Reconciliation

Hohou i te Rongo

Learn about the reconciliation journey between Ngāti Apakura and the Crown.

Rārangi Wā
A group of people stands in a field, some with heads bowed, while a church spire is visible in the background.

Te Tukanga mō Hohou i te Rongo Process and Framework for Reconciliation

This proposed framework outlines a pathway towards reconciliation between Ngāti Apakura and the Crown, recognising the enduring impacts of the Pāhuatanga.

  • Restitution: The Crown acknowledges and apologises for the harm caused to Ngāti Apakura as a result of the Pāhuatanga, noting that the Anglican Church has purchased the whenua to support the reconnection of Apakura to Rangiaowhia.
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  • Restoration: The Crown recognises the extent of the intergenerational impact of the Pāhuatanga on Apakura and Hinetū descendants — including disconnection from whenua, loss of taonga, degradation of ecosystems, diminished productive capacity, and erosion of Apakura's mana motuhake.
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  • Reconciliation: The Crown acknowledges the importance of restoring relationships with Apakura and other iwi affected by the Pāhuatanga, and commits to building trust and working towards shared objectives for a prosperous and peaceful future.

Key Articles

Ngā Atikara Matua

Explore our path to restitution, restoration and reconciliation

Article
5 min read

Ngāti Apakura revisit ancestral journey to safety

Waikato iwi Ngāti Apakura have retraced the footsteps of their ancestors in a journey reflecting on the aftermath of the 1864 invasion of Rangiaowhia, reconnecting with Ngāti Te Kohera, a hapū of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
Read more
Article
5 min read

Misplaced iwi fight to see acknowledgement in New Zealand Statistics

Some iwi across Aotearoa have been left out of official Stats NZ data, contributing to generations of descendants being unable to fully express their identity or access their history.
Read more
A man in a suit speaks at a podium, microphone in hand, while others in background listen under a shaded umbrella.
Article
5 min read

Reconciliation called to officially recognise 'war crime' at Rangiaowhia

For more than 20 years Rangiaowhia in the Waikato was a thriving village where the promise of the Treaty of Waitangi was beginning to be realised.
Read more
A quaint white wooden church with a tall spire, surrounded by gravestones and green lawns under a cloudy sky.
Article
5 min read

Te Ara Wai Journeys on the trail from Rangiaowhia to O-Rākau

Rangiaowhia is a beautiful part of Waipā, but with a contentious and bloody history.
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A woman stands beside a memorial stone in a field, commemorating the atrocities suffered by Ngāti Apakura and Ngāti Hinetū.
Article
5 min read

When the war came to Rangiaowhia

Wikitoria Pahi was down at the local puna with the tamariki when the village was attacked.
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Elderly woman in sunglasses holds a framed photo of another woman, outdoors with trees blurred in the background.
Article
5 min read

Scars of war etched in city

Kameta Te Tuhi hid in rushes and witnessed the shootings at Rangiaowhia near Te Awamutu and was the last surviving inhabitant of Kirikiriroa Pā - located in Hamilton between London and Bryce streets.
Read more
A quaint white wooden church with a tall spire, surrounded by gravestones and green lawns under a cloudy sky.
Article
2 min read

Rangiaowhia – Now it’s tears of joy

Learn how we engage with our community for reconciliation.
Read more
View all

Ngā Whakairinga Ataata

Watch our video gallery to discover the stories behind our reconciliation journey.

Ngā Kōrero mō Hohou i te Rongo

Find out more about our key updates by downloading the PDF below.

Download Our Key Updates
Key Events in Our Reconciliation Journey

Rārangi Wā

2014 - Apakura Ruunanga Trust Established

Apakura Ruunanga Trust is established in August 2014, dedicated to advancing the collective interests of Ngāti Apakura.

2018 - Te Waha ā Tuarā established

Te Waha ā Tuāra is a komiti of Ngāti Apakura descendants committed to advancing reconciliation.

2019 - Te Waha ā Tuarā Engage with Crown

Te Waha ā Tuāra engage with Crown to discuss reconciliation.

2020 - Ministers visit to Rangiaowhia

Minister Little visits Rangiaowhia. Crown commitment to developing reconciliation package.

2021 - Phase 1 - Reconcilitation

Research and engagement with iwi members commences.

2023 - Reconcilitation Mandate

Apakura Ruunanga Trust is mandated for Hōhou te Rongo – Reconcilitation.

2024 - Accepted by the Crown

Minister Goldsmith accepts the mandate of the Trust to move to the negotiation phase.

Sep 2024 - Sep 2025

Iwi Engagement & Reconcilitation Package Scoping.

Oct 2025 - current

Development of Reconciliation Package

To come

Parties agree on package, including historical account and Crown Apology.

Ngāti Apakura & Crown sign an agreement.

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