The Kiingitanga and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have released a joint statement of clarification over who has status and rights over territory in Auckland.
The statement acknowledges their historically "positive whanaungatanga" and reaffirms Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's "ahi kaa and tangata whenua status".
"The Kiingitanga is not seeking to usurp the tangata whenua status of Ngaati Whaatua Ooraakei in central Auckland," it reads.
"Both the Kiingitanga and Ngaati Whaatua Ooraakei have committed to a series of hui to clarify the connections of the Kiingitanga to central Auckland and the connections of Ngaati Whaatua to the Waikato."
The unusual announcement comes nine months after a fiery exchange took place during the pōwhiri for Te Matatini, Aotearoa New Zealand's premiere kapa haka national competition, held in Auckland earlier this year.
The two-neighbouring iwi — Waikato-based Tainui, where the seat of the Kiingitanga lies, and Ngāti Whātua in Auckland — each sought to establish their right over a part of the city in a verbal battle that ended in haka.
The exchange played out in front of thousands of people and created a stir among Māori with many respecting each iwi for their stance and the way in which they aired their disagreement during the ceremony in accordance with tikanga.
Now it seems as if the two have reached an amicable resolution.
It comes as a special commemoration event is set to be held atop Pukekawa, also known as the Auckland Domain, marking the 165th year of the coronation of the first Māori king Pootatau Te Wherowhero and the Kiingitanga movement.
Before he was crowned king, Pootatau vowed to defend the settlement of Auckland when it was under threat of attack. A cottage in the Auckland Domain was built for him where he once lived.
The domain was part of a 3,000-acre block of land gifted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei ancestor Apihai Te Kawau to the Crown to establish Auckland City in 1840.
Note: The use of double vowels in this article reflects what was written in a statement sent by the Kiingitanga where they use double vowels (aa, ee, ii, oo, uu) in place of macronised vowels (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū).
Glossary
Kiingitanga – name of the Māori King movement
ahi kaa/kā – continuous occupation
tangata whenua – local iwi authority
whanaungatanga – relationship, kinship
pōwhiri – welcoming ceremony
Te Matatini – name of the national kapa haka competition
Iwi – tribe
tikanga – custom, protocol
Pukekawa – Auckland Domain
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