In March 2009 the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations approached Sir Douglas Graham to act as a facilitator and find a way forward for tangata whenua with interests in Tāmaki Makaurau so that negotiations with each group could begin.
Some of those tangata whenua are Pare Hauraki/Marutūāhu iwi and Sir Douglas’s recommendation was that it would be best for everyone if all their claims were addressed and not just those relating to interests in Tāmaki Makaurau
In June 2009, he presented a proposal for iwi to consider. The proposal recommended that each individual iwi negotiate with the Crown:
- Over the wording of the record of the historical events causing the grievance and the Crown apology that would be given
- For the return of Wāhi tapu or sites of great significance which are owned by the Crown
- For compensation either through the return of land or in cash or both.
For some years, various Pare Hauraki/Marutūāhu iwi worked together in groups, however some individuals or entities that have represented iwi in the past have had their authority challenged and it became unclear to the Crown who had the right to speak on behalf of the iwi.
It was up to each of the iwi of Hauraki/Marutūāhu to decide whether they wanted to proceed into negotiations with the Crown in respect of its historical Treaty claims, and who they wanted to act as negotiators.
Each iwi runanga, in conjunction with Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK), organised a hui a iwi to make these decisions. From these hui a iwi came the decision that each of the 12 iwi of Hauraki would proceed into formal negotiations with the Crown and interim negotiators were appointed.
From this the Hauraki Collective was formed.