Seventeenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

This study analyzes why after eleven years of seeking a mandate, Ngāpuhi refused to accept an evolved mandate. The evolved mandate was developed and voted on by Ngāpuhi after eight months of meetings throughout New Zealand and Australia in November 2018, to take the Crown to task for its deliberate acts of aggression, the illegal acquisition of lands, properties and policies that adversely affected Ngāpuhi since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) 06 February 1840. Ngāpuhi is the largest Iwi (Māori Nation) with an approximate 150,000 population. Approximate Māori population is 20% of the 4.5 million New Zealand population. The Ngāpuhi territory is in the mid north of the North Island being the most deprived area of the country having high unemployment, low health and educational outcomes, with little infrastructure to support industry and employment growth. Despite endeavours of the coalition government of Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens, to help Ngāpuhi prepare for negotiations, this did not occur. Notwithstanding the deficit situation and conditions in Ngāpuhi, the evolved mandate wasn’t accepted. The mandating process began in 2008 under the National Government. They recognised the Tūhoronuku Mandate in February 2014 allowing the negotiations process to be entrained. The mandate was challenged by fifteen Hapū in the Waitangi Tribunal which put a hold on everything until its report in late 2015. The next two years was a state of flux until the elections in September 2017 which heralded in a new government.