HUI-Ā-TAU MINUTES 2023
TŪWHARETOA MĀORI TRUST BOARD
Great Lake Centre, 5 Story Place, Taupō, 2 December 2023, 1:30 PM
2023 Hui-Ā-Tau — Minutes
Welcome & Karakia
Opening karakia — Ngahere Wall
Mihi — Ngahere Wall welcomed whānau to the hui. Ngahere then handed over to fellow Board member Judy Harris to present and explain ngā tikanga o te hui and house rules.
Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board Members Present
John Bishara (Chairman), Danny Loughlin, Judy Harris, Hon Dame Georgina te Heuheu (Deputy Chair), Ngahere Wall, Te Takinga New, Heemi Biddle, Patricia Otimi, Channey Iwikau, with Rakei Taiaroa (CEO)
Present
Recorded on the Attendance Register.
Opening
John Bishara (Chairman) acknowledged those in attendance with a mihimihi. The first responsibility of the Chair was to introduce the Board Members that were in attendance.
Nga Mema Poari
Board members introduced themselves.
Apologies
Board Members:
Te Ariki Tumu te Heuheu Tangonui Kingi
Beneficiaries:
Noted today at the registration desk or have been submitted prior to the hui by phone and email to our offices.
Resolved:
That the apologies for the Hui-ā-Tau of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board held 3 December 2023 be received.
Moved Aroha French Seconded Rahapa Rameka CARRIED
Minutes of the previous Hui-Ā-Tau
The minutes (distributed with the Annual Report 2023) of the previous Hui-ā-Tau of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board held 3 December 2022 were taken as read.
The Chairman advised that any matters arising from the minutes would be addressed in General Business.
Correction to the minutes:
Apologies
Page 1 Apologies: Correction – change date from 3 December 2022 to 3 December 2023.
Minutes of the previous hui.
Page 2 Minutes of the previous hui. Resolved: Correction –change date from 1 November 2020 to 21 November 2022.
Resolved:
That the minutes of the previous Hui-ā-Tau held on 3 December 2023 be confirmed as a true and accurate record.
Moved: Aroha French
Seconded: Kata Rameka CARRIED
Chairman’s Report
John Bishara presented the Chairman’s Report.
The Chairman expressed appreciation for the attendees’ engagement during a busy time, he expressed the importance of face-to-face interactions over Zoom meetings. He acknowledged the collective efforts of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust, and Ngāti Tūwharetoa Fisheries Charitable Trust, which have led to a $4.7 million distribution to whānau, hapū, and iwi through shared programs, including housing.
The Chairman highlighted the development of Taupō Moana Group Holdings, a commercial entity created to manage strategic assets for Ngāti Tūwharetoa. He praised CEO Rakei Taiaroa for overseeing the acquisition of these assets and commended the commercial team for their professionalism and respect for the Board.
He also addressed the challenges posed by the previous government’s natural resources reforms, which threatened Ngāti Tūwharetoa land. The Board successfully fought these policies, and the Chairman expressed relief at seeing the end of the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) program.
Looking ahead, the Chairman stressed the importance of stability on the Board, especially with upcoming elections and continued changes in government policies.
He acknowledged the hard work of the administrative and “backroom” staff, whose efforts keep the Board running smoothly.
Finally, the Chairman praised Te Ariki Tumu te Heuheu for his presence and guidance during board meetings, noting the value of having a leader who is both approachable and grounded in the community.
Resolved:
That the Chairman’s Report be received.
Moved: Janice Wall
Seconded: Aroha French CARRIED
Annual Report
Rakei Taiaroa presented the Annual Report.
The CEO began by acknowledging the live stream audience, particularly viewers from Australia and the United States. He expressed gratitude to the Board’s financial advisors, KPMG, and introduced key individuals, including KPMG accountants Olivia Flowerday, Angela Wynne and Greg Stebbing, chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
He praised staff, highlighting their hard work and collaboration with the Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust team, which was showcased in a video presentation. He expressed the importance of their contributions and thanked them for their efforts in preparing the annual report, despite challenges with auditing timelines.
