E rere ana ngā roimata, e matapōrehu ana te ngākau ki ngā mate huhua o te wā. Hanatu rā koutou ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi, ki ngā mātua tīpuna. Okioki mai rā. Te pito mate ki te pito mate. Te pito ora ki te pito ora. Mauri ora ki a tātou. E aku nui, e te iwi whānui, nāia te mihi kau atu ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Noho ora mai i ngā manaakitanga o te wāhi ngaro. Tēnā tātou katoa.

I’m sure that many will join me in congratulating Ngāti Waewae on the very successful opening of their new whare tipuna, Tūhuru. Ngāti Waewae, Ngāi Tahu whānui and iwi representatives ascended onto Arahura Marae on 21 November for the dawn ceremony. Even though it rained and at times poured, it didn’t stop whānau enjoying the moment and celebrating this special occasion. Later in the morning Ngāti Waewae welcomed whānau, the community and friends on to Arahura Marae. [Read more…]

Ka tangihia ngā mate huhua o te wā. Hanatu atu rā koutou ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi, ki ngā mātua tīpuna. Waiho atu mātou ki konei hei tangi mōteatea mō koutou. Okioki mai rā. Rātou ki a rātou, ā, tātou ki a tātou. Hei aku nui, hei aku rahi, hei te iwi whānui, nāia te whakamiha ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Mauri ora ki a tātou.

Since the signing of the claim, Ngāi Tahu 2025 has been the main focus of the iwi and collectively we have developed many positive and successful initiatives for our people, which have enabled whānau to achieve their own aspirations. As we approach 2015 we need to start thinking about our future and ask ourselves what it will mean to be Ngāi Tahu in 2050? Recently we held the first of three planned wānanga where the focus was vision: where we as a tribe are headed beyond Ngāi Tahu 2025; and how do we want to get there. I am very excited about the next two wānanga sessions and we will keep you informed on progress and developments.

In the past few weeks, the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group hosted regional freshwater discussions across the motu to receive feedback about our engagement with the Crown and to seek further direction on aspirations in relation to management, use and allocation of freshwater.

I led five hui here in Te Waipounamu. The in-depth kōrero from whānau and hapū to date has been good, with considerable support expressed for the Iwi Leaders Group. More importantly, whānau unanimously support continued engagement with the Crown on addressing allocating fresh water to iwi.

There is still a lot of work to be carried out in this space and we have technical teams working hard to ensure iwi interests are at the forefront.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new and returning MPs who were successful on election day. It is great to see our own whānau in Parliament and I wish them all the best for the next three years. I look forward to seeing Papatipu Rūnanga and the office form relationships with the new MPs within our takiwā and to reinvigorate working relationships with returning MPs.

By the time you receive this edition, we will have enjoyed the opening of the new whare tipuna of Ngāti Waewae and also participated in Hui-ā-Tau. For whānau who were unable attend both of these hui, we will have photos and feedback for you in the December issue.

Tā Mark's latest photo.

E tangi mōteatea ana te ngākau ki ngā mate huhua huri noa i te motu. Kua karangahia koutou e Tahu Kumea, e Tahu Whakairo, ā, hanatu rā koutou ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi, ki ngā mātua tīpuna. Waiho atu mātou ki konei hei hopo, hei matapōrehu mō koutou. Okioki mai rā. Rātou te hunga mate ki a rātou.

Tātou te hunga ora ki a tātou. E te iwi whānui nāia te whakamiha, nāia te owha ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Tēnā rā koutou.

Ngāti Waewae Rūnanga hosted the last of the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Road Shows in early September. There was a good turn out of whānau at each hui, especially in Te Ika a Māui. Road Shows are always a good time to catch up with whānau and rekindle those relationships.

We received positive feedback on the presentation and the direction the tribe is taking and also had some challenges put to us about where to go from here.

At the September Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu board meeting I was re-elected as kaiwhakahaere and Lisa Tumahai was re-elected as kaiwhakahaere tuarua (deputy kaiwhakahaere) for another three year term. Both Lisa and I are humbled by the support from Papatipu Rūnanga and iwi members and we thank you all – ka nui te aroha ki a koutou katoa.

My re-election brought back memories of those first few dramatic days I spent as kaiwhakahaere. On Saturday 26 September 1998, I was elected kaiwhakahaere. Two days later, on Monday 28 September Tā Tipene O’Regan and I were in the lawyer’s office in Wellington signing documents for the Ngāi Tahu Settlement.

Whānau from all around the motu traveled to Wellington for the passing of the bill and we all stayed at Pipitea Marae. The next day, Tuesday 29 September, the iwi descended onto Parliament for the passing of the bill. It will always be a memorable day of tears, laughter and a sense of pride at how much we have achieved and the mahi our tīpuna did to get us to that point. This was my introduction to the kaiwhakahaere role and what an introduction it was.

To be totally honest I wasn’t sure if I could do the job. However, when you have kaumātua pushing and encouraging you to get on with the job, there is no turning back.

The first three years were our developmental years. As an organisation we had so much to learn and develop. It was basically building from the ground up. We had to create accountability processes, create policies, learn how to deal with the expectations of the people and develop a distribution plan. In 2001, following several consultation hui across the country, we developed Ngāi Tahu 2025, the iwi strategy that outlines the tribe’s aspirations and direction.

