A milestone for hapu and council

Te Whiu Hapū Inc. secretary Rukuwai Allen and Mayor John Carter signing the formal agreement between the hapu and FNDC, with acting FNDC chief executive Colin Dale and Te Whiu Hapū Inc. chairman Te Rau Arena looking on. Photo / FNDC

The formal agreement between the Far North District Council and Taiamai Waimate hapū Te Whiu last month marked a first for both parties.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at Tauwhara Marae by Mayor John Carter and acting chief executive Colin Dale for the council, chairman Te Rau Arena and secretary Rukuwai Allen for the hapū.

Mr Arena said the hapū had been working positively with the council over recent years on matters related to its rohe, and it was important to formally recognise the relationship.

"Signing a MoU with the council is a significant step for our hapū," he said, congratulating Mr Carter and his team for entering into a spirit of respect, unity and good faith.

"It is essential that this be established before any post-Treaty settlement phase," he added.

It was the first MoU the council had signed directly with a hapū, while for Te Whiu it was only the third document the hapū had ever put its name to.

The first was the 1835 Declaration of Independence, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene, followed in 1840 by te Tiriti o Waitangi.

During the signing ceremony Sam Napia explained how Te Whiu's rohe had been reduced to a fraction of its 1840 possessions, and that that alienation had continued well into his parents' time.

"The impact of that loss has been devastating, and is felt keenly by Te Whiu," he said.

"We see this MoU as an opportunity for our people to work with council to better achieve our development goals."

Mr Carter described the agreement as a "momentous occasion," and acknowledged that local government had also been responsible for tangata whenua losing their lands.

"We can't change the past, but we can acknowledge it and work together to achieve real progress for the whole community," he said.

As part of the ceremony Mr Carter presented Te Whiu with two kohekohe saplings, one to be planted at Tauwhara and the other at the council headquarters in Kaikohe.

"I think these trees growing tall together will be a fitting symbol of our relationship."

Mr Dale said the council appreciated that hapū had a variety of demands, calling on often limited resources.

The MoU was an opportunity for both parties to benefit from each other's strengths.

The agreement commits both parties to meet at least annually to discuss development issues, with the primary goal of ensuring that Te Whiu and the council actively engage with each other on issues affecting the hapū within its rohe.