FAQs

Along with an agreed historical account, Crown acknowledgements and an apology, the Moriori settlement package included:

Financial & Commercial

• $18 million
• Right to purchase the following two properties:
  – 4 Meteorological Lane, Waitangi, Chatham Island
  – Highet Place, Waitangi, Chatham Island

Cultural Redress

• Vested Lands
  – Ōwenga Property
  – Te Awanui
  – Waihere Block
  – Glory Block
  – Glory Housing Property
  – Waipāua Coastal Property
  – Waipāua Property
  – Rangiauria Property

• Overlay Classifications
  – Waikokopu (Canister Cove) Scenic Reserve & Waipāua Scenic Reserve
  – Mangere Island Nature Reserve
  – Part Wharekauri Site 100 (eastern part)
  – Rangatira Nature Reserve
  – Wharekauri Site 102
  – Manauea (Ocean Mail) Scenic Reserve

Moriori have also been granted statutory acknowledgements and deeds of recognition over various other sites (refer to the Deed of Settlement).

All Moriori, registered or not registered, and regardless of location.

No, there is still the overlapping claims and shared redress to negotiate with the Crown and Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust.  However, the substantial part of our settlement has been concluded.  The Moriori Claims Settlement Act 2021, which gives effect to the settlement, was passed into law on 23 November 2021 and came into effect in February 2022.  This settlement (once concluded) represents the full and final resolution of all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims by Moriori.  It includes an apology, cultural redress, financial redress, shared redress (ongoing negotiation with Crown) and formal Crown acknowledgments of historical injustices against Moriori. 

The settlement legislation requires an independent and accountable entity to hold and manage the settlement assets. MIST serves as the legal post-settlement governance entity (PSGE) responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the settlement.

By operating as a separate entity, MIST provides a protective structure that ensures settlement assets are preserved for the benefit of all descendants of Moriori karāpuna, no matter where they live. This separation helps MIST remain dedicated to managing settlement redress while allowing other organisations or entities to focus on cultural, social, or economic initiatives.

The MIST Trustees are the current settlement negotiators, and they have been instrumental in securing, implementing and protecting the Moriori Treaty Settlement to date.

To ensure continuity of knowledge and preserve the integrity of the settlement, MIST Trustees are committed to engaging with the wider Moriori Imi to provide updates and ensure transparency around settlement related matters. They are also dedicated to sharing their expertise and insights when new trustees are appointed.

• Members will have input into what is to happen with the settlement pūtea and how the settlement monies are to be spent and/or invested.
• The Historical Account set out in the Settlement Act provides statutory recognition of Moriori identity and culture for all time.
• The recognition of Moriori rights and the opportunity to have a voice in government decisions, especially those related to cultural preservation, environmental care, and resource management. This empowers Moriori to actively engage in shaping policies that directly affect hūnau, ensuring that traditional knowledge and practices are respected and integrated into governance frameworks.
• The settlement provides resources to support the preservation and revitalisation of Moriori language, traditions, and cultural heritage, ensuring that these vital aspects of identity are passed down to future generations.
• Financial compensation from the settlement opens opportunities for economic development, allowing Moriori to invest in projects, create new economic ventures, and promote long-term financial sustainability.
• The settlement includes the return of henu (including major land areas on Rangihaute/Pitt Island) and access to natural resources, strengthening Moriori connections to ancestral henu and moana.
• The settlement allows greater public awareness of Moriori history and identity, providing an opportunity for healing, reconciliation and understanding of our unique experiences.

Our annual plan and five year plan are in development and will be posted on our website and available at our upcoming hui for review and discussion.

We acknowledge that communication and membership involvement are important. However, there was no formal membership in place to engage with.

Now that our membership is established, we are committed to strengthening communication and ensuring greater involvement with our hūnau.

We are committed to fostering greater member involvement and ensuring everyone has a voice in MIST matters. Membership meetings will be held, providing opportunities to discuss key issues and share updates. Members will also receive meeting agendas in advance to help with preparation and engagement.

We encourage members to participate actively by attending meetings, contributing to discussions, and providing feedback on MIST activities. We are open to exploring ways to improve communication, such as more frequent updates and alternative channels for members to share their thoughts and concerns.

We are in the process of organising meetings for our membership this year. Once dates and venues are finalised, we will provide all members with sufficient notice and an agenda in advance of these meetings, giving members the opportunity to prepare and fully engage in the discussions.