Our most recent annual report shows we are well on the way to rebuilding the economic base for the iwi, but there is more to do to ensure the benefits of the settlement flow through to our regions and to our whānau. One of my goals is to see our tribal economies strategy come to fruition. Under this strategy it is our intention to develop and promote a range of growth and investment opportunities for whānau and Papatipu Rūnanga, enabling them to reach their own aspirations.

Finally, I look forward to seeing everyone in November at Arahura Marae for the opening of their new whare tipuna as well as the Hui-ā-Tau 2014. If you are unable to attend the Hui-ā-Tau you have the opportunity to log in online for the live-stream.

For more information about the live-stream option please read the Hui-ā-Tau update pānui in ‘The Office’ section of this edition.

Mark.

Ka tangihia tonutia ngā mate huhua o te wā. E ngā mate huri noa i te motu, haere atu rā ki te kāinga wairua, ki ngā mātua tīpuna. Waiho atu mātou ki konei, matapōrehu ai, tangi mōteatea ai. Okioki mai rā. Ki a tātou te urupā kanohi o rātou mā ki a tātou, nāia te mihi kau atu i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Mauri ora ki a tātou.

At the end of August a small contingent attended the eighth koroneihana celebrations of Kīngi Tuheitia Paki at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia. During our time there, we caught up with the Ngāi Tahu ki Waikato taurahere group for a waiata practice, before we were welcomed on to Tūrangawaewae Marae. It was also an opportunity to give the whānau an update on tribal activities of the past 12 months.

Following the koroneihana, we traveled to Tāneatua to attend and support the Tūhoe Crown Settlement Day ceremony. Minister, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Chris Finlayson traveled to Tāneatua to give a formal apology to Tūhoe for the historical wrong doings. The Tūhoe people were there in force welcoming the Crown and other iwi to their headquarters, Te Uru Taumatua. It was a very special day enjoyed by all. Now, with the settlement done and the apology given, I look forward to seeing Tūhoe advancing their people and their aspirations.

In the last week of August, we hosted three significant hui in Christchurch. The first, Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs Forum, was held at Show Place. This is a forum for the nine iwi of the South Island.

The following day the Iwi Chairs Forum opened at Tuahiwi Marae and the Inaugural Iwi Communications Practitioners’ Forum was held at the Wigram office.

The agendas for the Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs and the national Iwi Chairs forums were jam-packed with papers. There were some robust discussions and some very good presentations. Both hui were well received. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ngāi Tūāhuriri for their manaaki and support during our hui at Tuahiwi Marae.

In unison with the Iwi Chairs Forum, we hosted the Inaugural Iwi Communications Practitioners’ Forum. The purpose of this hui was to set up a network of iwi practitioners, to engage with other iwi and share ideas in the communications area. This was a very successful hui and the participants are excited about what and how the forum can support them.

In September we will be having the last four Ngāi Tahu Road Shows in Whangarei, Dunedin, Bluff and Hokitika. Whānau please check out the website, www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz, for dates and venues. We are encouraging whānau to come along to hear the kōrero and give feedback. If you are unable to attend any of these hui, please email your pātai to [email protected], tweet @Ngaitahu or make a post on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TeRunangaoNgaiTahu

Nāia te tangi kau o te iwi e matapōrehu ana ki ngā mate huhua o te wā. Ngau kino nei te iwi whānui i te korenga, i te wehenga atu o tērā rangatira o tātou, o te Upoko Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, a Henare Rakiihia Tau. Kei taku ihorei, kei te mātanga manaaki tangata, waiho atu mātou ki konei hei hopo mōhou. Ka noho koe i te pū mahara, ā, e kore rawa e wareware i a mātou āu mahi katoa mō te whenua, mō taonga tuku iho, ā, mō te iwi whānui hei hāpai i ngā uri whakatipuranga. Nāhau te ara i para kia eke ai tō iwi ki te keokeonga o tō tātou ariki a Aoraki. Nō reira e ngā tini aituā, hanatū rā ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi, ki a Ihoa o Ngā Mano. Okioki mai rā. Tātou ki a tātou e hora nei, e tautau nei te ahi i te kāinga, mauri ora ki a tātou.

Matariki celebrations were held across the country recognising the Māori New Year. Matariki is also a time for us to reflect and remember those who have passed away during the year.

This year as we entered into a new Māori New Year, we also celebrated the life of Henare Rakiihia Tau NZM, Upoko Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri who passed away on 30 June.
The multitudes ascended onto Tuahiwi Marae to pay their respects to Rik. There was a lot of crying and laughter as people reflected on their times with Rik and the work they did with him.

Rik was one of the many kaumātua who set us on the path to regaining our tribal footprint on this land, enabling us to build our resources and breathe life into our vision and aspirations for our people. In 1986, Rik filed a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board and Ngāi Tahu Whānui. He was a lead negotiator with the Crown for the 1998 Ngāi Tahu Settlement, and played a key role in the establishment of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. He reminded us of our on-going responsibility to defend and protect our statutory rights, as Ngāi Tahu, for future generations. Rik was regularly in and out of the office assisting and advising staff on projects, particularly with the Ngāi Tahu Fund, of which he was a board member. We will be forever grateful for his guidance and the wisdom he provided over the years. Our aroha is with the Tau whānau and Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga.

