Ballots

Deed of Settlement Ballot

At close of poll (Wednesday 31 August) of 1001 voting papers, 432 returned, or 43.2%.   396 voted YES, 31 voted NO and 5 were blank.  That is 91.67% voted in favour of the proposed Deed of Settlement.  On 7 September, The Hon Chris Finlayson and the Hon Dr Pita Sharples advised us that the Crown approved the ratification process, and believed a sufficient level of support from the claimant community had been demonstrated for the signing of the Deed of Settlement to proceed.

RETURNED PAPERS, DAILY - INCOMING

Trustee Ballot

Voting closed on Friday 11 February 2011 for the three Trustees who will sit with the five Claim Komiti members as the initial Trustees of the Nga Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Development Trust and Nga Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Tari Pupuritaonga Trust. 

Results

Rhys Freeman, Margaret Kawharu and Te Kahui-iti Morehu are the successful candidates.

Trustee Vote Returns at 11 February 2011

Candidates

Nominations were confirmed for the following people: 

All those on the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara register were sent a voting pack on 10 January 2011 including their voting papers and information on how the voting will take place.  The voting period opened on 10 January 2011 and voting papers were accepted up until 11 February 2011 provided that the envelope was postmarked on or before 8 February 2011.

Part of the Postal Ballot process involves an election hui which took place on 15 January 2011 at 10am at the Helensville War Memorial Hall in Te Awaroa (Helensville) to give voters the opportunity to meet the candidates and ask questions.  All of the candidates had to attend this hui otherwise they would not be eligible for election. Nick Rata unfortunately did not attend the hui.

If you are not registered you are not eligible to vote in the postal ballots.  Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara whānau who have not done so are invited to register as members of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara.  To register as a member please contact the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara office on 0800 NW KAIPARA.

Background Information on Governance Entity

On 4 August 2010 the Crown approved the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara finalised proposal for a post settlement governance entity.

Several hui-a-iwi were held in 2009 for members to discuss the structure designed to be fully accountable to members of Ngati Whatua o Kaipara, to complete the south Kaipara Treaty claim settlement negotiations and to receive and manage settlement assets.

Key components of this proposal were confirmed at Puatahi Marae on 4 July 2009.  Once the Crown finally approved the governance entity, a postal ballot then took place for Ngati Whatua o Kaipara registered members over 18 years to confirm their acceptance of the governance entity.

Ngati Whatua o Kaipara Includes

Those who descend from:

• Haumoewarangi; and
• A recognised ancestor of at least one of the following hapu - Ngati Whatua Tuturu, Te Taou, Ngati Rango, Ngati Hine, Te Uri o Hau - who exercised rights predominantly within the area of interest at any time after 6 February 1840.

Descent is by birth, legal adoption, or Maori customary adoption in accordance with Ngati Whatua o Kaipara tikanga.  Customary rights include rights to affiliate to the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara marae at Haranui, Reweti, Araparera, Kakanui and Puatahi.

Postal Ballot – Your Vote!

Voting took place by postal ballot between 15 October and 12 November 2010.  You were asked to tick only one box: either accept or reject the proposed governance entity.

All registered members received a voting pack directly from Independent Election Services Ltd, a private, New Zealand owned and operated company specialising in the independent conduct of elections.

During the voting period, hui were held at six different venues, to help explain the voting process, and provide further clarification of the proposed post settlement governance entity and its trust deeds.  The Returning Officer was present at the hui with a locked ballot box, so those who wished to cast their vote at the hui could do so with confidence. Otherwise all votes had to be received by the Returning Officer no later than 5pm 12 November 2010.

Postal Ballot Hui Held

• Saturday 16 October 10am
  Reweti Marae
• Tuesday 26 October 6pm
  33 Events Centre Whangarei
• Wednesday 27 October 6pm
  Nga Hau e Wha Marae, Pukekohe
• Saturday 30 October 10am
  Kakanui Awhina Centre
• Sunday 31 October 1pm
  Waipapa Marae Auckland University
• Monday 1 November 6pm
  Raukawa Marae, Otaki

Advertisements appeared in the New Zealand Herald and local newspapers during the second week of October.

Outcome Of Postal Ballot

Of the 916 registered members of Ngati Whatua o Kaipara, 282 returned their vote, or 30.8%.

Of the 282 who voted, an overwhelming 93.97% (or 265 members) voted to ACCEPT the proposed governance entity. A further 3.19% (or 9 members) voted to REJECT the proposed governance entity and 2.84% - or 8 members – returned their vote blank. 

Thus the establishment of Nga Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) was formally approved.

To Register & Vote

If you have any queries at all, please get in touch with the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara office in Te Awaroa, (Helensville) on 0800 NWKAIPARA. Don’t miss these opportunities to have your say! 

Kaipara Land Lost

Kaipara Claim Area