Foreshore & Seabed

Ōnuku Resolutions

FINAL RESOLUTIONS OF NGĀI TAHU HUI
Agreed 21st April 2010 at Ōnuku in regards to the Crown consultation document on the foreshore and seabed:

  1. That the Attorney General be acknowledged for his commitment to a principled resolution for the grave injuries to Ngāi Tahu by the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 by repealing the 2004 Act;
  2. That Ngāi Tahu Whānui consider the fundamental objective of the replacement framework should be to recognise and provide for the expression of mana over the foreshore and seabed, and that this should be reflected in clear statutory terms, such as a statement that “mana endures in perpetuity”;
  3. That Ngāi Tahu Whānui are disappointed by the tests included in the Crown proposal because the Ngāi Tahu Whānui entitlements are determined by historical injustices that the Crown has already acknowledged were unconscionable;
  4. That Ngāi Tahu Whānui urge the government to properly reflect the exercise of our inherent mana in designing any tests of whānau/hapū/iwi rights and awards to give effect to those rights;
  5. That Ngāi Tahu Whānui are convinced that the Crown should not be entitled to rely on acts in breach of the Treaty of Waitangi as evidence of extinguishing rights;
  6. That so as to reflect the Treaty partnership, the concept of public domain should be replaced with a construct that vests the foreshore and seabed in the Crown and Iwi to hold in the public interest.
  • Summary of Ngāi Tahu Positions and Improvements – this document contains a summary of the Ngāi Tahu hui in April that were held to discuss the tribal position on, and response to, the government’s preferred framework.  These hui confirmed that while Ngāi Tahu may see value in some aspects of the governments’ model, we do not support the majority of the government’s thinking because it does not deliver good outcomes for our whānau and communities. 
  • Materials – additional materials;
  • Summary of Commentary on Crown Proposal – this document was prepared by the Iwi Leaders Group as the summary version of the document below.
  • Commentary on Crown Proposal– this document was prepared by the Iwi Leaders Group and contains an analysis of the Crown proposal with some thoughts about how the government thinking could be improved or an alternative approach adopted.
  • Background - Foreshore & Seabed – questions and answers regarding The Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

These documents have been emailed to all Papatipu Rūnanga offices.