Hon. Mr Cullen
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON

9th September 2008

Dear Mr Cullen

In 1994 Ray Chappell presented an offer for my property at Maunganui Bluff. Because the offer was far less than the valuation and report obtained by the National Bank, being less than my entitlement, the Crown's offer was refused.

Mr Chappell left me with the documentation after two visits, threatening that the Crown would obtain the property on their terms and if necessary by other means.

I made a counter offer and rewrote the contract on the documentation left behind being the agreement deed, and signed a Transfer, being schedule Four and the one and only Transfer that I ever signed, which was witnessed by a Graham Scott on 14th September 1994.
I had increased the ex gratia to $3 million, being proportionally more in line with the previous several valuations obtained, which would have put me back in a position I would have been in if not for the claim.
My offer was rejected by the Crown and Mr Doug Graham's Government of the day.

A year later in November 1995 the Federated Farmers had commissioned another valuation and report for an ex gratia payment of $2.3 million. We were told by Federated Farmers, the National Bank (Mr Ewing) and our sitting National MP, Mr John Carter, that if the offer was made for a lesser amount than the amount suggested at $2,150,000, which was lower than the real entitlement based on evidence to hand, all parties reckoned it would be accepted by the Crown.

I signed this under duress, as stated in my letter to the Crown at the time, as I did not see why a freehold title land owner should have to subsidise a false Maori Land Claim. This offer was written up and presented by my Solicitor, Mr Clive Jackson in November 1995.

But once again the Crown and Parliament rejected this offer and re-offered Ray Chappell's 1994 old offer.

The National Bank (Mr Ewing) advised me in the meantime that they will be moving for foreclosure regardless.

The Crown's offer was put back to me on 6th December 1995. My Brother Brian made it clear that he was not going to sit idly by and watch the Crown and National Bank sell his share of family inheritance and made it clear that he was going to sign Ray Chappell's documentation for Power of Attorney and take Chappell's half a million dollars previously offered*. So I was forced by the pressure from the National Bank and the Crown to sign an undertaking to sign on the 8th December the Crown's re-offer on the 6th December being the Crown's previous 1994 Deed and Agreement on Crown's terms.
I knew there was no other choice but to sign under duress.

*ONZF Footnote: Allan Titford's parents, who owned the family farm at Waiwera, acted as guarantors when Allan purchased the Maunganui Bluff farms. Allan was rapidly paying off his mortgages and would have been freehold within the space of about another two years, had the government not interfered and frozen his business. Once the false Maori claim was hatched, the Titfords were deliberately "starved out - burnt out" in an orchestrated campaign, led mostly by government officials in collusion with Te Roroa terrorists and using associated agencies to bring severe pressure to bear (Rural Bank-National Bank, Police, State Insurance, Maori Affairs, DOC, ACC, Social Welfare, Government valuers, Government engaged law firms, etc, etc.). When it was impossible to run a business, it was impossible to pay the mortgage, therefore, the guarantors of the farm purchase, Allan Titford's parents were facing foreclosure on the family farm at Waiwera and bankruptcy. They, and Allan's brother Brian, were offered $500,000 to declare Allan insane and gain "Power of Attorney" over his assets. As with all other costs surrounding this illegal land-grab, the $500,000 would have come out of Allan Titford's equity and it would have cost the government nothing to pay this bribe.

I asked for one alteration requested by my parents and immediate family which, Minister, you are aware of.
Advice taken at the time, said we would still be able to sue various parties for short fall based on the Crown's offer.

However, Minister, as you know the Crown once again, after I signed an undertaking on the 8th December, between the 8th and 11th December 1995, totally re-wrote the contract to protect third parties. This was presented to me to sign on the 12th December 1995.

On seeing the contract was now totally altered I made more additions to the Sale Agreement contract, Deed and signed the memorandum attached to liabilities that had been previously requested by the Crown on the morning of the 12th December and made it very clear to the Crown's agent, Mr Samac, and on the documentation itself that those pages that were initialed were accepted, and that those pages un-initiated were rejected. This created a massive argument between myself, my wife and Mr Samac at the time. I did not sign or re-sign any transfer on that morning, as Mr Jackson the previous month had advised me not to sign a Transfer. And those closest to me at the time advised me not to sign one and they will testify to that to this day.

