Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu
Land Claims Report for May 2010
- Preparing Our Ngāti Kahu Deed of Settlement
- Consultation hui Brisbane 30 April – 1 May.
- Te Ana o Taite – in the Environment Court 10-14 May 2010
- Foreshore and Seabed replacement legislation … more battling… National government consultation 9 May at Ngā Tai Tokorua, Taipā School
- National Iwi Leaders Forum, Ōnuku marae, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, 8-9 May.
Summary
Each member of the team has continued working on their part of our Deed of Settlement. The two hui in Brisbane went ahead from 30 April-1 May with good attendance and input although not all from Ngāti Kahu. Te Whānau Moana kuia and kaumātua spent last week in the Environment Court as we fought to stop the desecration and destruction of the big wāhi tapu on Karikari beach, Te Ana o Taite. We met with the Attorney General, Chris Finlayson, on 9 May at Taipa to explain why we cannot support the government’s proposed replacement for the Foreshore and Seabed Act. The day before we attended the National Iwi Chairs Forum hosted by Ngāi Tahu which drew up resolutions about the foreshore and seabed and about the Whānau Ora policy.
1. Preparing Our Ngāti Kahu Deed of Settlement, working hui 21 May Barry court Quality Inn, Parnell, Auckland.
Following on from our previous working meetings, each of the team has continued working on their sections of the Deed of settlement. We had a meeting of the oral traditions research group on 15 May in Parnell to go through all the transcriptions they have done of kuia and kaumātua interviews. We have another meeting of the full team on Friday 21 May at the same venue.
We still need those photos of those involved in the claims who have now passed on, the lands to be returned, and particularly, our wāhi tapu. Thanks for those who have sent theirs in. Can whānau please email the photos of their mātua, tūpuna, and rohe they would like included in the Deed of Settlement to Bardia at the office (b.matiu@xtra.co.nz).
- Road show to Brisbane 30 April – 1 May.
The two hui were held in Springwood, Brisbane. We were pleased with the 40 who turned out for the first hui, although many of these were not Ngāti Kahu. Another 15 attended the second hui.
It was good to catch up with those we hadn’t seen for a while and they were very pleased and grateful for our visit and the information we provided. We asked that someone think of organizing a Ngāti Kahu ki Piripane (Brisbane) group and we hope that will be picked up. It will make communications easier.
The road shows to Sydney and Brisbane were both very good but they also took up a great deal of time and energy for the team. As such we have decided to postpone the rest of our scheduled hui (in Melbourne, the South Island and around the North Island) for now.
3. Te Ana o Taite – in the Environment Court 10-14 May 2010
Te Whānau Moana kuia and kaumātua turned up in force at the Environment Court last week to listen to Carrington Farms and to support evidence led to prevent the on-going desecration of Te Ana o Taite. Carrington Farms dragged the hearing out over the entire week arguing against being prevented from building on the wāhi tapu. We signed an out of court settlement with Carrington Farms in 2001 and amended it at their request in 2003. The agreement is clear that that Carrington Farms will not build on or develop our wāhi tapu.
The Court allowed mana whenua evidence to be presented at length and for our tikanga to be observed in the Court. The Court reserved its decision so it will take some time before it is issued.
Twice during the hearing the judge mentioned securing an injunction from the High Court to enforce the out of court settlement. Russell McVeagh (our counsel for this case) are now preparing an application to be filed in the High Court within the next few days. Carrington Farms has formally been put on notice in this respect and we are awaiting their response.
When we met with Chris Finlayson about the foreshore and seabed I pointed out to him the urgent need for better legislative protection for our wāhi tapu.
4. Foreshore and Seabed replacement legislation – more battling… National government consultation 9 May at Ngā Tai Tokorua, Taipā School 7pm to 9pm
There was a good turnout for this hui. There were a number of speakers and each in their own way reminded the Attorney General, Chris Finlayson, that his present proposal is unacceptable and that all the foreshore and seabed belong to Māori.
I managed to get there too. I was able to present our declaration of mana whenua/mana moana publicly notified last month and included in last month’s mailout. I’ve included it again this month. I also presented the resolution passed at the National Iwi Chairs Forum the day before this hui. It advised that the current proposal is not acceptable and there remained a lot of work to do to bring it to a level that is acceptable to the hapū who are mana whenua/mana moana for the foreshore and seabed throughout the country.
I did suggest repealing the Act and replacing it with a commission with a membership made up of half Māori, half Crown and chaired by Māori. It would be charged with ascertaining what each hapū around the coast, as mana whenua, wanted in respect of their foreshore and seabed.
Chris Finlayson undertook to keep working with us on this issue as part of our Deed of Settlement process.
5. National Iwi Leaders Forum, Ōnuku marae, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, 8-9 May.
Anthony Housham and I attended this for most of the first day. We were present for the deliberations on the foreshore and seabed, whānau ora and fresh water. I have since received the report of the full hui and that is available from the office.
Once again the hui was well attended. Ngāi Tahu compiled excellent reports from each of the working parties and this is also available from our office. As a result several unanimous resolutions were reached covering a wide range of issues. The Constitution Working party has yet to be convened.
The next Forum hui will be at Hopuhopu in August and will be hosted by Tainui. Ngāti Toarangatira will host the one after that in November or December at Takapūwāhia marae in Porirua.
Last month I reported a request from Te Arawa Lakes Trust to come and explain the role and purpose of the National Iwi Chairs Forum. As reported at our last Rūnanga hui, Ngāti Pikiao and Te Arawa looked after me very well. I gave a presentation to about 50 people at Tamatekapua marae on 20 April. It was good to have Te Whānau Moana there as well – my cousin Ngaire Whata and her whānau.
Professor Margaret Mutu
20 May 2010