The CEO noted that the Trust had received a clean audit for the second consecutive year under KPMG, which was a significant achievement. He discussed future plans, including exploring self-insurance for marae to avoid high external insurance costs.
He also addressed a pressing issue regarding gold clams in Lake Taupō, mentioning a recent press release and media coverage. The Board had taken action to halt certain boating events in an effort to prompt the Crown to address the problem, and they are prepared to continue pursuing this independently if needed.
The report concluded with a focus on the accomplishments and dedication of the Trust’s staff.
The Annual Report for 2023 was presented by way of a 10-minute video.
Resolved:
That the Annual Report for 2023 be received.
Moved: Charmaine Penehi
Seconded: Aroha French CARRIED
Financial Report
Danny Loughlin presented the financial report, noting that the statements are summarised, and full reports are available upon request. Key points included:
» The Taupō Waters Trust Group, composed of five entities, generated a net surplus of $2.1 million. This included income from Mercury Energy’s easement, Taupō Hole-in-One ($222,000), and Chris Jolly businesses ($281,000). The Parasail business, acquired in 2023, reported a small loss of $12,000 due to setup costs.
» The overall group income increased significantly to $7.2 million, compared to $4.6 million the previous year. After operating expenses, the group ended the year with a healthy $2.1 million profit.
» The wider Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board Group reported a total surplus of $6.9 million, with significant contributions from Tūwharetoa FM and the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board itself.
» Distribution of grants amounted to $624,000 for marae insurance and capital works, with $1.1 million for individual grants, including education grants, scholarships and kaumatua medical grants.
» Total assets increased from $84 million to nearly $90 million. The investment portfolio delivered an annualised return of 6.9%, while the Waikato River Fund returned 7.5%.
» For the next financial year, the Board expects a $9.9 million income with a planned surplus of $4.6 million before grants and distributions. A total of $2.4 million is earmarked for grants and distributions, leaving a projected surplus of $2.19 million.
The report concluded with a request for approval of the financial report, budget, and endorsement of Silks Audit as the auditors for 2023-2024.
Resolved:
1. Receive the Financial Report.
2. Receive the Summarised Financial Statements of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board for the year ended 30 June 2023.
3. Receive the Summarised Financial Statements of the Taupō Waters Trust for the year ended 30 June 2023.
4. Note the budget for the next accounting year (1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024).
5. Approve the appointment of Silks Audit as auditors for 2023-2024.
Moved: Ngahana Hartley
Seconded: Tom Walters
CARRIED
Response – Chairman
The Chair emphasised the importance of fulfilling the Trust’s fiduciary responsibilities, ensuring transparency, and maintaining compliance for audit purposes. He acknowledged that while compliance may seem tedious, it is highly valued. He concluded the formal presentations for the annual report and invited attendees to share questions, suggestions, or compliments.
Whakawhiti Korero/ General
Business
Patai 1 - Dave Potaka
I’d like to thank the Trust Board for giving Pukawa Marae a Marae capital grant.
We were able to improve our wharepuni, our men’s wharepaku and refurbish our kitchen as a result of that funding. Also, I tautoko the idea of self-insurance. I think it’s a great idea if we can afford it. A good idea.
The third matter I’d like to approach on is erosion around the southern end of the lake. I note in the report, the news of what happened down there over the summer last year.
There’s quite a bit of erosion and some of our urupā have been threatened. I’m just wondering what influence the Trust Board has in relation to the levels of the lake. Because all roads seem to lead to the fact that the lake levels are high, caused by obviously the weather conditions.
But I can see in the future those weather conditions continuing. And I’m just wondering what, if we have any influence over the levels of the lake and if we don’t, is there anything we plan to do about that? So that’s my question. But kia ora for the grants.