The contract was then ready to be sent back to collect the Crown's signature along with the Memorandum of attached liabilities.

The Crown's Agent, Mr Samac refused to give me a photocopy of the partially signed and initialed documentation on the morning of the 12th December. However, he did later give me a part signed and a fully signed and initialed copy of the document signed by my wife, Susan.
The only partially signed documentation returned was the memorandum attached to liabilities.

I attempted to get a copy of my contract through my Solicitor Mr Clive Jackson but he was refused a copy from Rachel Taylor of Phillip Fox.

In 1999 the Act Party obtained several boxes of documentation under the Official Information Act via Muriel Newman. However, one of these boxes that was obtained and delivered to my parents address was put aside at Upper Waiwera and was never handed on to me until late last year just before my father passed away. He gave it to me and it was still un-opened and addressed to me.

I was going through the box earlier this year and I was surprised to find a copy of a Transfer that I had supposedly re-signed and executed when the Deed and Agreement were signed and altered in December 1995.

I was surprised to see that someone operating for the Crown had attempted to sign my signature on the signing page from the defunct 1994 transfer that had previously been signed by myself and witnessed by Graham Scott.
The front pages obtained under the Official Information Act of that transfer had also been changed and upgraded. I also noticed at the top of the page that someone had attempted to initial my initialing and date had now been typed a date on it being 12th December 1995.

I raised this with Ross Baker of the One New Zealand Foundation and he said he would under the Official Information Act would get a copy of the Transfer himself. However Paul James refused the One New Zealand Foundation a copy, but stated by letter that it could be got from the Lands and Survey site.

So I asked my wife to contact Terralink, who helped her get a copy of the Transfer sent to Lands and Survey and I received a copy of that Transfer earlier today.

To my surprise this Transfer has been altered again since the one supplied in 1999 under the Official Information Act. This one had added on it a statement “In witness whereof these presents have been executed this 12th day of December 1995” on it half way down the page, as well as the typed piece up the top. This one had been signed by the Solicitor for the Transferee who I believe is Rachel Taylor.

So under the Official Information Act I have 9 requests which I would like you to answer individually.

1. Under the Official Information Act - Can you please confirm that the signature on the Transfer supplied is that of Rachel Taylor?

2. Under the Official Information Act - Is this the Rachel Taylor of Phillip Fox the same Rachel Taylor that refused to give my Solicitor, Clive Jackson a copy of the documents signed in December 1995 when he requested it in February 1996?

3. Under the Official Information Act - Can the Crown explain the alterations made to the transfers supplied and who were they made by?

4. Under the Official Information Act - Is this common practice for the Crown or Agents to alter previously executed transfers and forge them when an un willing seller was not prepared to re execute a Transfer?

5. Under the Official Information Act - Could you please supply us with the documentation, Sale agreement, Deed and Transfer that was signed and witnessed by Graham Scott so that I can compare it with the one that I hold.

6. Under the Official Information Act - Why did the Crown when using their Agents Rex Smith and Gary Eddy leave one title within the claim area Manuwhetai un valued?

7. Under the Official Information Act - Why did the Crown leave the subdivision outside Manuwhetai altogether un valued which was my means of survival of repayment of my mortgage and debt?

8. Under the Official Information Act - There was a large difference between the Crown valuations and our valuations. Was this vast difference in the valuations a result of the Crown not valuing the subdivision being the majority of the sections?

9. Under the Official Information Act - Why did the Crown in their valuations and correspondence not take into account the proceed monies invested in the subdivision and the farm being monies from the sale of my 110 tonne fish quota?

Minister, you can not Transfer my land to Te Roroa because you do not have a legally executed Deed, Agreement or Transfer. And I object and forbid you and you do not have my consent to Transfer my land to settle the Te Roroa Bill.

Yours faithfully

Allan Titford

cc - All MP's
Solicitor General
One New Zealand Foundation