Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau

Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau, made up of the descendants of the original claimants and their six iwi, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu & Ngāti Koata. The role and purpose of Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau is to maintain the mauri and uphold the vision of Wai 262. Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau have engaged expert technicians to create the protection framework that recognises the rights and obligations of kaitiaki, under the guidance of tohunga.

Since 2020, Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau have been progressing priorities grounded in the Pou Uara, or foundational values, of Wai 262: 


  • Whakapapa 
  • Aroha
  • Kaitiakitanga 
  • Te Tino Rangatiratanga
  • Manaakitanga 
  • Tapu & Tikanga 
  • Whanaungatanga 
  • Mauri

Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau are extending their support to all kaupapa Māori who seek a tikanga led protection framework of their flora, fauna and intellectual property rights, through the  process of Kanohi Ora engagements, as a national Maori voice grows to support ngā kaupapa o Wai 262. 


Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau are now in the processes of the emergence of a national Māori voice to speak with the Crown on ngā kaupapa o Wai 262. This process seeks ways to uphold and gain more control, partnership and influence for Māori over taonga works and intellectual property, genetics and biological resources, the relationship with the environment, taonga and the conservation estate, te reo  Māori, mātauranga Māori, rongoa Māori and international instruments.

The role and purpose of Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau is to maintain the mauri and uphold the vision of Wai 262

Back L-R Phillip Murray (Te Rarawa) Huhana Lyndon (Ngāti Wai), Aperehama Edwards (Ngāti Wai), Joanie Wilson (Ngāti Koata), Justin Carter (Ngāti Koata), Rāhui Katene (Ngāti Koata), Walter Wells (Ngāti Kuri), Te Warahi Hetaraka (Ngāti Wai), Justice Hetaraka (Ngāti Wai).


Front L-R Ngatai Huata (Ngāti Kahungunu), Sheridan Waitai (Ngāti Kuri), Hori Parata (Ngāti Wai), Hema Wihongi (Te Rarawa),

Ammon Katene (Ngāti Koata), Jenny-Nelson Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu)


Absent: Selwyn Parata, Tina Porou & Meipara Poata (Ngāti Porou) Haami Piripi (Te Rarawa), Ngahiwi Tomoana (Ngāti Kahungunu)

Wai 262 Taumata Whakapūmau

Video Series

Rahui Katene - Ngāti Koata

Rahui shares her story as the daughter of original claimant John Hippolite.  She shares her memories of her Father growing up and why she believes Wai 262 is a significant claim for māoridom

Ammon Katene - Ngāti Koata

Ammon Katene from Ngāti Koata, shares his story being a member of the Taumata Whakapūmau and as the mokopuna of original claimant - John Hippolite.

Ngatai Huata - Ngāti Kahungunu

Ngatai shares her insights about Wai 262, her whānau who influenced her as a composer, writer and artist and what she hopes Wai 262 can achieve for whānau, hapū and iwi.

Jenny Nelson Smith - Ngāti Kahungunu

Jenny Nelson Smith shares her insights as to what she sees as a future beyond Wai 262

Justice Hetaraka - Ngāti Wai

Justice as a third gen mokopuna of the Wai 262 Claim she shares her own personal insights for how this claim needs to include and involve rangatahi/taiohi/taitamariki.

Te Warahi Hetaraka - Ngāti Wai

Te Warahi shares his reflections on Wai 262 and his hopes for the future

Sheridan Waitai - Ngāti Kuri

Sheridan shares her insights as the mokopuna of Saana Murray one of the original claimants of Wai 262 and the legacy left behind for her children, mokopuna and Iwi.

Hori Parata - Ngāti Wai

Kaumātua and expert in whale recovery, Hori Parata has flensed close to 500 whales and said from the moment the tohorᾱ washes upon the shore, whales must be acknowledged as whānaunga who have returned to us based off the relationship of the tohorᾱ and the kauri tree which saw Tāne (God of forest) gift the whale to Tangaroa (God of sea). Hori was just seven years old when he attended his first mass stranding, a beaching of porpoises in New Zealand’s Northland, their cries screeching through the air on the deserted stretch of sand.


Parata is renowned in New Zealand as the leading Māori whale expert, called on by tribes around the country for cultural guidance as marine strandings become increasingly complex and fatal.

“Man’s greed in the ocean is hurting the whales,” says Parata, a fierce and uncompromising elder of the Ngātiwai tribe of eastern Northland.

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