Response – CEO
Rakei responded to Dave Potaka’s question regarding water management and extreme weather events, referencing data from Cyclone Gabrielle in January. He explained that while Mercury Energy manages water levels within consent limits, the January event exceeded their capacity, revealing gaps in coordination between Mercury, Waikato Regional Council (WRC), and local councils.
He highlighted that outdated planning timelines are no longer effective, as extreme events are becoming more frequent. Rakei emphasized the need for more agile decision-making, particularly from regional councils, and noted ongoing discussions with Mercury to improve preparedness and response strategies. He stressed the importance of proactive action, especially in areas like Lake Taupō, and called for more efficient communication from councils.
Rakei concluded by reaffirming the need for changes in current practices to better handle future events.
Response – Chairman
The Chair expressed the urgency of climate change by highlighting how it has directly impacted their urupā and marae, making it a top priority. Although these areas have been affected in the past, the recent event was particularly pressing. He also referenced the mitigation funds established to address the environmental impacts from the Tongariro Power Development, before passing the discussion to Hemi Biddle for further input.
Response – Heemi Biddle
Heemi explained the complexity of managing lake levels and foreshore damage, emphasizing that the Waikato Regional Council sets the water levels, with Mercury Energy operating within a defined range. Heavy rainfall and a cyclone caused significant damage, particularly at Poukura Marae, where mitigation funds are being used to build a seawall.
He highlighted the availability of various funds for environmental and mitigation efforts, including the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Genesis Energy Committee and the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Mercury Development Group, which address lake-related issues. He also mentioned other funds such as the Contact Energy funds, Tauhara Geothermal Charitable Trust, and Wairakei Geothermal Charitable Trust, which support local hapū. Additionally, the Waikato River Authority (WRA) offers funding for projects within the trust’s boundary on the Waikato River.
Heemi encouraged those dealing with foreshore or environmental issues to contact Alex Good, the Project coordinator, for guidance.
Response – Chairman
The Chair stressed the complexity of climate change challenges but highlighted that funding is available to address them. He emphasised the importance of acknowledging the problem and collaborating on solutions, noting the Trust’s proven capacity to help marae access these funds. He urged swift action to implement necessary protections.
The Chair also reflected on the experiences of Kahungunu and the reality of climate-induced relocation, especially for coastal marae, where rising tides may force communities to move. He acknowledged that while other Māori communities have faced these challenges for years, it is now a pressing issue for their region.
The Chair concluded by inviting further questions and discussions.
2 – Janice Wall
Kia ora e te whanau. Ko wai au, ko Janice Wall tōku ingoa if you weren’t here at the first meeting. I’d just like to take the time to acknowledge the trustees at the table.
Stellar Financial Report, Danny, so thank you for that. Also, would like to acknowledge what the trust board has done with the insurances for the maraes around Tūwharetoa. That’s a huge commitment, and you’ve been committed for a long time.
On behalf of Ngati Hineuru, Te Haroto Marae, would like to say thank you for insuring our marae. We are very close to moving into a new rebuild. Just kind of chucking it on the table over there, I don’t know, I see you assist other maraes.
Is there a possibility that there could be a collaboration collectively? Is that all the words you want to hear? But yeah, with our marae in Te Haroto, we’re actually looking at going into a new rebuild. Also, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for our grants. Thank you for our Kohanga Reo grant.
On behalf of Snowy Rose Rakei Wall, thank you again. And just the last plug for Tūwharetoa, Rakei gave me an answer at the first meeting, so happy about that. And just want to acknowledge Marie Otimi for helping us kick that off.
The trust board at the moment has an amazing Taiao team, so just want to acknowledge that too. And with young Kahu in that, she is a product of Tūwhare Taiao. So, thank you again for the mahi.
I’ve got no legislation stuff, unless you want to speak to Te Pāti Māori, but we’ll catch up later, uncle. We’ll catch up later. But yeah, just had to plug that in.
