Members have voted overwhelmingly to ratify the Deed of Settlement between Moriori and the Crown. 95.6% of members voted YES. Your negotiation team will now work on the final steps to the signing of the Deed and passing of legislation.

Find all of the Deed of Settlement documents that are loaded onto the govt.nz website here.

In September and October 2019 the Moriori Imi Settlement Trust (MIST) negotiators will be on the road to provide information on the ratification process for signing our Deed of Settlement.

The hui are opportunities for you to learn more about the Deed and ask questions of the negotiation team. All members will be sent (by mail) a copy of the ratification booklet and summary of the Deed of Settlement. This will also be available on our website www.moriori.co.nz

Voting to ratify (accept) the Deed will commence on 13 September and close on 25 October 2019. Voting packs will be mailed to you by our independent returning officer (Election Services Ltd).

You can vote either on-line or by return mail. If voting by return mail use the pre-paid envelope included in the voting pack. If voting on-line follow the instructions on the voting paper using your unique ID code on the voting form.

If you don’t receive a pack please contact the office urgently (03 3050450 office@kopinga.co.nz) or Election Services 0800 922 822 info@electionservices.co.nz.

Hui Schedule:

• Tues 10 Sept - Rēkohu - Kōpinga Marae - 6-8pm
• Wed 11 Sept - Rangihaute - (venue TBC and subject to weather)
• Sun 6 Oct - Dunedin - Oakens Café, 538 Great Kings St - 3-5pm
• Mon 7 Oct - Temuka - Pipe Band Hall - 6-8pm
• Wed 9 Oct - Christchurch - Hintons Function Centre, 750a Wairakei Rd - 6-8pm
• Thurs 10 Oct - Blenheim - Marlborough Quality Hotel, 20 Nelson St - 6-8pm
• Fri 11 Oct - Wellington – Ngati Toa Hall, Porirua - 6-8pm
• Sat 12 Oct - Wairoa - Pūtahi Marae - 3-5pm
• Sun 13 Oct - Auckland – Naumi Hotel, 153 Kirkbride Rd, Mangere - 6-8pm
• Mon 14 Oct - Tauranga – Armitage Hotel, 9 Willow St - 6-8pm

Me rongo

Tēnā kotou,

A vote was held in September 2018 regarding the MIST (Moriori Imi Settlement Trust) following a series of member hui around the country. The voting process was overseen by the independent body Election Services Ltd. The results were as follows:

• 244 members voted YES to the proposed Post Settlement Governance Entity (90.04%) and 21 members voted NO (7.75%);
• 237 members voted YES to receiving a payment of $3.6 million from the Crown on-account of the Treaty settlement (87.45%) and 21 members voted NO (7.75%);
• 235 members voted YES to the Post Settlement Governance Entity negotiating with the Crown instead of HMT (86.72%) and 20 members voted NO (7.38%).

The voter support for the three resolutions was overwhelming and showed significant levels of support in favour of the resolutions. Thank you for taking time to consider these important resolutions and have your say.

There will be a further ratification process later in 2019 regarding the draft Deed of Settlement. This will involve more regional hui so keep an eye out for pānui announcing these.

Me rongo

Tēnā kotou,

Moriori Imi, through Hokotehi Moriori Trust (HMT) have been negotiating with the Crown in relation to the settlement of Moriori historic claims. With the signing of an Agreement in Principle (AIP) in August 2017, Moriori can now establish its own Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE). Our members now have the opportunity to vote on a number of resolutions (see below).

A PSGE is needed in order to receive any agreed settlement redress and to represent our imi after the historic Treaty of Waitangi claims have been settled. The proposed name for the settlement trust is: Moriori Imi Settlement Trust (MIST).

Resolutions:

The Resolutions that adult members (ie aged 18 and over) are being asked to consider and vote on are:

Resolution 1: I, as a member of Moriori Imi, accept Moriori Imi Settlement Trust as the proposed Post Settlement Governance Entity to receive and manage the Treaty of Waitangi settlement redress on behalf of Moriori.

Resolution 2: I, as a member of Moriori Imi, accept Moriori Imi Settlement Trust receives a payment of $3.6 million from the Crown on-account of the Treaty settlement.

Resolution 3: I, as a member of Moriori Imi, accept Moriori Imi Settlement Trust will be mandated to negotiate the Deed of Settlement on behalf of Moriori Imi with the Crown instead of HMT

Explanatory Notes:

• On-Account Funds: The ratification process contains terminology that may require further explanation. Please attend the hui nearest you if you have questions or contact the office. In terms of resolution 2 it may help to explain further what the term “on account” means. This sum is a 20% down-payment of the figure of $18 million as agreed by your negotiators and the Crown in the AIP signed in August 2017. The balance of the $18 million will be paid upon completion of the settlement. If, for any reason, the settlement did not proceed to completion, the on account payment is not refundable. The $3.6 million will be used by MIST for investment purposes and/or reduction of debt.
• Change from HMT to MIST: The reason for changing the mandate from HMT to MIST is that MIST would be the most appropriate body to negotiate the final Deed of Settlement with the Crown as any settlement redress would go to it. The initial trustees of MIST are all trustees of HMT, and four of them are Treaty settlement negotiators. This ensures continuity as the negotiations are finalised and the settlement package agreed. HMT will still be fully consulted on all aspects of the settlement processes and imi will have the opportunity to ratify the Deed of Settlement before it is signed. The proposed change does not diminish the fact that this settlement is on behalf of and for the benefit of all Moriori.

The Voting Process:

The vote is being conducted by the independent returning officer, Dale Ofsoske, Election Services. Members will be able to vote either by return mail or on-line using a unique access code. The link to vote on-line is available here now : www.voteonline.co.nz/mist. Voting will not be carried out at the hui, which are for information purposes only. If you have not received your voting pack by August 15 please urgently contact the office – it may mean your postal address is out of date.

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

There are two ways to vote. You may only use one method:

• Fill in your voting form following all instructions, ticking your preferred options and post to the returning officer in the envelope provided
• Vote online using your unique member identifier and password which are on the reverse of your voting form. Go to www.voteonline.co.nz/mist and follow the online instructions.

Remember, voting closes Saturday 15 September 2018, 5pm NZ Time.

If you have any queries, contact the Returning Officer on 0800 922 822

Ratification and Information Hui:

From August 15 - September 5 your Treaty settlement negotiators will be travelling around New Zealand and Rēkohu/Rangihaute to hold information hui regarding the Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) ratification. The resolutions that members will be asked to vote on are explained in a booklet that is being mailed to all HMT members, and which will be at all the hui and can also be downloaded here. The Deed for the PSGE (MIST) will also be in the member mailout and can be read here.

Details of the ratification information hui dates and venues are set out below: