Taranaki Māori Trust Board settles annuity payout

ARTICLES AND IMAGES COURTESY OF THE TARANAKI MĀORI TRUST BOARD

After years of discussion and debate, the Taranaki Māori Trust Board (TMTB) recently signed an agreement with the Crown for a payment of $20.8m as a buyout of future annuities due to the TMTB. The following article explains the historical context of the organisation and the journey to this point. >>

In the context of the significance of the decisions before the current members of the Taranaki Māori Trust Board, it is important to briefly reflect and acknowledge the long history of the Trust Board and the significant role it played over the years in supporting Māori kaupapa in Taranaki.

Formally established on 22 September 1930 under the Native Land Amendment Act and Native Land Claim Adjustment Act 1928, the inaugural members appointed by Order in Council (“OIC”) were:

• Rangihuna Pire (Chair);

• Sir Maui Pomare;

• Wi Kupe Raungaiti;

• Tupito Maruera; and

• Rima Wakarua

The Trust Board was subsequently reconstituted and its membership was increased to 6 members by OIC in May 1931. Those members being:

• Rima Wakarua;

• Tupito Maruera;

• Pouwhareumu Toi;

• Tukotahi Tokotaua;

• Hapi Love Wi Tako; and

• Nohomairangi Te Whiti.

The Taranaki Māori Claims Settlement Act 1944 provided for an annual payment of £5000 and a one-off payment of £300 for Parihaka to be made, and in 1956 the 8 constituent Taranaki iwi formally constituted under the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955 as beneficiaries. The following 7 member Board was appointed in June 1956:

• Te Whareraupo Tamou (Ngā Rauru);

• Hana Tamaka (Ngāti Ruanui);

• Teri Edwards (Ngāruahine);

• Tahurangi Pihopa (Taranaki);

• Pehimana Tamati (Te Atiawa);

• Hamiora Raumati (Ngāti Mutunga);

• Potete Hotu (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Maru)

Internal tension grew regarding representation issues and the basis of allocation of funds, which was not population based, but by comparative confiscation. This tension dissipated once the value of funding reduced and it became irrelevant.

It was estimated by Dr J L Robinson in 1990 (updated in 1992), based on the CPI, a £5000 payment in 1931 should have risen to $56,858 in 1975. There have been no other increases beyond the $10,000 to $15,000 increase of 1977, where the annual payment has remained.

Throughout the year numerous petitions on behalf of the Trust Board were made to Parliament regarding an increase from £5000 to £10000, non-payment of annuity during the depression and the lack of land for Taranaki Māori.

Above: Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Wharehoka Wano (Chairman TMTB).

In the 1970s the Trust Board specifically petitioned and sought the following:

• Two tangata whenua representatives on the Park Board (one from the Trust Board and one to represent traditional owners); and

• Official recognition of ‘Taranaki’ as the name for the Park and mountain.

The Trust Board also sought $10 million compensation in place of the $15,000 per annum annuity. The Labour Government at the time appears to have given serious consideration to the claims, but after the National (Muldoon) government were elected in late 1975 the Vesting Bill was promptly dropped from the government’s programme until Taranaki Maunga was “returned” to the people of Taranaki in 1978 by way of the Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978.

The Mount Egmont Vesting Act provided for the following:

• Title to Taranaki Maunga being vested in the Trust Board; and

• By means of the same Act, it was immediately passed back to the Government as a gift to the nation.

While much of the broader context surrounding the enactment of the Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978 is still to be unravelled and better understood, significant tension arose again for the Trust Board regarding its lack of mandate and agreement by the people of Taranaki. It was suggested that the political climate of 1975 was such that the Trust Board felt it was necessary to perform a gesture of goodwill designed to create a more favourable environment within which a monetary settlement could be negotiated.

It was following the Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978 that support and confidence in the Trust Board began to dwindle. Opposition to the Trust Board continued through to the negotiation of claims from Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Ngā Rauru, and Ngāti Te Whiti. It was following the release of Kaupapa Tuatahi Taranaki Report that the 8 iwi of Taranaki made the decision to establish their own separate iwi entities to negotiate the respective claims of those iwi.

Above: Ngā uri o Taranaki Maunga, Owae Marae.

It was following the release of Kaupapa Taranaki Report that the iwi of Taranaki made the decision to establish their own separate iwi entities to negotiate the respective claims of those iwi.

Without wanting to gloss over the many supporting roles that the Trust Board played in Taranaki over the years, it is pretty clear that with the establishment of separate iwi entities in Taranaki to negotiate and then settle claims with the Crown has impacted on the ongoing role of the Trust Board in Taranaki in this context.

On Wednesday 4 September 2019 the Trust Board signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown for the Buyout of the Trust Board’s Annuity Payment, at a ceremony held at Owae Marae, Whaitara, Taranaki. The signing of this Deed of Settlement completes a lengthy journey for the Trust Board in seeking an appropriate settlement with the Crown for the CPI (Consumer Price Index) adjustment to the annuity payment.

The Deed of Settlement provides for an annuity buyout payment of $20.8m and ceases all future annuity payments to the Trust Board. Discussions will now take place as to how this pūtea will be applied for the benefit of the eight-member iwi of the Trust Board – Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Maru, Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui and Ngā Rauru.

The current members are:

• Ngāti Tama - Frances White

• Ngāti Mutunga - Rodney Baker

• Ngāti Maru - Samuel Tamarapa

• Te Atiawa - Wharehoka Wano (Chair)

• Taranaki - Leanne Horo

• Ngāruahine - John Hooker

• Ngāti Ruanui - Ngapari Nui (Deputy)

• Ngā Rauru - Te Pahunga Marty Davis

Above: Board members with the Hon Nanaia Mahuta (from second left) John Hooker (Ngāruahine), Te Pahunga Marty Davis (Ngā Rauru), Minister Mahuta, Rodney Baker (Ngāti Mutunga), Wharehoka Wano (Chair, Te Atiawa), Leanne Horo (Taranaki), Frances White (Ngāti Tama). Absent are Sam Tamarapa (Ngāti Maru) and Ngapari Nui (Ngāti Ruanui)