. A hapū member notifying the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) of an intention to hold a hui-ā-hapū to be held between Friday, 16 November and Sunday, 9 December 2018.
2. OTS publicly notifying and advertising the hui-ā-hapū giving 14 days public notice of hui.
3. Holding the hui-ā-hapū to determine if hapū support the evolved mandate proposal.
4. Hapū making their decision in accordance with their tikanga (vote or otherwise).
5. Hapū, if they support the evolved mandate proposal, determining their preferred options for representation (or no representation) on the Mandated Ngāpuhi Authority for (1) Te Rūnanga ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi (2) Kuia and Kaumātua and (3) Ngāpuhi ki waho atu i te rohe.
6. Information must be received by OTS before 12pm midday, on Monday 10 December 2018 attaching:

• • hapū endorsement hui results (i.e. a completed Hapū endorsement form for Ngāpuhi evolved mandate (PDF 82KB)) with notice of support or not of resolution and confirmation of the options (if endorsement is supported);
  • attendance register;
  • signed record/minutes of the hui by the Chair/facilitator of the hui;
  • contact name; and
  • copy of newspaper advertisement.

The results of the hapū endorsement process will be considered alongside the results of the individual vote.

What if hapū did not want to participate in the evolved mandate?

110 hapū of Ngāpuhi are named in the current deed of mandate held by Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority. 

If the evolved mandate is supported by Ngāpuhi and recognised by the Crown, then individual hapū may choose to withdraw from the evolved mandate. This mechanism for withdrawal was required by the Waitangi Tribunal and detailed in the Maranga Mai report. The Maranga Mai report withdrawal process has been fully adopted by Te Rōpū Tūhono and appeared in full in the second and third Te Rōpū Tūhono booklets. This withdrawal process can be used after the evolved mandate, which will include the new withdrawal clause, has been supported by Ngāpuhi including ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi and recognised by the Crown. Subject to following the withdrawal process, a hapū wishing to withdraw could complete the withdrawal process by April 2019.

Hapū who choose to stay in the mandate will also have the opportunity – as proposed by the Waitangi Tribunal, to appoint, re-elect or re-confirm their hapū kaikōrero.

Further information

Technical advisors

Step 4

Submit to OTS via email (ngapuhifeedback@justice.govt.nz), or post the following information:

• Hapū endorsement form for Ngāpuhi evolved mandate (PDF 82KB) with notice of support or not of the resolution and confirmation of the hapū decision on the options (if endorsement is supported)
• Attendance register
• Record/minutes of the hui
• Contact name
• Copy of newspaper advertisement.

Information is to be received before 12pm midday on Monday, 10 December 2018.

Clarifications:

Online voting at hapū endorsement hui

Several hapū have recently proposed online voting at their hapū endorsement hui. Te Rōpū Tūhono want to clarify that voting results from hapū endorsement hui that include online voting at the hui will not be accepted. Voting over livestreaming including Facebook does not provide sufficient ability to notify and verify online voters for the process to be safe and robust.

Te Rōpū Tūhono have made one exception to this rule for those hapū who had their hui at Parawhenua Marae on 17 November. The potential option of online voting using Facebook was raised a few days before the 17 November hui ( after the date the hui was officially advertised). There was then some confusion at the actual hui over the status of online voting which the hapū resolved to approve.

Te Rōpū Tūhono will not accept results that include online voting or proxies for future hapū endorsement hui. However, in order to provide for concerns about how hapū members outside of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi can participate in hapū endorsement hui, Te Rōpū Tūhono will accept a vote that combines the vote at the hapū endorsement hui with the vote of hapū members in the Ngāpuhi-wide postal vote. If hapū members want this combined vote, the hapū endorsement hui must specifically resolve this. A final combined count and the result for hapū who choose this combined vote will be known and reported by the Office of Treaty Settlements after the final vote count by the Independent Returning Officer on 17 December.

Age of voters at hapū hui

Some confusion has arisen around the age of eligibility to vote in hapū endorsement hui for the evolved mandate. For a hapū endorsement decision to be accepted by Te Rōpū Tūhono, those voting must be aged 18 or over at the time of the hui. This is consistent with the age requirement in the Ngāpuhi-wide vote where voters must be aged 18 or over.