Mauao handover edges closer

By John Cousins
A dispute that threatens the handing back of Tauranga's famous landmark to Maori was tactfully sidestepped in speeches delivered at a ceremony which saw a draft memorandum of understanding initialled between the Crown and Western Bay Maori.
The draft trust deed sets out the conditions and understandings for the return of Mauao to Maori, although day-to-day management would remain with Tauranga City Council.
Afterwards, Government ministers and kaumatua made it clear that they were looking to tomorrow's ratification hui to sort out the dispute in which Tauranga's biggest tribe (iwi) Ngaiterangi opposes Te Puke iwi Waitaha being included in the ownership agreement.
Ngaiterangi Iwi's two mandated trustees both attended yesterday's ceremony, although Kihi Ngatai said he would only put his signature to the final agreement between the Crown and the Trust.
English language speeches did not refer directly to the grievance in which Ngaiterangi Iwi Society chief executive Brian Dickson says the rightful claimants to ownership of Mauao were Tauranga Moana's three iwi - Ngaiterangi, Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Ranginui. He said Waitaha were descended from Te Arawa waka - a waka that had never been recognised as part of Tauranga Moana.
Colin Bidois, the chairman of the organisation that has pursued the handover - Te Runanganui O Tauranga Moana - said it had been a long and interesting journey to arrive at a document that the Government and Te Runanganui were satisfied with.
Mr Bidois said that despite the questions around the document, he was confident it would go through at tomorrow's hui.
"I did not expect this document would flow through easily - there will be questions on Saturday."
Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia acknowledged in his speech that there was some sorting out to do at tomorrow's ratification hui.
"It may get a bit rocky as you go forward but hang in there ... I know it is the right thing to do ... the outcome will be worth it.
"We are seriously here to sign with those who wish to sign."
He said said the deed acknowledged the special relationship Maori had with Mauao.After the memorandum was signed, Mr Horomia told the Bay of Plenty Times that he hoped Ngaiterangi Iwi Society's opposition to Waitaha becoming one of signatories would be resolved, although it was for local iwi and not the Crown to sort out.
"It is about coming to agreement. There are certain dynamics in all these settlements."
He referred to a finding of the Waitangi Tribunal on the Tauranga's raupatu (land confiscations). The Tribunal wrote that "all the hapu of Ngaiterangi, Ngati Pukenga, Ngati Ranginui and Waitaha have associations with Tauranga Moana and with Mauao."Mr Ririnui said afterwards that it was not a conflict between Ngaiterangi iwi and Waitaha but a difference of opinion in terms of history with the iwi society.
While the iwi society had a role to play in the development of Ngaiterangi, it was not the voice of the iwi on issues like this, he said. Mr Bidois said afterwards that it was an issue of tikanga (customs and traditions).