We had the most votes actually for our rohe for Te Pāti Māori this election. We do have to make friends with Tama Pōtaka, but that’s all right, you’ve already made friends up there. Thank you very much.
Response – Chairman
Kia ora, Janice. Just acknowledging the success of Te Pāti Māori.
The Chair highlighted the complexity of working with the Crown, describing it as a challenging but necessary relationship. He acknowledged the Trust’s long-standing, 100-year relationship with successive governments, noting that while they may not always agree, the Trust remains committed to collaborating with the democratically elected government. The Chair stressed the importance of engagement, recognising the significant impact government decisions have on their lives and the need to avoid isolation over matters of pride or status.
Response – Heemi Biddle
Heemi highlighted the political landscape, noting the current government is a right-wing coalition. He emphasised the need for Māori to vote strategically, ideally supporting Te Pāti Māori or other Māori parties to gain power through Māori seats. He referenced Winston Peters as an example of leveraging the balance of power, now serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
Heemi stressed the importance of forming strong relationships with the current government, mentioning key political figures such as Louise Upston, Tama Pōtaka, and Christopher Luxon, to advocate effectively for the needs of their people.
Patai
Patai 3 – Whaitama Te Whare
Kia ora ko Whaitama Te Whare tōku ingoa, no Waitahanui. I was ready to ask some questions, but Heemi you answered them, so that was well put together. I have to say to John, the climate’s always been changing, and it will always change. So having something in place out at Poukura is a good thing.
I didn’t realise that I was part of Poukura until January when I could see notices and that sort of thing. So, we were racing over there from Waitahanui and going to hui and all of that stuff and had the pleasure of meeting Earl Bartley, who wrote the report that was in the New Zealand Herald. And he was a very, very interesting man.
We have a reef out in Waitahanui down by te taha o Waitahanui near the rip.
And what’s happened over there since the reef has been put in place, some say it’s good because there’s now up to 70 feet of extra sand where the reef is. And so, heading down towards Waitahanui, heading down towards where I am, possibly a kilometre away from where that reef is, we’ve got a build-up there of maybe 30 feet. So, the rock wall, I’m not sure about this rock wall thing, whether it’s a revetment or whether it’s a pile like what Hamish Brookie did.
He’s the civil engineer that put together the reef that’s there now. Some say that what it’s done is spoiled the communal place where Pakeha and Māori fishermen used to get together and korero across the river. I imagine Ngahere would know the rip that used to be there, it’s not there any longer, and we’re not being able to get fish there.
But Ngahere, I’m just going to put you on the spot here. Hamish Brookie would like to meet you. If you know of Hamish Brookie, he lives right on the corner next to Wa McLean.
He lives right next to him.
Response - Chairman
The Chair discussed the long-standing issue of the rock wall on the Waitahanui River, noting that despite years of discussions, no action has been taken. He suggested that the Board take responsibility to resolve the matter, so it no longer remains a topic of concern next year. He reflected on the value of community gatherings, such as those held at the Rotoaira rugby club, stressing the importance of rekindling those connections. The Chair also praised Deputy Chair Dame Georgina te Heuheu for her wealth of experience, particularly her legal background and involvement as a founding member of the Waitangi Tribunal, which provides valuable insights to the Board.
He stressed the importance of balancing strong advocacy for their people and land with maintaining the tikanga and peaceful values of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. While acknowledging occasional frustrations, he reiterated the Board’s responsibility to protect their community and uphold the legacy passed down from their elders.
Patai 4 – Tom Walters
Tom Walters whanau. I must say, at the previous meeting, I brought up the question of investing in hearing aids thanks to my cousin, Hoki Chase, Hoki Purcell. And during the lunch break, I’m sure Rakei came by and said, oh, fantastic idea, Tom.
And we’ll get right into it. And I’ll get the trust board onto it too. So, thank you very much, Rakei.
