Foreshore and Seabed

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CROWN AND NGĀTI POROU KI HAURAKI TRUST

Discussions with Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki Trust (on behalf of the iwi of Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki) commenced in early 2005. The negotiations relate to two geographically separate areas on the Coromandel Peninsula, at Kennedy Bay and Mataora Bay (PDF 896KB).

An Agreement to Negotiate (PDF  452KB) was signed in December 2005. A signing ceremony involving Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki Trust representatives and the Attorney-General and the Minister of Māori Affairs was held on the 21st January 2006.

The Agreement to Negotiate (PDF  452KB) includes:

• the basis on which the two parties are entering negotiations;

• the definition of Ngati Porou ki Hauraki and the Crown;

• the objectives of the negotiations and the agreement to negotiate;

• the matters for negotiation and stages in the negotiation process; and

• procedural matters.

The Agreement to Negotiate (PDF  452KB) is not legally binding on the parties.

A significant amount of work has to be completed before the negotiating parties will be able to agree which areas within the rohe of Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki meet the criteria for territorial customary rights recognition as outlined in the Foreshore and Seabed Act. Only then will the negotiating parties be in a position to apply to the High Court for confirmation of any agreed territorial customary rights areas.

On 4 November 2008 the Crown and negotiating representatives of Ngāti Porou Ki Hauraki Trust signed a milestone document (PDF 908KB). The milestone document describes the progress of negotiations to date and sets out an agreed work plan to reaching an Agreement in Principle. The milestone document is not legally binding.

Page last updated 19/11/08