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A Te Rarawa Primer on the
WAI 262 Flora and Fauna ClaimWhat is the WAI 262 claim about?
The basic aspiration of the claim has often been coined by the phraseMori control over things Mori. The claim essentially seeks to re
store tino rangatiratanga (Mori authority and selfdetermination) of
the whnau, hap and iwi of Aotearoa over our taonga (those things
and values which we treasure, both intangible and tangible).
How did the claim get started?
The WAI 262 claim began in the 1960s and 70s, when a group of Mori
rights activists challenged the Crown about some of the policies and
laws that were taking away Mori control over our taonga.
In October 1991, Saana Murray (Ngti Kuri), Del Wihongi (Te Rarawa),
John Hippolite (Ngti Kata), Tama Poata (TeWhanauoRuataupare),
and Witi McMath (Ngti Wai) with the assistance of lawyer Moana
Jackson (Ngti Kahungunu) lodged the WAI 262 Native Flora and FaunaClaim with the Waitangi Tribunal.
Te Rarawa WAI 262 Taumata Contact: Rachel Witana, [email protected]
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What taonga and issues does the claim cover?
The claim seeks the restoration of Mori control over, and effective
Crown recognition and protection of:
A range of indigenous bio diversity, plant and animal species suchas:
Harakeke (flax), pingao (also known as golden sand sedge)
and kiekie (or Freycinetia banksii of the screw pine family)
all traditionally used for weaving;
at least 9 varieties of kumara (sweet potato);
pohutukawa (also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree),
koromiko (of the hebe family), and puawananga (of the genusclematis, also known as flower of the skies);
manuka (or tea tree - now valued by the honey industry,
especially for its internationally-recognised medicinal proper-
ties);
tuatara (the Rhynchocephalia lizard);
kereru/ kukupa (wood pigeon) and kuaka (bar-tailed godwit);
pupu harakeke (flax snail);
Mtauranga Mori (traditional Mori knowledge) associated with
those plant and animal species and with Mori cultural values gen
erally, including:
language, science and technology, laws, history, systems of
property and value exchange, and rituals and ceremonies;
art and forms of expression such as weaving, carving, t moko,haka and whaikrerero;
Mori cultural values, such as whanaungatanga (kinship) and
kaitiakitanga (guardianship or stewardship), which help to
regulate the intimate relationships and responsibilities be-
tween whnau, hap and iwi and the natural world.
The claim also seeks effective Crown recognition of Mori tinorangatiratanga through (amongst other things) influence over the
decisions and actions of Ministers and Government Agencies, policy
and law making.
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Where is the WAI 262claimat now?
Aftertheclaim waslodgedin 1991, itwas amendedin 1993toinclude
international law matters such as the impact of international Trade
Agreements (like the Gatt:Trips Agreement), Intellectual Property
Rights(e.g. how Copyrights,Trademarks and Patents overtaongaaffect
Moricontrol over the same), and NewZealand compliance withinter
nationally-recognisedIndigenous Peoples Rights.
In 1997, the first Waitangi Tribunal hearing was held at Motuti, inthe
Far North. It took to 2003to hearalltheclaimant evidencearoundthe
motu, and it wasnt until 2011 that the Waitangi Tribunal finally re-leased its report, titledKoAotearoa Tnei (This isAotearoa or This
is NewZealand). Bythis time, Saana Murray of Ngti Kuri was the only
remainingclaimant alive. Sadly,Saana passed awaylater that same year.
With all the sixoriginal named iwi claimantsgone, itleft their respective
whnau, hap and iwi to decide how they wish the claim to be pro
gressed. Te Rarawa decided in 2012 to mandate Mereana Robinson,Rachel Witana,andMargaret Tito (sistersof original Te Rarawa claimant
Del Wihongi); Haami Piripi (Rnanga o Te Rarawa Chairperson) and
Catherine Davis(Rnanga oTe RarawaTrustee) asTeRarawarepresent
ativesfortheclaim.
Roma Marae, Ahipara, Release of the Wai 262 Report, Ko Aotearoa Tnei
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So what has the Wai 262 claim got to do with me?
Environmental health; responsible management of our fisheries, forests
and other natural resources; the quality of our freshwater lakes, riversand aquifers; oil and mineral extraction in our lands and oceans; genetic
modification of life forms all these issues and more AFFECT YOU, your
whnau and your community.
To ensure our tamariki mokopuna have an Aotearoa that they can thrive
in requires that we must protect what is important to us. By advocating
for a fair and comprehensive resolution of WAI 262 claim issues, we canachieve that for Mori and for all New Zealanders. So stay tuned on how
you can help to make it happen:
Te Rarawa Tiaki Taonga facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/240499669312666/?fref=ts
WAI 262 Claim information website:
http://wai262.weebly.com/index.html
Waitangi Tribunal website (contains links to downloadable copies of the
2011 WAI 262 report, report summaries and media statements):
http://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/waitangi-
tribunal/inquiries/generic-inquiries/flora-and-fauna
The Te Rarawa WAI 262 Taumata
acknowledges the support of Te Rnanga o
Te Rarawa for the production of this flier
Te Rarawa WAI 262 Taumata Contact: Rachel Witana, [email protected]
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