I appreciate it. On another note, way back when, our late Hohepa Tamamutu, he commissioned carvings for a wharenui that stood on Spa Road in Taupō here. And more recently, that wharenui was bought by a private investor, a man by the name of Peter Goodfellow, who may ring a bell, National Party.
And I’m not saying that in a bad way either, but that’s who he is. He’s got more money than God. I don’t think he needs our wharenui.
But the crux of the matter is our carvings, which are probably some of the most valuable artefacts in the country, and they were carved by the Tarawhai carvers for Hohepa Tamamutu. They are Tūwharetoa carvings. And more recently, we have created an entity that we’re going to work together, and that is Te Uri o Hohepa Tamamutu.
And we’re going to work together to get those carvings back. They’re currently sitting in a container, we believe, in South Auckland. And if they’re sitting in a container, they will be rotting.
My question to the board is, is there any help that we could get from the Trust Board in the recovery of the carvings?
That’s part one of the questions. And part two of the question is, when we do recover them, it would be nice, in my own thinking anyway, if we thought about having those carvings feature, particularly when you’ve got such a nice new building coming up, or somewhere appropriate, but certainly put in the hands of somebody like the Trust Board to feature. So, what I’m asking for is, I don’t know whether that would come under your pou tikanga or what, but is there anything that we could do to work together to get those carvings back?
Response - Chairman
The Chair confirmed that the Board supports the idea of retrieving Tūwharetoa artefacts from museums and storage facilities. He explained that the challenge lies in determining how to proceed and committed to investigating options with Rakei.
He noted that the Ariki’s office had previously initiated a Whare Taonga project focused on securing these artefacts. The Chair highlighted the importance of collaboration, suggesting that the Board act on behalf of or in partnership with the Ariki’s office to facilitate the return of these taonga.
Response and Patai 5 – Paranapa Otimi
Just in response to Tom’s pātai, I understand that under our last settlement there’s agreement there for us to establish our own whare taonga. I think we need to move that issue with Te Kotahitanga as quickly as possible. That’s the first thing.
I just want to ask a question about mitigation. Because the mitigation was that we would have an agreement with the Crown to give effect to protection of our taiao.
That was the Genesis of our board coming to be with the raising of the lakebed back in 1924. So, I see all of our mitigation packages need to be re-mitigated. The responsibility was between us and the Crown at the time.
We owe our existence today because of those decisions that were made back in 1924 to 1926. And yes, it’s our 100th year coming up. And so, I want to request that the board and our other entities support a re-mitigation package, agreements with all those that we have relationships with.
That’s with the Crown, even though there’s a change of Government, werohia! That’s also with regional government and local government, werohia! Because that’s the basis of our existence today and how we have moved forward.
But we’ve always fought for all of those things. I remember the Mighty River Power agreement, and they’ve talked about Waitahanui. We named that place Don’s Groin.
Don worked for Mighty River Power, so we named it Don’s Groin. But it was at the request of our people that that should happen because of the inundation of the shore at the time for our Waitahanui families.
So kā tika, I think that we don’t pay enough support to remitigate with the companies, with regional council, district council, and anybody else, including the rest of government.
Irrespective of three waters being cut, mahi a te mahi, rangatira, werohia!
So tēnā tatou. I think this is a priority for us, and I want to just go back to the saying of our old people. I ngā wā o mua, ko tā ngā tūpuna matua ēnei kōrero: e rua tau te ahua o tatou taiao, e rua a te mate kei runga i a tatou.
Every two years, we’re good. After the two years, we have a bad two years. Today, with the changes in our taiao, if we have a look at it, it’s now every four years that we’ve had a bad kaupapa impacting us.
And I mentioned COVID. So, we’re expecting four years of bad before we start to see te hua pai o tatou taiao. And it’s not just in relation to our commercial as well. COVID, we had a look at that.
Moving forward to Gabriel, and that’s not just on us. It’s also on our Kahungunu relations and the rest of our people around the country. So, expect it. Four years of bad, and two years of good.
