Learn about the key aspects of the Ngāti Awa claims settlement right of first refusal (RFR).
This page is also available for download (PDF).
Note: this is a guide only and agencies must comply with the requirements of the Deed of Settlement, legislation and any relevant LINZ standards.
The following has been developed in collaboration with Te Arawhiti.
The Ngāti Awa RFR area
Ngāti Awa is an iwi of the Eastern Bay of Plenty descended from Awanuiarangi II of the Mataatua waka.
The map below provides an indication of the area of interest for Ngāti Awa, but is not a depiction of any RFR area.
Map showing the area of interest referred to in the Deed of Settlement between Ngāti Awa and the Crown.
Settlement summary
Ngāti Awa received redress through its Treaty settlement with the Crown.
Iwi: Ngāti Awa
Deed of Settlement signed: 27 March 2003
The Deed was amended during the settlement process.
Ngāti Awa Deed of Settlement
Deed Granting a Right of First Refusal signed: 15 April 2005
Settlement Date: 26 April 2005
Effective Date: 26 April 2005
Legislation: Ngāti Awa Claims Settlement Act 2005 (“the Act”)
RFR provisions: The RFR provisions are set out in the Deed Granting a Right of First Refusal over Crown Land (“RFR deed”). There are no RFR provisions in the legislation.
Deed Granting a Right of First Refusal
Offer made to: The RFR offer is in favour of Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa (“the governance entity”)
RFR period: 50 years from the effective date (expires in 2055)
RFR memorials: No
Definition of RFR property
Clause 1.1 of the RFR deed defines RFR property included in the settlement. It includes every parcel of land within the RFR area (shown on SO 306422 in Schedule 4 of the RFR deed) and Te Teko School, defined at paragraph (b) of the meaning of ‘RFR area’ in clause 1.1 of the RFR deed) that, on the effective date, was vested in or held in fee simple by the Crown, or was a Crown-derived reserve vested in an administering body that would revert to the Crown.
RFR property also includes properties obtained in exchange for a disposal of RFR property under clause 7.1(g).
Properties within the RFR area that are listed in Schedule 1 of the RFR deed, any land or roads vested in the Crown by section 44 of the Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (now the Government Roading Powers Act 1989) or any ‘railway assets’ of the Crown within the meaning of paragraph (c) of the meaning of ‘railways assets’ in section 2 of the New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990 are not included in the settlement as RFR property.
Disposals
The RFR obligation arises for any disposal that:
- transfers or vests the fee simple estate in the land, or
- grants a lease of the land for a term that is, or will be (if any rights of renewal or extension are exercised under the lease), 35 years or longer.
Preliminary notice
There is no requirement to give preliminary notice of a disposal in this settlement.
Offering the land
Before disposing of an RFR property, the Crown must give notice to the governance entity. This RFR notice offers to dispose of the property to the governance entity or its nominee (being a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the governance entity) at the price and on the terms and conditions set out in the notice.
The Crown may withdraw an RFR notice at any time before the governance entity accept an offer. If the Crown withdraws an RFR notice, the RFR deed will still apply to the property. The Crown will be required to give another RFR notice before it disposes of the RFR property.
Expiry date of offer
The RFR offer expires one month after it is received by the governance entity.
Subsequent disposal process
Clause 5 of the RFR deed sets out that if the governance entity does not accept an offer, or the offer period expires, the Crown can dispose of the property provided that:
- the subsequent disposal is not on more favourable terms than those offered to the governance entity
- the land is being disposed of within 2 years after expiry of the RFR offer
The Crown must, promptly after entering into an agreement to dispose of the RFR property to a purchaser or lessee, give notice to the governance entity of that fact and disclose the terms of that agreement. The Crown must not dispose of the RFR property after the end of that 2-year period without first giving notice under clause 2.1 of the RFR deed.
Clause 4 of the RFR deed provides that should the Crown propose to dispose of the RFR property on more favourable terms it may do so only if it first gives another RFR notice to the governance entity.
Exempted disposals
Certain disposals can occur without making an RFR offer to the governance entity. These exempted disposals are set out in clauses 6 and 7 of the RFR deed. The Crown must notify the trustees of a disposal exempted from an RFR offer under clause 6 or clauses 7.1(d) – (l) at least 10 business days before the disposal. This notification must provide details of the disposal, including the legal description of the property, the name of the person to whom the land is being disposed of and an explanation of how the disposal complies with clause 6 or clauses 7.1(d)-(g).
The RFR deed includes specific exemptions in relation to disposal of land that was held for a public work. This land may be disposed of to a local authority under section 50 of the Public Works Act 1981 or any other person where the land will be held or used for the purpose which, immediately before the disposal, constituted the public work.
Where RFR properties are to be disposed of to certain new owners, a deed of covenant may be required to bind new owners to the RFR. The new owner takes on the obligations under the RFR deed. Clause 7 and Schedules 2 and 3 of the RFR deed set out when this is required.
Delivery of notices
Clause 11 of the RFR deed provides for offer notices to be delivered by hand, registered mail or facsimile. There is no provision in the RFR deed for electronic service of an offer.
Contact details
For more information about the Ngāti Awa claims settlement contact:
Te Runanga o Ngati Awa
PO Box 76
WHAKATANE 3158
Ngāti Awa Iwi Trust website
Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand
PO Box 5501
WELLINGTON 6145
Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand website
Te Arawhiti – The Office for Māori Crown Relations
SX10111
WELLINGTON 6011
Te Arawhiti website
postsettlement@tearawhiti.govt.nz
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Te Kāhui Māngai (Directory of Iwi and Māori Organisations) website