E te whānau, he pānui tēnei mō tō tātou haerenga ki te whakataunga.
On 5 November, our Claims Settlement Bill had its first reading in Parliament, marking an important step toward finally closing one of the longest and hardest chapters in our history.
The next part of the process is the Select Committee stage, where the Māori Affairs Select Committee will receive and consider submissions from our people and the wider public.
We know many of you carry mixed feelings about the name used in the legislation, Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu.
Some have shared their mamae that this name does not reflect our true whakapapa, and that the inclusion of “Rāhiri” links us to a tūpuna who is not from our line.
We also acknowledge those who identify with Rāhiri, who feel hurt that our Post-Settlement Governance Entity carries the name Ngāti Tumutumu Trust.
Both kōrero are real.
Both hold whakapapa and wairua.
And the naming arrangement was a compromise made in 2017 during negotiations led by the Treaty Settlements Committee of that time.
With the Bill now before the Select Committee, every member of our whānau has the opportunity to have your say — whether you support the Bill as it is, wish to suggest changes, or want to share your personal or whānau perspective.
If you want to submit on any part of the settlement — including the naming issue, the redress, or our relationship to Te Aroha maunga — you are encouraged to do so.
Submissions are open now and close at 11.59pm on 3 December 2025.
The Māori Affairs Committee is considering travelling to our rohe to hear submissions kanohi ki te kanohi, date is to be confirmed, mid December has been proposed, we will update once confirmed.
Submissions can be made in te reo Māori or in English.
You can read the Bill and make your submission in the below links:
Press release: Have your say on the Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu Claims Settlement Bill - New Zealand Parliament.
Make your submission HERE
This is a significant moment in our haerenga.
Your voice matters.
Your kōrero matters.
And this is the time to share it.
He iwi tū kotahi tātou i roto i tēnei kaupapa.
