The History of the Pouakani Trust

On 18 March 1982 Pouakani C1B1 and C1B2 blocks were vested in 6 Trustees to form a Trust known as Titiraupenga Trust – the Trustees were John Paki (Chairman) Kara Rotarangi, Tauhopa Hepi, Edward (Rocky) Bevan and Mike Pitiroi and Morehu Rangitoheriri.

• 1987 Titiraupenga Trust filed the Pouakani People’s claim in the Waitangi Tribunal (Wai 33). It was filed on behalf of the trustees and beneficial owners of the lands in Titiraupenga and Pouakani B9B Trusts, where compensation was sought for the Pouakani People’s grievances.

• 1989 The Waitangi Tribunal heard the Pouakani People’s claim at Te Papa o te Aroha Marae at Tokoroa in May and October. From here, the Waitangi Tribunal would issue a report on their findings.

• 1993-1997 The Pouakani Report was released by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1993 (more detail about the Tribunal’s findings can be found on our website). From there, some of the findings were taken to the Māori Land Court to be heard. In 1996 The Māori Land Court decided that there was in fact reason to negotiate some elements of what the Pouakani People claimed were breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi.

• 1997 In December, the Government accepted the Pouakani Deed of Mandate which authorised Pouakani negotiators to enter into negotiations with the Crown. The negotiation would be a for full and final settlement of the Pouakani People’s historical claims.

• 1997-1999 Negotiations were undertaken over this period and on 19 November 1999, the Pouakani People and the Crown finally reached settlement (see website for copy of Deed of Settlement).
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• 2000 On 29 April at a hui at Te Rangiita Marae, Taupo the Pouakani People resolved to establish a charitable trust to hold, administer and distribute assets received for the benefit of the Pouakani People within New Zealand. The trust was named Te Putahitanga o Nga Are Trust, the name being given by late renowned kaumatua Phillip Crown.

• 2012 Te Putahitanga o Nga Are Trust decided to be renamed as Pouakani Trust, in honour of the original Pouakani Block, the Pouakani People and the journey that had been taken thus far.