It was a pleasure to support Minister Gerry Brownlee and Christchurch Mayor, Lianne Dalziel with the public announcement of the Canterbury Earthquake memorial site. The memorial will acknowledge the trauma shared by the people of Canterbury and provide somewhere to reflect on the damage and loss of life. The memorial will also recognise those brave people who participated in the rescue and recovery. The site is on a stretch of the Ōtākaro (Avon River) in the city between the Montreal Street Bridge and Rhododendron Island.

Last month Tā Tipene O’Regan and I travelled to Tokyo to present a tokotoko to Masashi Yamada and his lieutenant, Yoshikazu Narimoto. Mr Yamada, a Japanese philanthropist and businessman, extended a lifeline to Ngāi Tahu in the early 1990s while the tribe waited for the result of its Waitangi Tribunal hearing. The lifeline came in the form of a series of multi-million dollar loans that enabled the tribe to continue with Te Kerēme. The deal was sealed by a handshake with Tā Tipene.

In 2001 Mr Yamada gifted a substantial amount to the tribe, which was used to set up the Ngāi Tahu Mātauranga Trust to fund the Yamada-O’Regan scholarships. With us on our trip was Dr Graham Kitson, who has whakapapa connections to Awarua through his father. It was Graham who first introduced Mr Yamada to the tribe, although he didn’t realise at the time how important that introduction would be. I also met Mr Yamada’s son, Shinji, who is keen to continue the family’s relationship with Ngāi Tahu.

Another significant relationship we celebrated earlier this month was the Whanganui River Settlement. We travelled to Ranana Marae on the banks of the Whanganui River for this auspicious occasion. I absolutely enjoyed my day with the Whanganui people, celebrating their achievements and remembering those who are no longer with us – those who put so much of their life into the claim. Congratulations to the Whanganui people. We look forward to seeing this new phase advancing.

The Ngāi Tahu roadshows are in full swing with hui held already in Auckland, Tauranga, Hastings and Taranaki. Next on the August schedule are Wellington, Arowhenua and Christchurch; with Kaitaia, Dunedin, Bluff and Te Tai Poutini scheduled in September. If you happen to be in any of these places we would love to see you there. Bring your whānau for a catch-up and be updated on what the office has been up to in the last 12 months.

It’s that time again, where New Zealanders will determine who will run the country. It’s great to see a few Ngāi Tahu whānau campaigning to be elected into parliament this year and we wish them all the best for their respective campaigns.

I’m encouraging all our whānau, especially our rangatahi, to get out there and vote. The power to determine our destiny lies with us, and our vote. Please take the time to look at the different candidates and their party’s policies, and make sure you vote on Saturday 20 September. For information about this year’s elections go to, www.elections.org.nz

Ko te māriri e rere atu ana ki ngā mate huhua huri noa i te motu whānui. Nei ko te iwi e matapōrehu ana, e tangi mōteatea ana mō koutou.

Nā koutou mātou i whakarangatira ai i roto i ngā mahi hei hāpai, hei ārahi i a mātou i tēnei ao kōmiro.

Nō reira e ngā tini aituā o te wā, whakawhiti atu rā i te pae o maumahara kia noho mai nā i ngā manaakitanga o te wāhi ngaro, ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi. Okioki mai rā.

Kāti, rātou ki a rātou, tātou te urupā kanohi o rātou mā ki a tātou e tau nei. Tēnā tātou.

Tēnā tātou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Kua tau mai te makariri ki runga i a tātou, ā, ko te tūmanako ia e whitawhita ana te ahi i te kāinga kia mahana ai te ngākau me te wairua o te tangata. Kia kaha tātou ki te tiaki i tātou anō. Ka nui te whakamiha ki a koutou. Mauri ora e te iwi.

Earlier this month I was invited to speak to the joint Iwi-Council liaison committee in Murihiku – Te Rōpū Taiao. I shared information about the Iwi Chairs Forum, the structure of the organisation, how it works and the importance of collaboration, not only among iwi, but also with central and local government. This led in to a discussion on our perspective on water, particularly in terms of our dealings with central government.

I shared our commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural resources within our takiwā and the work that still needs to be done to ensure iwi are given appropriate voice and influence at all levels of water management.

I also acknowledged the relationship Papatipu Rūnanga have with local government and the wider community and their commitment to advance engagement and collaboration.

The following week I delivered a similar message at an international Parks Forum Co-Governance and Co-Management hui at Te Papa Tongarewa. The objective of this hui was to foster collaboration, build respect and facilitate the sharing of knowledge in relation to National Parks in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Canada and the United States.

I strongly advocated for indigenous rights in our national parks and the continuation of our living relationship with the natural environment.

Across the world indigenous peoples have been excluded in the management and decision-making of these special places. The strategy to conserve biodiversity through national parks and marine reserves continues to diminish or subvert the ability of indigenous people to access and connect with their cultural assets and traditional resources.

By being engaged with the environment we sustain ourselves and our identity.

