<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12px"><em>Left to Right - Dennis <span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-size:12px">Timoti</span></span>, Gill Potaka-Osborne, </em></span><em><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-size:12px">Tamati</span></span></em><span style="font-size:12px"><em> Potaka, Stacey Ranginui (front), Sonja Loveridge,&nbsp;Rachel Brown, Melody Potaka-Osborne</em></span></p>

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<p>A third set of preliminary hearings into Taihape area land claims was held at R&#257;t&#257; Marae on Monday, 12 September 2016 and Whakauae was there in support - in the kitchen, on the ground taking photos and listening to the k&#333;rero during the tribunal visit to R&#257;t&#257; Marae.</p>

<p>Ng&#257; K&#333;rero Tuku Iho hearings are the earliest of Waitangi Tribunal hearings, to determine the area under consideration, the iwi and hap&#363; resident there and their origins. The term &ldquo;Ng&#257; K&#333;rero Tuku Iho&rdquo; refers to the reconfiguring of oral history and oral traditions, knowledge that has been passed down by t&#363;puna and spoken histories. The Ng&#257; K&#333;rero Tuku Iho hearing are more about outlining who a people are, than about &nbsp;discussing any grievances the people have with the Crown.</p>

<p>The hearings were a four-day event, ending at Moawhango Marae near Taihape. The M&#333;kai P&#257;tea Waitangi Claims Trust represents four iwi in the area, Ng&#257;i Te Ohuake, Ng&#257;ti Hauiti, Ng&#257;ti Tamak&#333;piri and Ng&#257;ti Whitikaupeka.</p>

<p>The official claim number is Wai 2180, which covers the area from the summit of the Desert Road down to R&#257;t&#257;, and the summit of the Ruahine Range to west of Taihape township. It is one of the last claims left to settle in the country.</p>

<p>While our time in support of Ng&#257;ti Hauiti in the kitchen was hard work, it was very rewarding in terms of &ldquo;team building&rdquo; and supporting our Ng&#257;ti Hauiti wh&#257;nau, the confederation of M&#333;kai P&#257;tea and the important work of the tribunal.</p>

<p>Dr Boulton noted the wealth of knowledge that is held by the leaders from M&#333;kai P&#257;tea, which was shared both with the Crown and the people of M&#333;kai P&#257;tea who were able to attend part or all of the hearings.&nbsp; &ldquo;We deal with research data and information on a daily basis, and know the importance of having precise information at our fingertips. Those members of iwi who presented at the hearings demonstrated their phenomenal research skills and expertise, conveying clearly and precisely oral histories, traditions and whakapapa lines which they have learned, investigated and synthesised over many years. Personally I found it both a humbling and an uplifting experience to be reminded in such a unique setting, of the importance of knowing our history and tikanga as M&#257;ori. I am sure as we move into the next phase of the treaty settlements process we will further reflect on our traditions, histories and whakapapa, and the direct relevance these still have for our aspirations as M&#257;ori today and into the future.&rdquo;</p>
