Calls to sack Treaty Negotiations Minister over land titling issues

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa (TToTW) is calling for the removal of Minister Paul Goldsmith as Treaty Negotiations Minister following the inclusion of six Department of Conservation (DOC) reserves in the Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana settlement claim.

The reserves in question, Mangaone, Panekirikiri, Tutaemaro, Waihi South, Waikareiti and Ruakituri Scenic Reserve, are proposed to be shifted to the Te Urewera Trust Board, raising concerns for TToTW about inter-iwi conflict and the potential creation of new Treaty grievances.

TToTW chairman Pieri Munro says the trust does not have faith in the minister’s ability to recognise centuries of heritage connected to the land.

Image: Chair of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust Pieri Munro. (Source: Te Ao Māori News)

“We’re not saying this is exclusive to us, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, we share common heritage, common whakapapa with Ruapani, these are non-exclusive areas that are what we call overlapping.”

Munro says the care of the land blocks is a responsibility that should be shared by iwi with ties to the whenua.

“We are wanting for those six reserve areas to come out of the settlement bill. We support Ngāti Ruapani in terms of the redress that they’re seeking as a part of this bill process. What we want is those six reserve blocks to come out and remain non-exclusive so that we can all share, as our tīpuna did, in terms of the ongoing kaitiakitanga.”

Watch the full news item here: https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/04/14/calls-to-sack-treaty-negotiations-minister-over-land-titling-issues/