Excitement filled the wharenui at Rehua Marae in early June as Te Matatini qualifiers waited anxiously to find out the performance order for the upcoming national kapa haka competition.

We have eight months to go until the motu arrives on our doorstep for Te Matatini 2015. The draw placed the 45 groups in order. For our local groups, both Te Pao a Tahu and Te Ahikōmau a Hamoterangi were drawn to perform on day one in the Te Ihu pool and Ngā Manu a Tāne will perform on day three in the Te Kei section.

The draw was live-streamed on the Te Matatini website and broadcasted on Tahu FM. Congratulations to all 45 groups and we look forward to seeing you all take the stage in March next year.

Kei ngā mate huhua o te wā huri noa i te motu, haere atu rā, okioki mai rā koutou. Rātou ki a rātou. Tātou ki a tātou. E te iwi mauri ora ki a tātou.

E te iwi, e aku rangatira e nohonoho ana i te motu whānui, i te ao whānui, ka nui te whakamiha ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Tēnā tātou katoa.

Towards the end of April, I was invited by the Ministry of Justice to sit on a panel at the Justice Symposium 2014. The focus of the panel discussion was to look forward 10 years and consider global and domestic trends of relevance to New Zealand’s domestic justice sector.

A recent preliminary report from the United Nations Working Party on Arbitrary Detention noted that Māori are over-represented in our prisons where Māori make up 50% of the prison’s population. This is something we are very familiar with. The report also noted indications of bias at all levels of the criminal justice process in New Zealand from the investigative stage right through to the parole process stage.

Our responsibility as a people, and as a nation, is to work collaboratively to ensure that this bias is addressed and has no place in our society in 10 years’ time.
In my presentation I discussed three areas of focus for the next 10 years. First we need to empower whānau to make choices that best suit their needs and aspirations and we have to lead the way in our own whānau to keep our whānau out of the justice system. Whānau Ora is an excellent initiative that will assist us to achieve this. Second we need to promote and encourage an elimination of the bias in the justice system. We can only achieve this if we work collaboratively.

I acknowledge the relationships that Papatipu Rūnanga have formed with police in their respective regions. This is a good start and developments look very promising. And lastly we need to look at second-chance success. If we work together with those in the prison system we may be able to help them make better choices and encourage them to come back home to be contributors.

Creating positive and good leaders is very important with something like this. Good leadership at all levels is integral for positive change for our society.

This is the same message I took to the New Zealand Police Area Commanders conference, coincidently after the Justice Symposium. Again working collaboratively with the wider community will have benefits for all.

At this conference I challenged police leaders to think about how they can better engage effectively with whānau, hapū and iwi and how we might work better together to advance our regions and to advance the future of our families and community.

As I have mentioned above we have seen progress and developments made regionally where relationships have been built with a focus on whānau and community. The important point here is that we inspire each other to do better.

Over the years I have talked about the many people, especially kaumātua, who have inspired and mentored me. These people show outstanding leadership qualities that have encouraged me in my role as Kaiwhakahaere.

One of those kaumātua was Maria Moimoi Johnson of Taumutu, commonly known as Aunty Ake. Sadly at the beginning of this month Aunty Ake passed away at the age of 90. For me she was an inspirational leader of our tribe.

I recall the many discussions we had and valued the advice she would give me. I remember her politeness, and how big-hearted and humble she was. E te tāua, e te Whatukura o Takaroa, kia au tō moe. Noho mai rā i ngā manaakitanga o ngā mātua tīpuna i te kāinga wairua i te rangi. Okioki mai rā.

Mark.

E ngā tini aituā o te wā, hanatū rā ki te kāinga wairua i te rangi, ā, okioki mai rā. Rātou ki a rātou. Tātou ki a tātou. Mauri ora ki a tātou. Kei aku rangatira huri noa i te motu, ka nui te mihi, ka nui te māriri ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Tēnā rā tātou katoa.

Last month marked a significant event for the nine iwi of Te Waipounamu with the signing of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency contract with Te Puni Kōkiri. Minister Tariana Turia is very excited and thrilled with the expertise and experience of the organisation to assist and help build whānau capacity in Te Waipounamu and empower whānau to create their own pathways.

Kaiwhakahaere tuarua Lisa Tumahai has been elected as interim chair of Te Taumata, the governance group mandated to make decisions on behalf of the iwi shareholders of Te Pūtahitanga.

Te Taumata are currently recruiting directors for Te Pūtahitanga. Once this recruitment process is finished, the process to fulfill further positions will commence.

The Te Pūtahitanga team are out and about with their road show providing information on what the structure will look like and more importantly asking the hauora organisations and whānau members for feedback and advice.

In other recent developments around Te Waipounamu, Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura hosted the Prime Minister and officials for the announcement by the Conservation Minister Nick Smith of the Kaikōura Marine Management Bill. The Bill, once passed by Parliament, will provide for a new marine reserve, a whale and fur seal sanctuary, five customary fishing areas and new recreational fishing regulations.

Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura has worked closely with Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura with this project from its inception, working alongside Kaikōura communities to drive the kaupapa.

