The Maori King, King Tuheitia, made a speech at Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia yesterday, saying the Waikato-Tainui iwi had a claim to a large area of land in Auckland. The Prime Minister and other Ministers, were at Turangawaewae to listen to the speech. The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi negotiations, Chris Finlayson, agreed that the Waitangi Tribunal needs to hear the claim. It is likely other iwi will also make a claim to parts of Auckland. This could take a very long time.
This matter arose 5 weeks ago when the Housing Minister, Nick Smith, said some Crown-owned land in Auckland could be used for building new houses. However, it is possible that the land which he planned for housing is not owned by the Crown.
Turangawaewae is a very important marae. It means ‘standing place’ and is the centre of Maori King Movement, Te Kingitanga. Many famous people have visited there including Queen Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela.
Maori words
• iwi – tribe
• Ngaruawahia is in the Waikato, south of Auckland and north of Hamilton
• Waitangi – place where the treaty between Maori and Queen Victoria was signed in 1840.
• marae – meeting house
• Te Kingitangi – the group which is headed by King Tuheitia
Other words
• claim – of ownership
• negotiations – each side (Waikato-Tainui and the Crown) gives their point of view
• Tribunal – a law court which listens to both sides
• The Crown – government