Kaiwhakahaere Report
May 2009
This reporting period begins with the repatriation of the kōiwi tangata to the Wairau Bar, near Blenheim. This was a significant occasion and a positive opportunity for Ngāi Tahu to support Rangitāne. Ngāi Tahu and Kāti Kurī worked with Rangitāne on this because of our shared whakapapa to the kōiwi tangata and the tribal positions on repatriation expressed in the Kōiwi Tangata policy of 1993.
Some 60 tīpuna, which archeologists removed and took to the Canterbury Museum 70 years ago, were finally returned to Rangitāne and reburied from where they were taken. We celebrate with our whanaunga from Te Tau Ihu the fact that these tīpuna are finally at home and at rest. I also wish to thank the many whānau who supported this three-day event.
On the work front this month, the agenda has been dense with many submissions made to government. Firstly, there was Te Rūnanga's submission to the Foreshore and Seabed Ministerial Review Panel presented by Te Rūnanga representatives Tim Rochford, James Daniels, and Charles Crofts. I would also like to acknowledge Sacha McMeeking's comprehensive submission on the technical aspects of the Act. Te Rūnanga has urged the panel to consider three alternatives to the current Act.
- First – to repeal the Act and restore the rights that it purported to extinguish;
- Second – to design a solution that addresses both the original cause of the foreshore and seabed issue and fully recognises the relationships, rights and responsibilities that iwi Māori have with the foreshore and seabed; and
- Third – to ensure that there can never be a repeat of the foreshore and seabed.
Our underlining argument was that the Act must be repealed because it is blatantly bad law and our rights must be revived.
The second submission to government this month was made by me, on behalf of Te Rūnanga, to the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. My main point was that when the ETS was introduced, the government of the day did not conduct a clear and robust analysis of the impact of the ETS on Treaty Settlements. The real impact of the ETS is that it encumbers property rights, and imposes real and heavy costs on using and developing assets, with a particularly prejudicial effect on those transferred under Treaty Settlements.
For Ngāi Tahu, the extent of the impact is between $40 and $120 million from the liabilities imposed on forestry assets. As a result of the ETS, Ngāi Tahu will have $40-120 million less to invest in our communities and our people, $40-120 million less to invest in New Zealand, and a lasting sense that the Crown has not honoured their commitment under the Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement to enter into a "new age of co-operation" with Ngāi Tahu.
The final submission was made to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee which is seeking input on an amendment Bill to the Resource Management Act.
For Te Rūnanga, our paramount objective is the protection of the natural environment for future generations and giving effect to our kaitiakitanga obligations. Our concerns with the amendment Bill is that it undermines quality decision making by decreasing the role and opportunities for participation in resource management processes. Ngāi Tahu considers that participation is the vital mechanism that ensures good decisions are made and that the respective interest-holders' rights and values are taken into account. Unfortunately, we submitted that this new Bill will have a direct impact on Ngāi Tahu by restricting the time needed to participate in resource management processes and limiting the quality of information required to consider cultural impacts.
We have recommended some key changes to the amendment Bill which will relieve us of our concerns, yet still allow the process of environmental decision making to be streamlined.
As you can see, there has been a lot of work and thought going into these submissions and I am confident that they have all been well received.
Please be aware that these Kaiwhakahaere reports will continue to be more detailed as well as being more widely distributed through our tribal networks. This is just one response to the challenge of meeting the reporting expectations of Ngāi Tahu Whānui. In addition, the information available through the website continues to grow along with additional direct reports to Papatipu Rūnanga.