We are all immensely proud of the outcome. The philosophy underpinning Te Korowai was adapted from the Fiordland Guardians, where, in 1995, a group of commercial and recreational fishers, Ngāi Tahu, tourism operators, environmentalists, marine scientists and community representatives came together to address the escalating pressures on the marine environment.

The implementation of the strategy will assist us in better managing the future of the Kaikōura marine environment and the richness of resources that supports the economic, social and cultural future of the Kaikōura community.

On Saturday 12 April, the Waitaha Cultural Council Trust hosted the Waitaha Senior Kapa Haka Regional competition. Ten groups competed this year to represent Waitaha at the national senior kapa haka competition, Te Matatini 2015, including, eight from Canterbury, Te Iti o Tahuna from Queenstown, and Ngā Tumu ki Otago from Dunedin. Three groups qualified to represent Waitaha at Te Matatini 2015.

I would like to acknowledge the Waitaha Council for organising an awesome event, which was enjoyed by all who attended. Also I extend a mihi to all the participating groups who have worked hard with composing and practicing their programme for the competition over the past several months.

Congratulations to Ngā Manu a Tāne, Te Ahikōmau a Hamoterangi and Te Pao a Tahu, who will be representing Waitaha at Te Matatini, and on behalf of Ngāi Tahu whānui we wish you all the best at Te Matatini.

Ka tangihia, ka matapōrehutia ngā mate huhua o te wā. Whakawhiti atu rā i te pae o mahara, ā, e oki atu rā. Rātou ki a rātou, tātou ki a tātou. Mauri ora ki a tātou.

E te hākerekere, e ōku rangatira huri taiāwhio i Aotearoa, nāia te mihi kau atu ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Tēnā rā tātou katoa.

The storms and flooding we experienced earlier this month caused huge problems for whānau across Te Waipounamu, particularly here in Ōtautahi. The comfort of being around whānau often gets people through trying times like these. If there are any whānau needing support or advice, please ring the team at He Oranga Pounamu on 0800 KAI TAHU. [Read more…]

Ka tangihia ngā mate huhua huri taiāwhio i te motu. E māpuna tonutia ana tērā rangatira o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, ki a koe Johnno. Mōu i whakatangetange riaka mō tō iwi, hei aha? Hei oranga mō tātou, kia eke panuku, kia eke tangaroa i tēnei ao kōmiro. Ki ngā mate huhua, nawaki atu rā ki te kāinga wairua, ki ngā mātua tīpuna, haere, haere, e oki atu rā.

Tēnā tātou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Nāia hoki te whakamiha o te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa. Ko te tūmanako ia, e ora ana koutou i te whakatā me te nohotahi ki te whānau. Mauri ora ki a tātou.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday with whānau and friends and feel rejuvenated for 2014.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate Michael Skerrett, Upoko Rūnaka and Waihōpai Te Rūnanga representative, on receiving the Queen’s Service Medal for services to Māori and the community. Over the years, Michael has worked tirelessly for his rūnanga and has greatly contributed to the development of the wider Southland area. Ka nui te mihi ki a koe e te rangatira.

Recently the government announced the first seven groups selected for the expansion of the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative. Te Tapuae o Rehua has been selected for the He Toki ki te Rika (Māori trade training) and Whenua Kura (Agriculture) initiatives. It is great to see the continued support from government for these style of programmes. With more resources and support from the government we can support more Māori to contribute to the rebuild of Christchurch and with the Whenua Kura initiative this funding will provide opportunities for Māori which focuses on practicing sustainable agriculture and applying mātauranga Māori to land use and management. I look forward to the development of these two initiatives.

Over the past few months both Te Rūnanga and Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation (NTHC) have been in discussions with Ngāti Kahungunu and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council where NTHC is actively exploring an investment opportunity in the Ruataniwha Dam.

The Ruataniwha Dam proposal currently sits with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Board of Inquiry. Ngāti Kahungunu made a submission expressing concern about the lack of consultation they have received on the project. They have also expressed the desire for special consideration to be given to their sacred sites and have outlined their views on water quality matters.

In early January I travelled to the Hawke’s Bay and attended the last week of the hearings, to show our support to our Ngāti Kahungunu whanaunga and to gain an understanding on how these hearings and the process works.

I have reassured Ngāti Kahungunu of our continuous support for their kaupapa throughout the proceedings.

Te Apārangi (Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu committee) met with Ngāti Kahungunu in October last year to discuss the Ruataniwha Dam proposal. Tā Mark Solomon subsequently attended some of the hearings on the dam.

Te Apārangi (Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu committee) met with Ngāti Kahungunu in October last year to discuss the Ruataniwha Dam proposal. Tā Mark Solomon subsequently attended some of the hearings on the dam.

Ngāhiwi Tomoana, Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, during his visit to Ōtautahi to discuss the Ruataniwha Dam proposal with Ngāi Tahu.

Ngāhiwi Tomoana, Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, during his visit to Ōtautahi to discuss the Ruataniwha Dam proposal with Ngāi Tahu.

This year’s Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival was hosted by Ōtākou Rūnaka. The spirit of whakawhanaungatanga was paramount throughout the day and it was awesome to see whānau and friends enjoying the festivities and activities on the marae. This year we were joined again by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull. We both participated in a friendly forum and discussed the concept of Treaty Partnership and the idea that when we build on the partnership created by the Treaty, great things can be achieved for communities.

