As we are on our Treaty settlement hīkoi, the Komiti Nui team want to share two stories that give us a better understanding of what this process can look like. These reflections are shared to spark kōrero, whakaaro, and to help us walk forward together with clarity and purpose.

When systems weren’t built for us

A recent article by Mark Feary, “Why the system will never truly serve us”, reminds us that many government systems in Aotearoa were not built with Māori in mind. They were designed around how Pākehā do things, which means that even good intentions don’t always work for our whānau.

For Ngāti Whakaue, this raises an important question: as we undergo our settlement hīkoi with the Crown, are we just following their system, or are we helping to shape it so it works for us? We need to make sure we are guiding the process, not just going along with it.

Staying strong together

The second story, “Between cohesion and collapse” by Sacha McMeeking, talks about how Māori groups and organisations often go through times of strong unity, and other times when disagreements or tension can pull people apart.

McMeeking says that every movement needs two kinds of energy: one that pushes for big change, and one that makes sure that change can actually happen in a practical, organised way. Both are important, but they need to work together. If the balance isn’t managed, rōpū can fall apart or get stuck.

For Ngāti Whakaue, this is a reminder that as we go through the settlement process, we need to create ways of making decisions and working together that can handle differences, keep whānau connected, and make sure our ideas can become reality.

Looking ahead together

In light of these stories, the Komiti Nui team invites our whānau to think and kōrero together:

• How do we want the settlement to shape not just outcomes like assets or redress, but also how decisions are made and how we work together?
• How will we make sure our voices are central in the process, not just consulted?
• What values of Ngāti Whakaue must guide this journey—not just at the finish line, but throughout the process?

We are living the kaupapa of tino rangatiratanga: being descendants who know our worth and chart our future. This settlement moment is for Ngāti Whakaue to lead, design, shape, and author our story.

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