KŌRERO TUKU IHO | HISTORY

PŪKAKI TRUST

The Trust was set up during a time of major activity throughout Waikato and the tribe’s endeavours to address the confiscation (raupatu) of more than 1.2 million acres of land from Waikato. Responsibility for raupatu was vested in the Tainui Māori Trust Board set up in 1945. Te Ākitai was one of the thirty-three hapū represented on the board and the hapū was intimately involved in the research and debate that ultimately led to the Deed of Settlement between Waikato-Tainui and the Crown being signed on Tūrangawaewae Marae 22 May 1995. The knowledge and awareness of Māori land management and retention gained from those experiences brought a focus once again on Te Ākitai land issues. This, in turn, led to increased efforts by our marae committees of Makaurau and Pūkaki to address our own land issues, including the policies and land laws responsible for the collapse of Pūkaki Marae and our associated papakāinga.

This report is for us – the mokopuna of Reremoana Te Māhia and Huiārangi Rauwhero. 

To the Honourable Peter Sharples, Minister of Māori Affairs:

On Wednesday 3 February 2010 you answered a call for help from one of your constituents on behalf of his whānau. You came with your government officials and, in two hours, gave us confidence that coming home and re-establishing our papakāinga was possible. Thank you.

To the Honourable Phil Heatley, Minister of Housing:

On that same day in February you announced a new home ownership product called Kāinga Whenua, a partnership between Housing New Zealand Corporation and Kiwibank that provides opportunity for Māori to build, purchase or relocate a house on multiple-owned Māori land. The timing of your announcement was amazing.

“Past wrongs can be put right, in a practical way,
and it is not too late to begin again”.

Waitangi Tribunal decision on the Manukau Harbour Claim 1985

…This report brings together those efforts, the aspirations of whānau, assistance and advice from supporting agency staff – and the challenges. This is about the alienation of our whānau from our tupuna whenua and our duty to come home together.

... and now we begin again. 

(extract from Report No 3 submitted to TPK July 2010)