Our Treaty is the foundation on which we build a future together and I am impressed with the relationship that Ōtākou Rūnaka has developed with the Dunedin City Council. Congratulations to the whānau of Ōtākou for organising a very successful Waitangi Day Treaty Festival.

Kia tau te rangimārie ki runga i a koutou katoa.

Mark Featured Image

Mark Solomon.

At this year’s Hui-ā-Tau at Arowhenua Marae, you could feel the close spirit of whanaungatanga and kotahitanga. The marae was filled with laughter, with whānau enjoying each other’s company. It was awesome watching and listening to our kaumātua reminiscing the ‘good old days’ at Arowhenua.

It’s moments like this, that you can take time to reflect on the amazing mahi everyone is doing for the iwi and for each other. To see whānau happy, makes me feel that we are doing the right thing and heading in the right direction.

We had an estimated 200 people at Arowhenua and over 100 people across the three satellite hubs, in Arahura, Waihopai and Ōtākou. Whānau were presented with an update on the different projects and initiatives undertaken by Te Rūnanga Group in the 2012-2013 financial year.

The Open Forum presentation was well received and whānau took the opportunity to ask their questions and seek clarification on iwi kaupapa.
We have received positive feedback via the questionnaire handed out at the hui. There is a clear message from whānau that Hui-ā-Tau should be longer than half a day to enable an opportunity to have a more in-depth discussion on issues and iwi projects. Also, whānau thought this year’s hui was well presented and very informative and they are pleased with the continued growth of the iwi.

As always, the kai was absolutely delicious. A big thank you and acknowledgement to the whānau at Arowhenua Marae for their manaakitanga and hard work put in to organise another successful Hui-ā-Tau. Kāti Huirapa, kua ora te iwi i a koutou. Ka nui te mihi.

Later that day, Kotahi Mano Kāika organised a poiuka (softball) game for whānau from Ōtautahi, Arowhenua and Ōtepoti. I hear it was an afternoon of fun and a bit of a mixture of whakawhanaungatanga and whakataetae (competition). Congratulations to the whānau from Ōtepoti who won the game.

Earlier this month at the Ngāi Tahu farms in Eyrewell, we were joined by the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams, to launch a joint research project between Ngāi Tahu Farming and Lincoln University. The research will monitor contaminants leaching through the soil profile into the waterways. Environmental and cultural aspirations have been the top priorities for Mana Whenua and through this research we will gain valuable insight into the impact we are having on the environment. The research is forward-thinking and will allow us to better manage our farming businesses.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone an enjoyable summer holiday. Please time take to relax and enjoy the company of whānau and friends. Please be safe and let’s hope Tamanui-te-rā comes out to play throughout the summer break.

E te iwi, nāia te mihi o te Kirihimete me ngā mihi o te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa. Kia tau te manaakitanga o te wāhi ngaro ki runga i a koutou.

Ngā mihi,
Mark.

In the spirit of whanaungatanga, we recently met with Ngāti Kahungunu and reaffirmed that our whakapapa and shared environmental and cultural values will help guide decision making on the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme. Te Rūnanga and Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation agreed with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated that environmental, cultural and economic factors will determine our future involvement in the scheme. We are also committed to supporting Ngāti Kahungunu to ensure that the environmental and cultural baselines of the Ruataniwha scheme are of the highest standards.

Earlier this month we had Waikato-Tainui visit the office and we met with their newly-elected chair of Te Arataura, Rāhui Papa, CEO Parekawhia McLean and staff. The visit was an opportunity for both iwi to gain a greater understanding of each other and share information on some of the key initiatives currently being progressed by each of us. It was a productive hui and we look forward to working more with Waikato-Tainui and advancing our relationship.

In late October I spoke to the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust in Wellington. The focus of my speech was on the Māori economy, a subject of growing national interest and one that Iwi leaders consider critical to our ability to sustain not only our own iwi wellbeing but that of all New Zealanders. Māori business will grow and prosper even more over the next decade. It will continue to be highly adaptable, innovative and entrepreneurial. Many modern Māori businesses continue to operate according to Māori values and culture, interweaving modern business practices and technologies. Māori are an integral part of the New Zealand brand and competent, cross-cultural, transformational business leaders are, in my view, the way of the future, as New Zealand reaches into the growing global market place. It is important for us to nurture our future young Māori business leaders to grow and be successful and to ensure our national kete is filled with future leadership talent.

During the same week I visited some of our He Toki ki te Rika graduates who are now engaged in their apprenticeships. It’s promising to see them staying on the waka and on their way to becoming the next generation of Māori trade leaders. Many of them have aspirations beyond achieving their apprenticeships. They want to own their own business or gain further education. This is exactly the attitude we need to nurture to ensure Māori play a key role in the future of our nation.

The next intake for He Toki is in January 2014. If you or a whānau member is interested, call 0800 24 24 76 and ask to speak to the Centre of Māori and Pasifika Achievement.

In July, Minister for Whānau Ora Tariana Turia announced the establishment of three Whānau Ora commissioning agencies. In response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Te Puni Kōkiri, we are working collaboratively with the Te Tau Ihu iwi on this kaupapa.

