Rau Tipu Rau Ora chair frustrated by GDC, trust withdrawals

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The chair of a Tairāwhiti governance group has expressed disappointment at the recent departure of key stakeholders from its ranks.

Rau Tipu Rau Ora (RTRO) was set up in 2020 to lead a region-wide response to Covid-19, and includes representatives from multiple iwi.

But in March, Mayor Rehette Stoltz informed the group that Gisborne District Council would no longer be involved, citing a need to focus on cyclone recovery.

A month later, economic development agency Trust Tairāwhiti followed suit, saying the council’s withdrawal signalled to the community RTRO had served its purpose.

In a written response to Local Democracy Reporting, RTRO chair Sir Selwyn Parata expressed frustration at the withdrawals, saying it was “disingenuous” to say the group had only been set up for Covid response.

“It is disappointing we are unable to build on the lessons learned and the success of our collective leadership and joined-up recovery response to Covid,” Sir Selwyn said.

“The withdrawal of the council and Trust Tairāwhiti from Rau Tipu Rau Ora makes it more difficult for the region to provide a coherent and comprehensive regional recovery plan, and provide a united front when negotiating with government.”

Sir Selwyn said RTRO committed to five priorities when it was established — housing, family harm and addiction reduction, climate change, economic infrastructure and workforce development.

It released the Tairāwhiti Regional Housing Strategy 2022-2027 last year, something all members, including the council and Trust Tairāwhiti, signed up to.

In response to questions from LDR, Trust Tairāwhiti said it did not take its withdrawal from RTRO lightly.

It said it was confident it would continue to have “enduring relationships, joint initiatives, work programmes and funding discussions” with iwi.

Although the council and Trust Tairāwhiti were no longer participating at a governance level, both were still involved at an operational level.

Remaining stakeholders include Ngai Tāmanuhiri Tūtū Poroporo Trust, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou, Te Whatu Ora Health NZ and Eastland Group.

Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust hadn’t participated for the past two years but were yet to formally withdraw from the group.