Trustee elections will be held in 2025 – date and venue to be confirmed.

The original Trustees were the four original negotiators plus one other HMT Trustee.

The election process was delayed due to the complexities surrounding the sharing of the membership database from HMT to MIST. Now we have a membership, we are organising the necessary steps to hold elections. We are committed to ensuring that the election process aligns with the Deed moving forward and that all members have an opportunity to fully participate.

This process will be handled by an independent expert election services company and voting will be carried out online and by post.

The settlement funds have primarily been used to set up the Trust and establish its operations, ensuring MIST is well structured and capable of delivering long term benefits to Moriori. We have been diligent in preserving the principal funds, which are currently held in bank term deposits, and have only utilised the interest earned from those deposits to cover operational expenses and essential Trust activities to date.

Setting up the Trust has been a lengthy process due to the complexities involved, but our focus has always been on careful financial management to safeguard the funds and ensure sustainable growth. Detailed financial reports will be provided at upcoming meetings to offer further transparency and insight into our financial management.

We will be ensuring full consultation with Imi to implement investment strategies into the future.

Without detracting from the years of effort and incredible amount of work it took to achieve our settlement, we have not been sitting idly in the background since. A huge amount of groundwork been taking place since 2022, including (but not limited to):

• Ongoing settlement negotiations with the Crown.
• Protecting our Treaty Settlement by challenging aspects of the Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Agreement in Principle that impact Moriori rights and history.
• Negotiations re shared redress with Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, including Tikitiki Hill Conservation Area and the White House, Te Whanga Lagoon, Sites 110-114 ex Wharekauri Station.
• Recruitment of Operations Manager and Board Secretary.
• Strengthening governance structures and polices to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Engagement with Hokotehi Moriori Trust to promote a united voice for all Moriori.
• Advocating for the recently discovered waka miheke, and other Moriori miheke.
• Working closely with Te Papa Atawhai – Department of Conservation regarding species protection, co-management arrangements for settlement sites and conservation efforts.
• Liaising/establishing relationships with other Treaty Partners, including Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Pouhere Taonga – Heritage New Zealand, Land Information New Zealand, Ministry of Education, local Council, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Development, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, Environmental Protection Agency, Tertiary Education Commission.
• Engagement with the local Rangihaute community – establishing the Rangihaute Land Trust, undertaking an archaeological assessment of culturally significant wāhi tchap’ sites and other initiatives on-island to build capacity and protect and regenerate the henu, environment, wildlife, sea life and way of life.
• Preparing nomination for the World Future Council World Future Policy Peace Awards 2024, for which Moriori won the award.
• Development of Wāhi Tchap’ and Imi Management Plans (in progress).
• Seeking funding from various agencies to assist with our settlement responsibilities.
• Establishing productive relationships with financial and statutory institutions (e.g. banks, accountants, auditors, insurers, financial advisors, Charities Services, IRD etc).
• Renovating one of our settlement properties with the intention to lease it out (with two other properties still to renovate in future).
• Financial assistance for members to attend High Court hearing in November 2023 and HMT AGM on Island also in November 2023.
• Developing our website and social media platforms, and a series of webinars to come.
• Establishing our membership database.
• Development of short and long-term strategic plans.
• Organisation of Hui-ā-Imi to be held 2025.
• Collaborating with research institutions to support traditional knowledge alongside modern science.
• Media engagement as/when required.
• Consultation regarding proposed law changes.
• Development of various protocols (e.g. marine mammals, cultural harvest), Crown minerals, primary industries etc).
• Development of administrative and management systems, policies and processes.

https://whakatau.govt.nz/te-tira-kurapounamu-treaty-settlements/find-a-treaty-settlement/moriori#Moriori_DOS_doc

https://www.register.charities.govt.nz/Charity/CC57749

Stay updated by checking our website and following our social media platforms.

If you were already enrolled with Hokotehi Moriori Trust as at 18 December 2024, your membership will have already been transferred to MIST. However, if any of your hūnau are not yet registered, they can complete the MIST registration process directly on our website. Simply visit the registration page, fill out the required details, and submit the form. If you need assistance with registration, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Please note children of adult registered members of MIST will automatically become adult registered members themselves once they reach 18 years of age.

Yes. If you wish to opt out please contact office@moriori-imi-trust.nz.