Term 1 2026, Course B
Speaker: Dr Martin Fisher, senior lecturer at the Ngai Tahu Research Centre at the University of Canterbury. He specialises in colonial/modern NZ history, the Treaty of Waitangi claims process, and indigenous sovereignty. He authored “A Long Time Coming: The story of Ngāi Tahu” & ” Treaty Settlement Negotiations with the Crown” Martin holds a PhD in History from Victoria University of Wellington and previously worked for the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Waitangi Tribunal. He has provided expert evidence regarding Ngāi Tahu water.
Speaker: Sir Mark Solomon. In 1995, Sir Mark was elected to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as the local representative for Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura, a position which he held until February 2016. Three years later, he was elected Chairman of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu… the same year, Ngāi Tahu settled its Treaty of Waitangi claim with the Crown for $170 million. By the end of 2012, under Sir Mark’s chairmanship, the iwi’s commercial assets had appreciated to an estimated $809 million. Sir Mark was knighted in the 2013 Honours list for his services to Maori and business.
April 2: “The Treaty of Waitangi”
Dr Fisher will discuss the domestic and international background to the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with a focus on the Ngai Tahu signings. He will also explore the similarities and differences between the two versions.
April 9: “The Ngai Tahu Treaty Claim”
Dr Fisher will explain the basis for Te Kerēme/The Ngai Tahu Treaty Claim: the ten land purchases completed between 1844-1864 for more than half of New Zealand and the corresponding loss of access to their food gathering sites/mahinga kai.
April 16: “The Ngai Tahu Settlement and Subsequent Growth”
This talk and the next will be characterised as a ‘personal journey with Ngai Tahu’ by Sir Mark Solomon.
April 23: “Future Issues facing Ngai Tahu and our Community”
Sir Mark Solomon.
April 30: “Issues relating to the Ngai Tahu Settlement”
Dr Fisher will close this series with a rundown of the Ngai Tahu settlement negotiations including the key players, issues and what was received in terms of financial and cultural redress. This will include highlighting the very limited range of redress related to freshwater.