_ 3 Ways to vote
There are three ways that you can cast your vote:
1. Voting papers and a post paid return envelope are included in the voting pack. Fill in the voting paper and post it back.
2. You can take your voting paper to a Ratification Hui taking place during January and February 2012 and place it in the ballot box.
3. You can vote online. Instructions about how to vote online are shown on your voting papers.
Voting on the proposed Deed of Settlement and Post Settlement Governance Entity closes on Saturday 25 February 2012, and your vote must be received by the returning officer by 5pm on that date.
Note: You can only use one of the three ways to vote. If you vote using more than one way, your vote will be invalid.
Special votes will be available for people who:
• Lose or damage their voting paper
• Do not receive their voting paper in the post
• Affiliate as an Iwi member after 16 January 2012 but before 5pm, 25 February 2012. An affiliation form will need to be completed and returned with the voting paper.
Who can vote?
Every Te Rarawa person who is over 18 years and has completed the affiliation process can vote. You can affiliate right up to close of voting online or by contacting your marae representative or Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa.
When will voting occur?
Voting will occur over a five week period from Monday 16 January, when the ratification packs are posted to all affiliated members through to 5pm Saturday 25 February 2012. Votes received no later than three business days after the closing date will be valid if the envelope containing the voting paper is post marked on or before the date that voting closes. If you know someone who has not received a pack or need a special or replacement pack, contact the returning officer on Freephone 0800 922 822 or email [email protected]
Who is overseeing the voting process?
A specialist independent election management company will undertake this poll as the Returning Officer. Returning Officer details are:
Dale Ofsoske
Independent Elections Services Ltd
PO Box 5135
Wellesley Street Auckland
Phone 0800 922 822 or 09 9735212
Fax 093077443
Email [email protected]
What will you be voting about?
Two ticks required
It is now time for you to make a choice to determine if the Settlement will move forward to the final stage. There are two resolutions on the voting paper, one which covers the settlement offer and the other that relates to post- settlement governance or who will receive the settlement on behalf of Te Rarawa. The two resolutions are:
What happens if we don’t ratify this deal?
If we don’t agree to accept the proposed offer it is likely that Te Rarawa’s claim will be put on hold and we will not reach a settlement in the foreseeable future. There is also no guarantee that we would be able to re-enter the process or that a future offer will be any better than this one. There is no guarantee that Crown assets we now have access to through this offer will still be available in the future. Our past experience is that it is better to have assets in hand and at work for us rather than wait for something else.
What’s not good about it?
The Treaty settlement offer does not come close to covering the losses that the hapū and Iwi have suffered. The Treaty settlement process is well established and is not about full compensation for what Te Rarawa have lost. It is a bridge to Te Rarawa’s future and provides us with an opportunity to rebuild our economic base and to reassert our kaitiakitanga and build a better future for the coming generations.
There are three ways that you can cast your vote:
1. Voting papers and a post paid return envelope are included in the voting pack. Fill in the voting paper and post it back.
2. You can take your voting paper to a Ratification Hui taking place during January and February 2012 and place it in the ballot box.
3. You can vote online. Instructions about how to vote online are shown on your voting papers.
Voting on the proposed Deed of Settlement and Post Settlement Governance Entity closes on Saturday 25 February 2012, and your vote must be received by the returning officer by 5pm on that date.
Note: You can only use one of the three ways to vote. If you vote using more than one way, your vote will be invalid.
Special votes will be available for people who:
• Lose or damage their voting paper
• Do not receive their voting paper in the post
• Affiliate as an Iwi member after 16 January 2012 but before 5pm, 25 February 2012. An affiliation form will need to be completed and returned with the voting paper.
Who can vote?
Every Te Rarawa person who is over 18 years and has completed the affiliation process can vote. You can affiliate right up to close of voting online or by contacting your marae representative or Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa.
When will voting occur?
Voting will occur over a five week period from Monday 16 January, when the ratification packs are posted to all affiliated members through to 5pm Saturday 25 February 2012. Votes received no later than three business days after the closing date will be valid if the envelope containing the voting paper is post marked on or before the date that voting closes. If you know someone who has not received a pack or need a special or replacement pack, contact the returning officer on Freephone 0800 922 822 or email [email protected]
Who is overseeing the voting process?
A specialist independent election management company will undertake this poll as the Returning Officer. Returning Officer details are:
Dale Ofsoske
Independent Elections Services Ltd
PO Box 5135
Wellesley Street Auckland
Phone 0800 922 822 or 09 9735212
Fax 093077443
Email [email protected]
What will you be voting about?
Two ticks required
It is now time for you to make a choice to determine if the Settlement will move forward to the final stage. There are two resolutions on the voting paper, one which covers the settlement offer and the other that relates to post- settlement governance or who will receive the settlement on behalf of Te Rarawa. The two resolutions are:
- I accept the proposed Deed of Settlement for Te Rarawa.
- I accept Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa as the Post Settlement Governance Entity to receive and manage the Treaty settlement on behalf of Te Rarawa.
What happens if we don’t ratify this deal?
If we don’t agree to accept the proposed offer it is likely that Te Rarawa’s claim will be put on hold and we will not reach a settlement in the foreseeable future. There is also no guarantee that we would be able to re-enter the process or that a future offer will be any better than this one. There is no guarantee that Crown assets we now have access to through this offer will still be available in the future. Our past experience is that it is better to have assets in hand and at work for us rather than wait for something else.
What’s not good about it?
The Treaty settlement offer does not come close to covering the losses that the hapū and Iwi have suffered. The Treaty settlement process is well established and is not about full compensation for what Te Rarawa have lost. It is a bridge to Te Rarawa’s future and provides us with an opportunity to rebuild our economic base and to reassert our kaitiakitanga and build a better future for the coming generations.