Call To Replace Minister Goldsmith Over Te Urewera Land Decision – Tatau Tatau o Te Wairoa

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust (TToTW) is calling for the immediate removal of Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith from oversight of negotiations affecting Wairoa iwi, following a Crown decision to transfer six Department of Conservation reserves to the Te Urewera Board.

The transfer is proposed under the Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana settlement legislation, which is currently before the Māori Affairs Select Committee.

TToTW warns the decision risks environmental decline, inter-iwi conflict, and the creation of new Treaty grievances.

The proposal would shift six reserves – Mangaone, Panekirikiri, Tutaemaro, Waihi South, Waikareiti, and Ruakituri Scenic Reserve – into Te Urewera. The Trust says this places control, in practice, with Ngāi Tūhoe, despite overlapping customary interests from other iwi and hapū.

Chairman Pieri Munro says the decision disregards the rights and longstanding connections of Wairoa iwi.

“These lands remain central to our whakapapa and ongoing use. Our people maintain active relationships with this whenua, and that must be recognised,” he says.

The Trust also points to a 2024 report by the Office of the Auditor-General, which found Te Urewera is not effectively managing its current estate and highlighted ongoing funding and delivery challenges.

The report also warns that failing to deliver settlement commitments as intended creates litigation risk, noting the Crown has previously paid tens of millions in compensation for significant settlement failures. It further warns that when commitments are not upheld, settlements risk no longer being seen as “full and final”, undermining trust and confidence in the process.

TToTW also points to governance concerns, noting that Te Urewera Board composition shifts to a Tūhoe-appointed majority and a Tūhoe chair in perpetuity, raising questions about legitimacy where overlapping interests exist.

Munro says the Crown’s approach undermines the purpose of Treaty settlements.

“Settlements are meant to resolve grievances, not create new ones. Concentrating control of contested land in a single iwi entity will inevitably marginalise others and lead to further claims.”

The Trust warns the decision could trigger litigation, protest action, and long-term instability, particularly where overlapping interests remain unresolved.

TToTW has been in discussions with the Crown since April 2025 regarding the future of the six reserves. However, Munro says those efforts have failed to produce a workable outcome.

“We have failed to make any progress on gaining the outcome we desire, despite repeated correspondence with Minister Goldsmith. His solution for these lands is for us to cede control to the Te Urewera Trust Board, giving us no say over their management. We have repeatedly explained to him this is an unacceptable decision, and we want to continue managing our whenua with the Department of Conservation.”

TToTW says it has lost confidence in Minister Goldsmith and has formally written to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, urging the appointment of a replacement with stronger understanding of Te Ao Māori and Treaty dynamics to provide effective oversight of negotiations affecting Wairoa iwi.

“An intellectually curious Minister would question whether longstanding connection to the whenua results in conservation competence. Minister Goldsmith has demonstrated neither the understanding of Te Ao Māori nor the intellectual curiosity to give us any faith in him even considering our position, and why we have reached it.”

Munro says there are a number of current Members of Parliament with ministerial or governance experience who could provide alternative oversight, including Tama Potaka, Winston Peters, Shane Jones, Casey Costello, Nicole McKee, or David MacLeod.

“Only a change in leadership will restore confidence that our concerns are being fairly considered,” he says.

Public submissions on the Bill close at 11:59pm on Friday, 10 April 2026.

TToTW says this is the last opportunity to prevent the decision from being finalised and has signaled it is prepared to escalate the issue nationally if its concerns are not addressed.

“With an election approaching, we are prepared to ensure this becomes a national issue – politically and financially – if necessary. We have exhausted all constructive avenues under the current Minister,” Munro says.