Guardianship over Ngāti Whātua land, air and sea

Kaitiaki is the ethics and practise of safeguarding and conserving the natural environment and the resources on which our uri rely on. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua have an obligation to care for the lands and waters to which they whakapapa.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE STATUS OF THE BED OF THE HOTEO RIVER

The trustees of the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua have applied to the Māori Land Court at Whangārei for an order that the bed of the Hōteo River is Māori customary land.

Ngāti Manuhiri seeks an order that the bed of the Hōteo River upstream of the Tarakihi Falls is held by the Crown for the people of Ngāti Manuhiri.

Ngāti Whātua seeks an order that the bed of the Hōteo River from its mouth at the end of the area claimed by Ngāti Whātua under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 in the Kaipara Harbour, to its headwaters northeast of Wellsford, is held by the Crown for the people of Ngāti Whātua.

The Māori Land Court will determine whether the bed of the Hōteo River is Māori customary land and if it is, from whom that customary land is held.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the applications, you should contact the Māori Land Court, 3rd floor, Manaia House, Rathborne Street, Whangārei, Ph (09) 983 9940, ref A20200013952, A20210006411. If you wish to appear or be heard on these applications, you must file a notice of intention to appear no later than 17 February 2023 per rule 5.9 of the Māori Land Court Rules 2011.

In this section