Koina te korero o tatou tupuna matua. And with that, hopefully we can get into reviewing all of our mitigation packages with the board and our environmental units and our incorporations. Mahi a te mahi.
Because it’s not just the impact on our environment within the boundaries of Tūwharetoa, but also because some of those rivers and awa flowing to Whanganui flow down to Taihape within our tribal boundaries.
Koina te mate o te taiao kei runga i a tatou. Na reira tenei tāku nei kōrero kia tātou Rakei, tātou e te poari.
Response - CEO
Rakei expressed the importance of identifying a clear pathway forward, considering the role of Te Kotahitanga and its responsibilities under past claims. He noted that while environmental considerations (Taiao) are included across various claims, tangible actions have been lacking.
With the new government, he highlighted the opportunity to engage and push for progress, though it may be challenging to open doors. Rakei acknowledged Paranapa’s proposal as a more focused approach that could provide a stronger foundation for discussion and action.
Response from Heemi Biddle
Heemi acknowledged Paranapa’s efforts during his time on the Trust Board, noting the hard work invested in past arrangements. Despite holding over 150 hui with hapū, the iwi ultimately opposed the government’s plans due to the environmental damage. However, once the government moved forward, the iwi secured mitigation funds to address the impacts.
Heemi agreed with Paranapa that the mitigation funds, set over 20 years ago, are now insufficient, especially given the increasing challenges posed by climate change. He committed to revisiting the issue and stressed that in future resource consent negotiations, they will aim for more ambitious outcomes.
Patai 6 – Timu Tetai Hoariri Paerata
Kia ora anō tatou. Hemi, thank you for that korero for Poukura. I belong to Mokai and Poukura as well.
But I’d like to give you a little bit of an update. This was just sent to me just the other day. And it reads, the lakeshore appears to have stabilised, but we’re still losing whenua to our urupā road and to our marae.
So, we’re minimising the traffic flow down in Poukura. And hopefully we’ll get a restoration done, a rock wall constructed to begin in about early February. So, have you been down there lately?
Response - Heemi Biddle
No, no, I haven’t been down, but I’m aware that the funding’s been approved for the road as well.
Patai – Timu Tetai Hoariri Paerata
Now, the other whenua that I wanted to talk about is Parakiri, Boat Harbor, as most people know it. Now, we’ve got our niece sitting there. You know that’s an SNA, area. Many, many boats go there. And it’s only up until recently, they had the run of the whole place until we put somebody on there, a kaitiaki, by the name of Jacinta. Jacinta sits there on behalf of Ngati Te Kohera.
I just want everyone to know that. If you’re visiting Parakiri, there is a whanau staying there. She lives in a tent. And she’s been living in a tent for some years.
Patai 7 – Hinetemoa Rutene Walker
My name is Hinetemoa Rutene-Walker. He patai? The reports are very good, thank you. Now, what I want to know, because I’ve never seen it here in any reports, is the Two-mile Bay sailboats. Who is in control of that? I don’t see it in the report.
And yet, it’s there. And I’ve always asked about that. I was brought up on that point.
And I don’t know who’s running that two-mile sail place, the alcohol they have on there. You know that hurts. Because we’re a tapu whanau. We have a urupā on that point. And yet, I still don’t know what’s going on there.
So, I’d love to know.
Response – CEO
The CEO referenced a meeting at Waipahihi earlier in the year regarding licensing matters. He explained that while the operators have a licence, originally issued by DOC, the Trust has since provided a commercial licence for their lake activities. However, there are concerns about the operations expanding beyond their defined area.
The CEO highlighted the importance of the operators engaging with the Waipahihi whānau and mentioned recent discussions with Moana and Penny about internships related to the commercial boats. He is committed to following up on the matter and ensuring proper engagement between the operators, the pā, and the community, while offering to guide the process.
