Care plan boost for hapu

A new environmental plan by Te Uri o Hau marks an historic milestone for the Kaipara hapu's role in managing its natural and physical resources.

The plan, developed with funding assistance from the Northland Regional Council, sets a strategy and direction for how Te Uri o Hau wants to see natural resources in its rohe managed and protected.

Called Te Uri o Hau Kaitiakitanga o te Taiao, the document is a blueprint for the future which other local authorities now must consult to ensure their own policies do not breach or contravene those of the hapu.

It will ensure the hapu's concerns and interests are better reflected in the district and regional councils' planning for the area.

Under the Resource Management Act 1991, councils must take into account any relevant planning document recognised by an iwi authority, such as this one which has been worked on for three years.

Te Uri o Hau chairperson Mihi Watene said Te Uri o Hau Kaitiakitanga o te Taiao would give the northern Kaipara hapu a stronger voice in central and local government decision-making within their statutory area of interest.

Northland Regional Council contributed $15,000 towards the plan's development and its chief executive, Malcolm Nicolson, has congratulated Te Uri o Hau on the completion of the plan.

"This is the product of several years' worth of work in gathering input and building their strategies and policies. It really is a huge achievement," Mr Nicolson said.

"The regional council is building strength in their relationship with Te Uri o Hau and this plan provides for us to work together in a way that better supports their objectives."

As well as setting a strategic direction for engaging with statutory authorities and the community, the plan sets a number of long-term objectives around management of the area's natural resources.

Mr Watene said it included strategies to educate and give tools to hapu members to be proactive as kaitiaki of natural resources. It also provided a framework that could help whanau get involved in commercial ventures in a way that was consistent with the hapu's environmental and cultural values.