Upper Whanganui River iwi Ngāti Hāua has elected one new trustee and re-elected three to its Treaty settlement entity.

Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust has been negotiating a settlement for historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, recently initialling a Deed of Settlement with the Crown.

The deed is now before iwi members for a formal ratification process.

Four trustee positions were vacant. Voters re-elected Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust chairman Graham “Tinka” Bell, Treaty negotiations manager Aaron Rice-Edwards and Brett Anderson, and elected new trustee Piki Taiaroa-Whatarangi.

They join fellow trustees Lois Tutemahurangi, Louise Wahapa and Joey Allen on the seven-member trust.

The trust says the seven members have “a huge task” ahead as they drive the ratification of the Ngāti Hāua settlement and then transition into the post-settlement phase, which will include establishing the new entity Te Whiringa Kākaho o Ngāti Hāua.

If the settlement is accepted by voters, Ngāti Hāua and the Crown will sign the Deed of Settlement next year in Taumarunui, triggering the start of the legislation process.

Ngāti Hāua, whose traditional lands extend north and west from Mt Ruapehu and include the upper reaches of the Whanganui River, has negotiated financial redress of $20.4 million and a $6m cultural revitalisation fund to support the return of cultural sites and initiatives in language, marae, and cultural heritage preservation.

To ratify the Deed of Settlement, eligible voters must accept the Deed and authorise the trustees to sign it on behalf of the iwi.

They are also voting on whether the proposed Te Whiringa Kākaho o Ngāti Hāua Trust will be the post-settlement governance entity (PSGE) for Ngāti Hāua to receive and manage the settlement redress.

The ratification period opened on Thursday, December 19. Registered iwi members have until February 7 to cast their votes.

Seven information hui will be held around the country to provide information about the proposed settlement, PSGE and wind-up of Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust.

The meetings will be held in mid to late January in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton), Tāmaki-makau-rau (Auckland), Rotorua, Taumarunui, Whanganui, Pōneke (Wellington) and Ōtautahi (Christchurch). There will also be an online hui.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.