Chief Tupai, 84, aka Amato Patira Hoani Tohu Kake Akarana-Rewi, aka Dan Davis, in his Otara, Auckland, home office holding his wallet displaying the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. Photo / Michael Craig
Chief Tupai, 84, aka Amato Patira Hoani Tohu Kake Akarana-Rewi, aka Dan Davis, in his Otara, Auckland, home office holding his wallet displaying the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. Photo / Michael Craig
A Maori expert has rubbished claims of an independent Maori jurisdiction within New Zealand by a self-proclaimed chief who is selling Aotearoa citizenship certificates to overstayers.
New Zealand Police yesterday effectively gave convicted scammer Amato Akarana-Rewi, 84, the green light to carry on selling the fake certificates, saying no action will be taken unless it receives a formal complaint from those affected.
Akarana-Rewi, also known as Chief Tupai, claims the citizenship certificates are legal under Maori law and that Maori had retained their sovereignty under the 1835 Declaration of Independence.
Paul Moon, a Professor of History and Maori expert at AUT University, said there was no truth in the claim.
"Tupai's claim to be exercising authority under the Declaration is wrong in law and history," Moon said.
"There is no such authority of the sort he claims that is granted by the document. Some of his statements, such as King William's declaration of New Zealand as an independent nation in 1835 are factually incorrect."
New Zealand historian Paul Moon. Photo / File
The Declaration was created by the British Resident to New Zealand, James Busby, and asserted that the country was an independent state.
Chiefs would meet annually in a form of parliament to pass laws and govern the country, according to the declaration.
But only 35 chiefs initially signed the declaration, compared to 542 who signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
The validity of the declaration was also questioned because Busby had no authority to represent the Crown.
"It was the Colonial's Office's rejection of the Declaration of Independence that led eventually to the idea of Britain having a treaty with New Zealand," Moon said.
The treaty was a product of British policy in a way that the declaration was not, Moon said.
It was also far more widely endorsed by chiefs and recognised from 1840 onward as the basis for the relationship between Maori and the Crown.
Akarana-Rewi is warning holders of his certificates against approaching "Pakeha" authorities, such as Police or Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Approaching these government agencies is deemed as an acknowledgement and acceptance of the Pakeha system, he said, and would forfeit their Maori citizenship rights including to remain in the country and not paying taxes.
INZ described the certificates, which are sold for between $100 and $300, as "completely worthless".
Akarana-Rewi told the Herald his two sons held offices in the Maori Parliament, and one of them introduced himself as its Transport Minister.
One overstayer said he was introduced to Akarana-Rewi's Immigration Minister, who claimed to also be a licensed immigration adviser.
Police said Akarana-Rewi was convicted for obtaining by deception in 2012 in the Manukau District Court.
Despite his admission to restarting the scheme and selling fake certificates, police say no action will be taken until it receives an "actionable information".
Two overstayers who bought the certificates have spoken to the Herald, but said they would not be contacting the police because it would jeopardise their right to remain in the country under Akarana-Rewi's law.
Police are urging those affected to either contact them directly or file a complaint so that the matter can be dealt with appropriately.
