Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga is an Iwi based in the lower North Island.
Mai i Waitapu ki Rangataua, mai i Mīria te kakara ki Kukutauaki. The Raukawa ki te Tonga tribal area stretches from south of Te Horo, through to Ōtaki, the Horowhenua, Manawatū up to the Rangitīkei River
Raukawa ki Te Tonga Trust is the kaitiaki of the Raukawa ki te Tonga fisheries settlement assets.
We manage and grow the assets to ultimately benefit our people.
Raukawa ki te Tonga Trust (the Trust).
The Trust was established in 2010 by Iwi members as the Mandated Iwi Organisation (MIO), under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004 (the Act), for Raukawa ki te Tonga in respect of fisheries matters.
Our fisheries assets were received in a settlement with the Crown of the Ngāti Raukawa commercial fisheries claim. Those assets were transferred to the Trust in 2010 by Te Ohu Kaimoana (TOKM) - the body responsible for allocation. Read more
Raukawa ki te Tonga granted Customary Marine Title
Mai i Waitapu ki Rangataua, mai i Mīria te Kakara ki Kukutauaki. The Raukawa ki te Tonga tribal area stretches from the Rangitīkei River to Manawatū, Horowhenua and to south of Ōtaki.
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga (Ngāti Raukawa) has been granted Customary Marine Title (CMT) under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 (the Act) by the High Court across the full coastal area claimed - from Kukutauaki (south of Te Horo) to the Rangitīkei River (Application Area). The application was made on behalf of Ngāti Raukawa by the Raukawa ki te Tonga Trust (the Trust), through the Chair of the Trust, Rachael Selby. The judgment confirms that our Iwi, hapū and whānau have maintained customary use and occupation in accordance with tikanga of the Application Area since 1840. The decision will give us legal tools to protect our marine and coastal spaces, and affords us rights to be part of certain decision-making processes that affect our coastal environment.
Ngāti Raukawa was granted shared exclusive CMT in respect of the following areas within the Application Area:
- With Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, at the Kukutauaki boundary between Raukawa and Te Ātiawa;
- With te whānau Seymour and Ngā Ahi Kā o te hapū o te Mateawa, from the Ōhau River to the Waikawa River;
- With Ngāti Tamarangi, over the takutai moana from Te Uamairangi to Ngā Manu; and
- With Muaūpoko, over the takutai moana from the Hōkio stream to Ngā Manu (at the north-western corner of the Waitārere forest).
Practically this means that we will jointly hold CMT and must collaborate in respect of these particular areas.
Outside of the shared areas outlined above, Ngāti Raukawa was granted exclusive CMT in all other areas between Kukutauaki to the Rangitīkei River.
The CMT awarded to all parties extends just one nautical mile from the mean high-water springs mark, even though the Act allows for recognition out to a maximum of 12 nautical miles. This is an interesting part of the decision and is something we are reviewing.
We believe, overall, the decision is a positive outcome for Ngāti Raukawa.
We give our deepest thanks to our kuia and kaumātua as well as those Iwi members and technical experts who helped prepare evidence, gathered kōrero tuku iho, and stood in Court on behalf of our Iwi at the Hearing in May and June 2024. Their work and the vision of our old people ensured that the stories and voices of our tūpuna were heard and respected, notwithstanding our collective misgivings at having to participate in yet another flawed Crown process. Without their mahi, the outcome we have achieved would not have been possible.
We acknowledge our whanaunga Iwi, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai and Ngāti Toa. The whanaungatanga and aroha under the umbrella of the ART Confederation was evident throughout the hearing process and aligns with our historical narratives, traditions and tikanga. We also acknowledge all others who participated in the process.
We consider that the decision is clear and well reasoned in respect of CMT for Ngāti Raukawa, firmly based on the strength of our evidence.
We mihi to our legal team Natalie Coates from Thorndon Chambers and Paranihia Walker (Ngāti Kikopiri) and Tawheta Hautapu (Ngāti Pareraukawa) from Kāhui Legal, who have guided us over the last 18 months through this process with strategic foresight, legal excellence and patience.
There is much water to go under the bridge before orders are finalised, including an upcoming hearing on wāhi tapu sites within the marine and coastal areas subject to CMT. For now, leading into Matariki, we take a moment to pause and reflect, acknowledging our old people and their strength and wisdom that led to this historic milestone for our Iwi.
The full Judgement can be found here:
https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/2025/2025-NZHC-1488.pdf
Nā mātou, ngā Trustees o Raukawa ki te Tonga Trust.
$50,000 available for Charitable Fisheries Projects
The Trust is pleased to make funding of $50,000 available to support charitable projects that advance the interests of Raukawa ki te Tonga in the development of fisheries and / or fisheries related projects.
Applications for 2025 open on 1 April and close on 30 June 2025.
The Charitable fisheries priorities for 2025 are;
- Charitable purposes in accordance with section 5 of the Charities Act 2005
- Fisheries related environmental projects within the rohe
- Research, education and preservation of knowledge regarding our fisheries
- Restoration of waterways within the rohe
- Water focused environmental projects within the rohe
- Projects that benefit future generations of Raukawa ki te Tonga
CLICK HERE to access the Application Form.
$30,000 available for the 2025 Distribution Round
The 2025 Distribution Round opens on 1 April 2025 and closes on 30 June 2025.
Funding of $30,000 has been made available for projects aligned to our 2025 priorities, outlined below.
- Marae, Iwi and Hapū of Raukawa ki te Tonga
- Other Raukawa ki te Tonga entities
- Environmental projects within the rohe of Raukawa ki te Tonga
- Projects that benefit future generations of Raukawa ki te Tonga
- Organisations and projects that support and promote Te Reo Māori within Raukawa ki te Tonga
- Projects directly related to Charitable fisheries purposes
CLICK HERE to access the application form.
Hui-a-Tau 23 March 2025
Register Now
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga is an Iwi based in the lower North Island. It is not South Waikato based Ngāti Raukawa. Both Iwi have whakapapa but are separate. If you are wanting to get in touch with the South Waikato Ngāti Raukawa please see their website https://raukawa.org.nz/
An important task of the Trust is to maintain and grow a register of its members.
Why Register?
To connect with Iwi/hapū/marae/whānau, access Iwi benefits which currently include Marae and Iwi entity funding and fish distributions, stay updated on Iwi business including Raukawa-wide activities/hui and have a direct say in decisions that affect you and your whānau.
To Register now or to find out if you are registered
