Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA

The South Island Landless Natives Act 1906 (SILNA) was a law that provided land to Māori in Te Waipounamu/the South Island and Rakiura/Stewart Island who had insufficient or no land.

The Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA land was allocated to 50 original beneficiaries. Unlike most SILNA land allocated, the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA land did not transfer from the Crown to those 50 original beneficiaries, as was intended.

As part of the 1997 Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement, substitute land was committed for the benefit of the successors of the original beneficiaries. Te Tari Whakatau administers this land until it can be transferred to the successors. 

Learn more about the South Island Landless Natives Act (SILNA). 

Watch Theo Bunker, a successor to the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA land, share his reflections on its history. 

Watch a video about the history of Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA.

Are you a Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA successor? 

You may be a successor if you are descended from one of the 50 original beneficiaries who was allocated the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA land.

The list of original grantees [PDF, 1.4 MB] is available through Te Kooti Whenua Māori/Māori Land Court.

Information about identified successors, succession applications and updating your details is available under Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA successors.

Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA successors 

Te Kooti Whenua Māori is responsible for identifying the successors to the original beneficiaries of the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA land.

View the latest list of identified successors [PDF, 1.4 MB].

If a person on the successor list has passed away, you can apply to Te Kooti Whenua Māori, Te Waipounamu to have succession determined using the application to determine successors(external link).

For more information, visit SILNA information on the Māori Land Court website(external link).

Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA successors are entitled to redress under section 15 of the Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement [PDF, 750 KB].

To make sure you receive future updates and voting information, use the update your contact details form(external link) to keep your information current with Te Kooti Whenua Māori.

Hāwea/Wānaka Substitute Land

The Hāwea/Wānaka Substitute Land is committed to Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA successors under section 15 of the Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement.

The land covers approximately 50.7 hectares and is known locally as ‘Sticky Forest’. It is located north-east of Wānaka township and south of where Lake Wānaka flows into Mata-Au/Upper Clutha River.

Te Tari Whakatau manages the land and engages forestry specialists to inspect it regularly and provide advice on its management.
Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA Group

The Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA Group represents successors during the period before the Substitute Land is transferred.

Before the Group was established, it was identified that successors needed representation during the period before the transfer of the Substitute Land.

Watch why representation is needed for Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA successors(external link).

The Group was formed in April 2024 following a voting process for successors identified by Te Kooti Whenua Māori.

Lorraine Rouse was appointed Chair of the Group.

You can view the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA Group Terms of Reference [PDF, 15 MB] and the 2023 representation information booklet [PDF, 12 MB]. 
Upcoming voting process

The Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA Group considered the feedback and questions received during the 2025 information roadshow.

The Group is preparing information about the entity they propose receive and hold the Substitute Land on behalf of the successors. This information will be distributed to successors alongside voting packs.

If you are a successor, please make sure Te Kooti Whenua Māori has your current contact details(external link). This will help ensure you receive information and can participate in future voting processes.
Previous milestones

The following milestones have helped progress the transfer of the Hāwea/Wānaka Substitute Land to successors. 

2023 representation voting process 

In 2023, Te Tari Whakatau and Te Puni Kōkiri facilitated a process for identified successors to establish interim representation before the Substitute Land transfers.

Voting closed on 27 November 2023 and was overseen by Election Services as the independent returning officer.

You can download the 2023 representation information booklet. [PDF, 12 MB] 

Formation of representative body in 2024 

On 15 April 2024, the five highest-polling candidates formed the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA Group.

The Group adopted the Terms of Reference [PDF, 15 MB] and appointed Lorraine Rouse as Chair. 

2025 information roadshow 

In August 2025, the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA Group and Te Tari Whakatau hosted a series of information hui for successors and their whānau.

An information booklet was distributed before the roadshow to support discussion and answer common questions.

Download the 2025 information booklet [PDF, 3.5 MB]. 
Contact and updates

Questions about Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA can be emailed to SILNA@whakatau.govt.nz.

Updates will continue to be published on this page and the Hāwea/Wānaka SILNA private Facebook group.