How was the "Workgroup" established?

In February 2014 the Maori Land Court called a meeting of owners in Christchurch to formalise the ownership transfer of the Hawea-Wanaka block from the Crown to the beneficial owners.

At this meeting a number of owners expressed concern that their had not been sufficient information presented to the beneficial owners nor was their fair representation of the beneficial owners to make a qualified decision.

The Maori Land Courts decided to appoint a "workgroup" to work on behalf of the owners to investigate and report future ownership options.

​

The Workgroup includes:

Alison Foot, Theo Bunker, Jo Mclean, Mike Beresford, Phil Tikao, Jymal Morgan, Mandy Home and Graeme Page.

Others involved:

Tracey Black - Office of Treaty Settlement (Holds Land)

Carol Smith - Maori Land Court (Owner identification and court hearings)

Tim Rochford and Erin Keenan - Te Puna Korkori (Funding)

Ranui Calman (Legal Advice)  - Greenwood Roche 

​

Key Role

To provide the owners with information to support two key decisions

1. What category the land should be designated.

2. What entity would receive ownership.

Before these decisions can be made the owners need to decide what they would like to do with the property so that the above 2 decisions align with the owners wishes. This is explained in more detail on the Options page.

​

Due Diligence

The "workgroup" have been investigating:

Land values, zoning, forestry values, land access, health and safety, tax implications, carbon credits and development opportunities.