BRIEF OF EVIDENCE OF TOKO RENATA TE TANIWHA

1.    My name is Toko Renata Te Taniwha.

2.    I am of Ngati Whanaunga, Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Ranginui descent.

3.    I have given evidence before the Waitangi Tribunal in respect of the first Tauranga Inquiry in October 2001 and prior to that in respect of the Hauraki Inquiry. My whakapapa is outlined in that earlier evidence.

4.    I remain the Chairman of the Hauraki Maori Trust Board.

5.    In my own and other evidence presented on behalf of the Hauraki Maori Trust Board in the first part of this Inquiry, we confirmed our interests within this Inquiry district and I understand that those interests were accepted by the Waitangi Tribunal.

6.    I am here today to introduce and support the evidence provided by the other Hauraki witnesses regarding our taonga and wahi tapu.

7.    I am concerned about our taonga in this area as I am aware from the evidence of John McEnteer and Dr Louise Furey (which will follow my evidence) that there are a significant number of taonga that were found within the Hauraki area that are currently kept by museums. I seriously disapprove of this situation and the law which states that the Crown has rights to all our taonga. I do not accept that the Crown should be allowed to possess our taonga in this way.