The name of the partnership and proposal we submitted is Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu. This speaks to the convergence of the rivers of Te Waipounamu, bringing sustenance to the people and it reflects our founding value of whanaungatanga. It also acknowledges the significant whenua and whakapapa connections that bind us together in a shared future. The collaboration shows that whakawhanaungatanga, kotahitanga and whānau self-determination are the foundations of strong and sustainable communities. Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu will be an independent iwi-led entity. Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu will cater for all peoples in Te Waipounamu, not just the descendants of the nine iwi.

From a Ngāi Tahu perspective, the proposal provides the opportunity to create a positive environment to support whānau to achieve their aspirations in health, housing, education and employment. The philosophy of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu compliments and aligns to our tribal economies strategy and the existing housing and trade training initiatives, which are about empowering our people to create their own pathways and set achievable goals.

It will enable the broadening of the nature and range of services provided, encouraging collaboration and amalgamation among some providers. With the move to establish three commissioning agencies, there is an even greater focus on a holistic approach to oranga whānau and building capability within families to self-manage and lead their own destinies. I look forward to the December decision on our proposal. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work that was put into compiling the submission and most importantly, the collaboration of Te Waipounamu iwi.

On another note, we recently celebrated the progress of the Whakaora Te Waihora joint restoration programme, which has planted over 100,000 native plants at Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. Whakaora Te Waihora is a joint programme between Ngāi Tahu, the Ministry for the Environment and Environment Canterbury and is New Zealand’s largest collaborative freshwater clean-up effort. Over 60 guests attended a commemorative planting ceremony at the lake. It was a beautiful day and an appropriate way to reflect on the successes so far and the importance of our shared commitment to restore the cultural and ecological values of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.

Ngā mihi,
Mark.

Last month, I travelled with 36 Māori leaders to the United States, for a Māori Leaders “boot camp”, a week long course at Stanford University, San Francisco. The course was called ‘Aspiration: To Unlock the Power of Māori Primary Sector’.

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the course, which turned out to be a journey of discovery, learning, inspiration and facilitated discussion to explore the potential of our businesses for New Zealand. We analysed case studies of successful businesses and gained insights from globally recognised thought-leaders.

The Lectures included brain-based thinking and innovation; harnessing collective intelligence, understanding the Chinese markets and opportunities; creating value; and strategic thinking. These lectures reinforced for us all that Māori values bring a uniqueness to business that is truly appreciated – especially our whānau values and the importance of treating all people with respect.

We also had the opportunity to visit Google in the Silicon Valley and saw some amazing new technology still to be tested and released. The Google visit was an overwhelming and mind-blowing experience and gave me a much better understanding of how the new technology coming out of the Silicon Valley is shaping the world our tamariki and mokopuna will be living in and leading. It also showed me that there is so much possibility in terms of convenience and shared information. If managed correctly, emerging technologies will bring great benefits for our people.

The trip also included a visit to the quay to meet and network with the New Zealand businesses, which are there for the America’s Cup. We got to see where Team New Zealand is based for the competition.

On my return home, I was also greeted with good news about our annual results. In this edition you will find a summary of our annual report for the past financial year. It shows that we have had another excellent year right across the Board, with successful programme initiatives launched and milestones reached. I take a particular interest in those programs which build on and support the capability of our people.

The Manawa Hou programme, which provides the opportunity for our rangatahi to learn more about our Ngāi Tahu stories and history through wānanga and activities at the Papatipu Rūnanga, our Associate Governor Programme, Manawa Nui, which provides the opportunity for aspiring Ngāi Tahu governors to sit on our commercial subsidiary boards and the ongoing success of He Toki, a pathway to lifetime employment via trades training.

Ngā mihi,
Mark.

Over the past few weeks, I have enjoyed catching up with many of you at the Ngāi Tahu Roadshows. The purpose of roadshows is to discuss, share, and receive feedback on the current direction of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and how this fits with Ngāi Tahu 2025 and Papatipu Rūnanga aspirations. To date we have visited whānau in Waitaha, Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tairāwhiti, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Ōtepoti. There has been a good turnout at each hui and whānau have been asking some really good questions and providing useful feedback, particularly on how and where we focus our efforts to lift wellbeing and enhance the connections between all of us. We look forward to the last two hui in Hokitika and Invercargill.

Another enjoyable in hui in recent weeks was a special breakfast that Te Rūnanga attended with our He Toki ki te Rika partners, Hawkins and CPIT. He Toki is the iwi-led Māori trades training programme in Christchurch, which aims to upskill our people and position them to take on leadership roles in the rebuild. The breakfast was an opportunity to talk to potential employers about the programme and our aspirations for graduates.

Recently we hosted a hui with Te Tau Ihu iwi chairs to discuss the idea of forming a forum for Te Waipounamu iwi. The hui was well received and it was agreed to name the forum, Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs Forum. The purpose of the forum is to promote whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga and manaakitanga; to share information and expertise; to have a collective political voice to influence the Crown on matters of common concern; and to seek common ground and consensus but not to undermine the mana of each iwi to determine their own respective position or strategy on any matter.

