Ruapuke Island Group

[2025] NZHC 2400

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND INVERCARGILL REGISTRY

I TE KŌTI MATUA O AOTEAROA WAIHŌPAI ROHE

CIV-2017-485-295

CIV-2017-485-296 [2025] NZHC 2400

IN THE MATTER OF

the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

an application by MELVIN HUTCHINSON HERBERT CAIN, JASMINE KAY WHAITIRI STEWART, CHRISTIAN WAYNE FIFE and COLIN WAYNE TOPI

on behalf of the landowners of the Ruapuke Island Group, for an order recognising Customary Marine Title

Applicants

TE RŪNANGA O NGĀI TAHU,

ATTORNEY GENERAL and BASIL WALKER

Interested Parties

Hearing:

24 March – 2 April 2025

Appearances:

J L Inns and K L E Coote (24 – 27 March) and M R M Coote (1 April) for Applicants

R J B Fowler KC for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu G L Melvin for Attorney-General

Basil Walker Self Represented

Judgment:

22 August 2025

JUDGMENT OF CHURCHMAN J

The Marine  and  Coastal  Area  (Takutai  Moana)  Act  2011  -  Ruapuke  Island  Group  [2025]  NZHC  2400  22 August 2025

Table of Contents

Paragraph

Introduction  [1]

Statutory test for customary marine title[6]

The applicants[26]

The applicants’ case  [40]

Whakapapa[41]
Conclusion on whakapapa and take tipuna[77]
Integrated or holistic relationship[78]

Non-commercial fishing activities[105]

Tikanga[110]

Ownership of abutting land and control of access points to the

takutai moana[120]

Exclusive use and occupation from 1840 to the present day without

substantial interruption[128]

Conclusion on exclusive use and occupation[153]

Outcome[155]

E poua Tūhawaiki e

Ko koe rā te hua o Poupoutūnoa tū mai rā hei tohu o te tātai hono

Hei pou here takata, pou here tikaka (Oh poua Tūhawaiki

You are the product of Poupoutūnoa

Stand forth as the symbol of joined lineages

As a tying post of the people, and the customs).1

Introduction

[1]    The applicants are a whānau group who represent the landowners of  Ruapuke Island and surrounding smaller islands. They have applied under s 98 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 (MACA) for a Customary Marine Title Order.

1      This is the start of a mōteatea composed by Dr Hana O’Regan for the Tūhawaiki Memorial Commemoration, Ruapuke Island, 1996.

[2]    The application relates to the common marine and coastal area (the specified area) (as defined in s 9 of MACA) surrounding the Ruapuke Island Group. The Ruapuke Island Group lies in Foveaux Strait (Te Ara a Kiwa), with Ruapuke Island as its centre.

[3]    Ruapuke Island is approximately 1660 ha in size. It lies some 22 km south east of Bluff and 30 km north east of Oban. There are a number of smaller islands, islets and rocks in the specified area, which include:

(a)Papatea (Green Island);

(b)Te Papa o te Moroiti (Lee Island);

(c)Seal Rocks;

(d)Breaksea Islands;

(e)South Islets;

(f)Hazelburgh Group;

(g)Motuaro/Bird Island;

(h)Fife Island;

(i)Half Passage Rock;

(j)Topi Island/Te Ihu Kararo;

(k)White Island;

(l)Pukepara; and

(m)Goose Island.

[4]    The application area is roughly rectangular in nature with a triangular extension in the middle of the southern boundary. It is depicted with the boundary coordinates in the diagram below.2

Ruapuke Island…