About MIST

The Moriori Imi Settlement Trust (MIST) is a Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE), established in 2018 to receive and manage the settlement redress outlined in the Moriori Deed of Settlement resulting from repeated breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by the Crown. Some of these breaches included failure to protect Moriori who had been subjected to slavery; failure to recognise and protect Moriori land rights rendering Moriori virtually landless by the late 1800s; failure to protect Moriori language and culture, collection and trade of kōimi t’chakat (human remains); and the Crown’s contribution to stigmatising Moriori as an inferior and extinct race.

In 2003, the Crown first recognised the mandate of Hokotehi Moriori Trust (HMT) to represent Moriori in comprehensive historical Treaty settlement negotiations. However, the Crown required a separate, independent entity to receive and administer the settlement. As a result, HMT established MIST to manage the settlement on behalf of Moriori. At the same time, Moriori agreed to transfer the mandate to finalise Treaty settlement negotiations from HMT to MIST. The Agreement in Principle was signed in August 2017 and final settlement date was 16 February 2022.