Introduction
The Wellington Tenths and Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trusts have been established since 1839 and 1866 respectively. The Wellington Tenths and Palmerston Maori Reserve Trusts administer the Reserved Lands on behalf of the land owners and have pursued Waitangi Tribunal claims on behalf of nga iwi o Taranaki mai Te Upoko o te Ika since 1987.
The Trusts are known as ‘Sister Trusts’ because they emanate from the same parents, that being the land and waters at Te Whanganui o Tara. Both Trusts are comprised of etehi o nga hapu/iwi o Taranaki who are mana whenua at Te Whanganui a Tara. This, along with the terms of land exchange that created the Palmerston North Maori Reserve, shows how closely the Trusts are ‘related’ with many owners succeeding to both Trusts. It is important to have an understanding of the ‘whakapapa’ of the Trusts in order to understand the closeness of the relationship they share.
Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust
This Trust originated through an act of the Crown in 1866. Governor Grey exchanged Te Ati Awa land interests in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt with a block of land which is now part of central Palmerston North. He purchased Lowry Bay section 1 in May 1863 and section 4 a year later. The sale proceeds – 450 pounds – was paid into the Native Trust account. In 1866-67, during Grey’s tenure as governor, the Palmerston North Reserve lands (18 sections) were bought to replace the Hutt Valley land using funds from the Native Trust account. All this was done without consultation with mana whenua. The Palmerston North Maori Reserve was established to administer this land on behalf of the 22 affected whanau. Today there are 828 beneficial owners registered at the Maori Land Court, descending from those whanau.
The original reserve was around 70 acres but today it is approximately 36 acres. The loss of acres was due to Crown acquisitions and was a key part of the Wai 145 claim in the Waitangi Tribunal’s Te Whanganui a Tara me ona Takiwa Report on the Wellington District.
In a consensus decision by the beneficial Maori owners, New Zealand Guardian Trust was appointed as Custodian Trustee (required under the Maori Reserved Lands legislation) along with a group of Advisory Trustees. The Advisory Trustees became Managing Trustees in 1987, 20 years later in 2007, Trustees assumed full management - no longer requiring Custodial Trustee.
The Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust is an Ahu Whenua Trust constituted by the Maori Land Court under section 244 of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993. Managing Trustees have a statutory duty to represent and preserve the interests of beneficial owners.
Palmerston North Maori Reserve trustees and owners acknowledge Rangitaane as mana whenua in Manawatu.
Introduction
The Wellington Tenths and Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trusts have been established since 1839 and 1866 respectively. The Wellington Tenths and Palmerston Maori Reserve Trusts administer the Reserved Lands on behalf of the land owners and have pursued Waitangi Tribunal claims on behalf of nga iwi o Taranaki mai Te Upoko o te Ika since 1987.
The Trusts are known as ‘Sister Trusts’ because they emanate from the same parents, that being the land and waters at Te Whanganui o Tara. Both Trusts are comprised of etehi o nga hapu/iwi o Taranaki who are mana whenua at Te Whanganui a Tara. This, along with the terms of land exchange that created the Palmerston North Maori Reserve, shows how closely the Trusts are ‘related’ with many owners succeeding to both Trusts. It is important to have an understanding of the ‘whakapapa’ of the Trusts in order to understand the closeness of the relationship they share.
Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust
This Trust originated through an act of the Crown in 1866. Governor Grey exchanged Te Ati Awa land interests in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt with a block of land which is now part of central Palmerston North. He purchased Lowry Bay section 1 in May 1863 and section 4 a year later. The sale proceeds – 450 pounds – was paid into the Native Trust account. In 1866-67, during Grey’s tenure as governor, the Palmerston North Reserve lands (18 sections) were bought to replace the Hutt Valley land using funds from the Native Trust account. All this was done without consultation with mana whenua. The Palmerston North Maori Reserve was established to administer this land on behalf of the 22 affected whanau. Today there are 828 beneficial owners registered at the Maori Land Court, descending from those whanau.
The original reserve was around 70 acres but today it is approximately 36 acres. The loss of acres was due to Crown acquisitions and was a key part of the Wai 145 claim in the Waitangi Tribunal’s Te Whanganui a Tara me ona Takiwa Report on the Wellington District.
In a consensus decision by the beneficial Maori owners, New Zealand Guardian Trust was appointed as Custodian Trustee (required under the Maori Reserved Lands legislation) along with a group of Advisory Trustees. The Advisory Trustees became Managing Trustees in 1987, 20 years later in 2007, Trustees assumed full management - no longer requiring Custodial Trustee.
The Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust is an Ahu Whenua Trust constituted by the Maori Land Court under section 244 of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993. Managing Trustees have a statutory duty to represent and preserve the interests of beneficial owners.
Palmerston North Maori Reserve trustees and owners acknowledge Rangitaane as mana whenua in Manawatu.