|
Wiremu Pere and his family were owners of land in their own
right and were owners of undivided interests of various land
titles. However they were indebted to many different institutions
and individuals and being unable to pay the interest and
principal on mortgages the land was liable to be sold pursuant to
the provisions of the mortgages. Wi Pere applied to the Bank of
New Zealand to advance sufficient money to pay off and discharge
all the liablilities of himself and his family.
The bank consented with the following conditions:
I. That Wi Pere and his family transfer all their estates to a
Trust formed under the provisions of the "Native Land Laws
Amendment Act 1897".
II. That the Trustee appointed should be consented to by the
Governor and that all restrictions should be removed from the
land.
III. That Walter George Foster of Wellington be appointed Trustee
who should have exclusive control, without the interference by
any of the beneficiaries, over the management and disposal of the
land.
The Governor approved the appointment of WG Foster as Trustee
and removed all restrictions of the Maori Land Acts over the land
so that it was placed in the same position as land owned by
Europeans.
Because the power given to the Trustee was so absolute and
exclusive and his responsibility so limited Wi Pere and his
family refused to execute the Trust Deed until compelled by fear
of losing their estates.
On 14 April 1899 Wi Pere and his family assigned all their
property to WG Foster by way of Trust.
WG Foster attended to his duties pursuant to the Trust until
1905 when Wi Pere and his Co-beneficiaries instigated the
repayment to the Bank of New Zealand the sum of forty seven
thousand pounds owed.
WG Foster having completed his work and Wi Pere and his family
wishing to appoint another Trustee who was resident in the
district chosen and appointed by themselves under terms and
conditions less oppressive than those that existed arranged the
enactment by the General Assembly of New Zealand "The Wi Pere
Estates Act 1906"
Wi Pere, his wife Arapera, Hetekia Te Kani Pere and Moanaroa
Pere appointed Henry Cheetham Jackson and Hetekia Te Kani Pere
Trustees.
Hetekia Te Kani Pere died on 21 March 1929 and Henry Cheetham
Jackson died on 7 April 1925. Moanaroa, the sole survivor of the
assignors on 1 August 1925 appointed himself, Charles Alfred
Smith and Heathcote Beetham Williams to be Trustees.
Moanaroa Pere died on 3 February 1935 and Messrs Smith and
Williams expressed the wish to retire as Trustees.
The Governor General by Order in Council dated 2 March 1938
appointed Owen Neil Campbell, Rongowhakaata Halbert and Harold
Walter Symes to be Trustees of the Trust.
By Section 15 of the Maori Purposes Act 1938 new Trusts were
declared in respect of the property of the Trust, further powers
were confirmed upon the Trustees and provision was made for the
administration of the Trusts.
Since the passing of that Act various people have been appointed
Trustees of the Trust namely Francis Herbert Bull, Robert Graham
Dobson, Turiki Pere, Iho-O-Te-Rangi Halbert, Rangiwahipu Arapeta
(also known as Rangiwahipu Halbert), Thomas Smiler, Nona Haronga
(also known as Te Nonoikura or Hinemanuhiri Haronga) and Anthony
Halbert. The last three being Trustees when the 1991 Amendment
was enacted.
Nona Haronga wished to resign and was replaced by her son, Alan
Parekura Torohina Haronga.
In 1991 new Trusts were declared in respect of the property of
the Trust and the amendment conferred further powers on the
Trustees.
The 1991 Amendment among other things:
- Increased the number of Trustees to
five those Trustees being Thomas Smiler, Anthony Halbert and Alan
Haronga and two other Trustees appointed by the Minister of Maori
Affairs on the recommendation of the three Trustees. Henry
Lardelli and Albert Horsfall were appointed.
- The Trustees were to hold office for
three years.
- All freehold land vested in the
Trustees was deemed to be Maori freehold land
- Only those related by blood to Wi
Pere are entitled to be a beneficiary of the Trust
- A person who is the spouse or
adopted child of a beneficiary are only entitled to succeed to a
life interest.
The 4 trustees are currently Alan Haronga, Henry Lardelli, Thomas
Smiler and Albert Horsfall. |
|
|
|
