Give us what's historically ours, elder asks tribunal

"We are not greedy people. We just want what belongs to us traditionally," a tribal leader told the Waitangi Tribunal yesterday.

Ngati Apa kaumatua Kath Hemi made the plea at her iwi's claim hearings at Omaka Marae, Blenheim.

Professional historian David Armstrong told the tribunal how Ngati Apa was largely ignored in Crown land purchases and was left landless and without compensation.

Mrs Hemi said this insult was compounded by a 1990 Maori Appellate Court decision. Going against all principles of customary law, Ngai Tahu was awarded exclusive rights to an area of the South Island extending north to Kahurangi Point in the west and the White Bluffs in the east, she said.

Mr Armstrong explained that the 1860 purchase of areas of the West Coast from Ngai Tahu was the only time the Crown recognised Ngati Apa customary land rights. In that transaction, Ngai Tahu acknowledged the rights of Ngati Apa living at Kawatiri, south of Kahurangi Point, allowing some of the purchase price to be paid to them.

But in the Appellate Court, the Crown found that Ngati Apa and other Top-of-the-South iwi had no legitimate claim to land south of the newly drawn Ngai Tahu northern boundary.

Mr Armstrong discredited the Appellate Court decision, saying proper investigation of the rights of the various iwi would have revealed "to any reasonable person" that Ngati Apa had a customary right.

The hearings continue.

- NZPA