This statement relates to the policy agenda by the new coalition government.



Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust (Te Korowai) is the Post Settlement Governance Entity for Ngāruahine Iwi. Te Korowai has responsibility of managing and growing the Ngāruahine treaty settlement assets – for the benefit of Ngāruahine uri, whānau, hapū and Iwi. Te Korowai also has the responsibility of ensuring an enduring settlement and that the Tiriti rights of Ngāruahine are upheld.

Te Korowai does not have any political affiliations and will work alongside any government to progress the interests of Ngāruahine. Equally, Te Korowai have the responsibility of challenging any policies that conflict with the interests of Ngāruahine.

This position statement outlines the general and specific position of Te Korowai as informed by our purpose, strategy and policies – which can be found at can be found on our website www.ngaruahine.iwi.nz

General position

The new coalition government, led by National and including Act and NZ First, was formed based on the details in the respective coalition agreements. This policy agenda will have a detrimental impact on Māori and Ngāruahine.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi was between the Crown and Māori. Any interpretation of that has been reinforced to date through the Waitangi Tribunal, Treaty settlement legislation, general legislation and the judicial system. A crude unilateral statutory reform on the Treaty principles will have a detrimental impact on Māori, Iwi, and most pressingly to us, the rights of Ngāruahine uri, whānau, hapū and iwi.

Te Korowai has held a strong, effective and productive relationship with local government over the last three years. Te Korowai has committed to large impact investment projects into South Taranaki that will support local economic growth for the benefit of not only Ngāruahine, but the wider community. This impact investment includes; housing, civic development, tourism infrastructure and hapū development. The recent inclusion of Māori wards has further solidified our relationship with local authorities. We see our relationship with South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council and Taranaki Regional Council as successful examples of iwi/council relationships which will contribute to our people living in a thriving environment. The reintroduction of local referendum on Māori wards will have a negative impact on Te Korowai resourcing – impacting our capability and capacity to deliver on local investment.

We have a high level of cynicism and resentment from being used as a political football for subsequent governments, and no material health, social, environmental, or cultural improvements for our Iwi. We are concerned by the disproportionate level and targeting of Māori in the policy agenda which is focused on disestablishment and removal of our rights versus corrective solutions to the, widely agreed, disparities faced by Māori. This reductive approach does not serve Māori and does not serve Aotearoa. It is also contrary to the ‘productive’ and ‘administrative efficiency’ driven rhetoric espoused amongst the three coalition partners. Instead, the result is a continuation of toxic vitriol and anti-Māori sentiment.

Specific position

The policy agenda that negatively impact Māori include, but are not limited to:

• Te Aka Whai Ora. Māori Health Authority disestablishment.
• Examine the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS) and Otago equivalent to determine if they are delivering desired outcomes. 
• Repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 to remove the requirements for denicotinisation and the reduction in retail outlets.
• Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
• Remove co-governance from the delivery of public services.
• Restore the right to local referendum on the establishment or ongoing use of Māori wards, including requiring a referendum on any wards established without referendum at the next local body elections.
• Confirm that the Coalition Government does not recognise the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as having any binding legal effect on New Zealand.
• Amend section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area Act to make clear Parliament’s original intent, in light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) & Ors v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board & Ors [2023] NZCA 504.
• Amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of its inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of all legislation (except when it is related to, or substantive to, existing full and final Treaty settlements) that includes “The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi” and replace all such references with specific words relating to the relevance and application of the Treaty, or repeal the references.
• The policies on Te Reo and specifically the reversal of reo use in government departments and agencies and the removal of allowances for reo speakers.

11 Hakihea 2023