The forum will meet quarterly and where possible, meetings will be held leading up to the National Iwi Chairs Forum. I look forward to working closely with Te Tau Ihu iwi and advancing and progressing our relationships.

Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua will be hosting Hui-ā-Tau this year. The date is Saturday 23 November, please lock this in your diaries and calendars. A friendly reminder that Hui-ā-Tau is a one-day event held every two years and Hui-ā-Iwi is a three-day festival held every other year. More information about this year’s Hui-ā-Tau can be found on page 31.

Ngā mihi,
Mark

It has been a very busy and positive month for me. I attended the World Indigenous Network Conference in Darwin, Australia at the end of May. The conference brought together indigenous peoples from around the globe to talk about resource management.

It is inspiring when you have all these different indigenous peoples in one room, networking, sharing their values, their tikanga, their colourful lives. We have a lot of similarities, particularly the recognition of kaitiakitanga responsibilities. We shared with each other our strategies on how we work with governments, form partnerships and enhance our ability to manage natural environments. We all share a common interest, which is our tamariki, our future leaders.

The delegates explored the idea of sharing knowledge by way of an exchange programme. This will give the opportunity for young indigenous people to visit other indigenous communities, focusing on what people are doing in their communities. I can see many benefits in this programme for our young people, which will support them in their endeavours to work in the environmental sector.

Matapura Ellison and Kara Edwards were on this trip and we were very privileged to be able to visit Kakadu National Park. It has the most stunning scenery. We visited many significant sites and caves with the most beautiful Aboriginal rock art.

I really enjoyed the kōrero given about art work and the techniques used. The park is owned by the local Aboriginal people and they co-manage the park with the Australian government. I look forward to continuing the relationships that we formed with many indigenous groups, their leaders and advisers.

Back home we had a few significant events. As a tribe we celebrated the opening of Hākuiao, the new wharekai at Ōtākou Marae. Our Ōtākou cousins are blessed to have a very impressive building with spectacular views. The opening was attended by many and I would like to congratulate Ōtākou for an awesome day.

A few days later the Ngāi Tahu Reo Māori awards were held at Ōtākou Marae so the wharekai was well and truly put to good use. I congratulate our reo Māori champions who have been continuously promoting the revitalisation of our language at a rūnanga level and across the iwi. Congratulations to Tahu Pōtiki who received the Aoraki Matatū award for his lifetime commitment to Kāi Tahu reo and to the Kotahi Mano Kāika team for organising an awesome evening. Koia kei a koutou mō te manaaki takata.

As a sign we are moving into a post-earthquake recovery mode, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu agreed to dis-establish Te Awheawhe Rū Whenua (TARW) as a committee of Te Rūnanga. TARW was established in April 2011 and was governed by the representatives from Rāpaki, Koukourārata, Taumutu, Ōnuku and Tuahiwi. They have had a huge responsibility in the response, recovery and rebuild and working closely with CERA and the Christchurch City Council. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Wally Stone and Elizabeth Cunningham, who both chaired the committee and a special acknowledgement to Rakiihia Tau Jnr and the office staff who provided support to TARW.

Lastly, I would like to thank you all for your aroha, support and acknowledgements since my knighthood was announced. Maria and I have been blown away and humbled by all the messages of congratulations. As a whānau we did enjoy the formal ceremony at Government House but the highlight for me and my whānau was undoubtedly the event hosted at Takahanga the following day.

A special thanks and mihi to the staff of Te Rūnanga, Karl Russell and the Kaikōura whānau for the hard work put in to make the celebration at Takahanga a success and to all those who attended. E kore rawa e māhiti te puna aroha, te puna whakamihi. Nāia māua ko Lady Maria e mihi kau ana, e uruhau ana, ka nui te māriri ki a koutou. Mauri ora ki a tātou.

Nāia te whakamiha, te uruhau ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Mauri ora ki a tātou.

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Rārua on the recent signing of their respective Deeds of Settlement.

The signing between the Crown and Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu on April 20 marked the the final deed of settlement for historical claims in the South Island. I see this as a huge milestone and in every respect the moment in which the iwi of Te Waipounamu, can begin rebuilding side-by-side for the benefit of our future generations. [Read more…]

E mihi ana ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā.

When I think about the true meaning of leadership, I always think about our kaumātua. Many of our kaumātua are our role models, who provide advice and guide us in shaping our future. They act as the support person and strong backbone we need to ensure we achieve our goals and most importantly in setting the foundations for future generations. [Read more…]

Nāia te uruhau, nāia te mihi kau atu ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the three Christchurch-based kapa haka rōpū, Te Ahikōmau a Hamoterangi, Ngā Manu a Tāne and Te Kotahitanga, who represented Waitaha and performed at the national kapa haka competition, Te Matatini, held in Rotorua on 21-24 February. After many months of practice, commitment and hard work, the three groups gave it all they had on the stage. Each performer should be very proud of the way they represented their community, whānau, hapū, and iwi. [Read more…]

Kei te hākerekere, kei aku rangatira, e te iwi whānui, nāia te uruhau, nāia hoki te mihi o te tau hou Pākehā ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā.

I hope everyone had a well-deserved break over the summer period, relaxing and enjoying the time with whānau and friends and that you are re-energised for what 2013 will bring. [Read more…]