Editorial: Council righting wrongs

Mita Mohi and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait at Saturday's ceremony to hand back Taniwha Springs to local iwi. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The weekend marked a significant occasion for a local iwi which is going a long way to healing what they say is deep cultural harm.

The council officially gave back Taniwha Springs to Ngati Rangiwewehi on Saturday at a ceremony at Tarimano Marae on the shores of Lake Rotorua.

An agreement was signed to cement the new relationship.

The springs were taken in 1966 under the Public Works Act, causing great hurt to the iwi, mainly because a pump station was put over the springs. The iwi wanted the pumps removed so the spirit of taniwha Pekehaua - who lived there - might return and, with it, the mana of Rangiwewehi.

The council will take water from the spring until its resource consent expires in 2018 and then a new agreement with Ngati Rangiwewehi will be discussed. The council says it is undertaking discussions in "good faith" to find a solution that is good for council and iwi.

Mayor Steve Chadwick has indicated there is another wrong that needs righting, and that's to do with the Hamurana Springs water take easement area. She says there is no reason this should still be in Crown hands.

When elected, Mrs Chadwick promised change. She and her team are certainly standing by their word. Since coming to office two years ago she has charged forward with massive changes in our city - think City Focus, the Green Corridor, changing the bus stop location and reducing the number of councillors on the council.

But perhaps the biggest change is how Maori are represented on the council with the formation of the Te Arawa Partnership Board.

If you take a look at what has been achieved between the Rotorua Lakes Council and Maori already this year, it's fair to say the relationship is healthier than what it was.

If you don't agree, there's an election next year.