Patai 8 – Angela Taituha
Nga mihi kia koutou whanau, ko Angela, Whanganui Bay.
I have been a Harbor Master Enforcement Officer for the lake for 12 years now. My pātai is I was wondering if the board would consider looking at a joint role with the Harbor Master and Fisheries Training.
Recently I spoke to the Ministry of Primary Industries along with our Harbor Master and the Department of Internal Affairs and DOC.
It would be a good idea, as some of the fishery officers from ocean waters can be quite strict. However, since we have a reserve along the bay, we generally don’t encounter many issues.
Incorporating training into a dual role would be beneficial, as it would allow us to maintain control internally rather than relying on external parties. Thank you.
Response - CEO
The CEO confirmed that they are able to assist and invited further engagement. He mentioned ongoing discussions with DIA and DOC about providing training opportunities for their people.
Patai 9 - Eva Moke
Kia ora tātou. Ko Eva Moke tāku ingoa.
I just wanted to commend the board for any initiatives you might be directing at a governance level down in the beehive around the golden clams. This is obviously an issue that impacts not just Tūwharetoa but other iwi as well. And so, if you can apply some pressure at that level, I’m sure we’d all appreciate it.
Where I live at the moment, I’m over in Rotorua, and we’re getting not too much help from MPI, Ministry of Primary Industries, and that gives you an indication of where they’re focusing. It’s not DOC, it’s Primary Industries and they’re looking at the income and the revenue from fishing and the boating, aha rānei.
So that’s where they’re going. And I can’t see that we’re making too much impression there, but if Tūwharetoa can go down to Wellington and do some damage down that way, as I said, we’d appreciate it.
Response – CEO
The CEO acknowledged Ngāti Tarawhai’s leadership and discussed efforts to prevent unwanted boats from entering the area, particularly from the lower Waikato River. He stressed that action is needed before the peak summer season, noting that Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) and MPI are not acting quickly enough.
The CEO mentioned that they have already blocked certain events to protect the taonga and are set to meet with the BNZ CEO soon to address the issue further, alongside a nationwide press release. While organised events can be stopped, managing individual visitors will require collaboration with DOC, possibly involving ramp closures.
Patai - Eva Moke
I’d like to thank you, the trust board, for taking the initiative in furthering our collective goals in terms of our moana, our wai.
So ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora rā. Just one paku kōrero, if I may please, and it’s not a discouragement or a criticism, but I found it a wee bit difficult trying to follow the financials, trying to correlate what I’m seeing in the book with what’s up on the screen.
I don’t want to go and get the big detail stuff. I just want to see something that I can understand. So ahakoa tēnā, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
Patai 10 - Waka Wall
Kia ora whānau. Ko Waka Wall tōku ingoa. No Waitahanui ahau.
I just want to see if we can increase the amount of marae licences for fishing licences for the marae. Because at the moment we’ve got heaps of whānau getting out there and doing the mahi without licences.
And it sucks because I just got a new job and that’s with fisheries, DOC fisheries. It’ll be pretty ratchet for me to go and punish some of the whānau out there that are getting out there doing the right thing for the marae. You know these ten fishing licences and not all the time those ten fellas are there during like you know tangihanga and all that kind of stuff. And we end up with whānau that don’t have licences going out to do their mahi.
You know even 20, maybe I reckon that’s a good number. At least I’ll be able to do my job knowing that I don’t have to take the cousin’s rod off him or anything, you know.
Response – Chairman
The Chair noted positive feedback from Board members regarding the current allocation of ten fishing licences per marae. He suggested that increasing the allocation to 20 licences would be a beneficial improvement.
Final Remarks
The Chair commended whanau for their efforts, acknowledging their energy, commitment, and support for Ngāti Tūwharetoa. He concluded by inviting Te Takinga to close the meeting.
3:15 pm the Hui-ā-Tau closed with karakia
Karakia Whakamutunga — Te Takinga New
