Mana Whakahono
Mana Whakahono signing (L-R): Ngāti Turangatukua Māori Committee Chair Hine Mohi, Mayor David Trewavas, Ngāti Tūwharetoa Ariki Tā Tumu Te Heuheu, Taupō District Council CEO Gareth Green, Ngahana Hartley of the Waipapa 1A Māori Reservation, & Ngāti Tūrangitukua Charitable Trust Chair Lauren Fletcher.
How the Mana Whakahono and co-governance will improve how we work
Ko wai a Ngāti Tūrangitukua (who are Ngāti Tūrangitukua)?
Ngāti Tūrangitukua is the mana whenua of the Tūrangitukua rohe (area) which includes the Tūrangi township and its surrounds.
Ngāti Tūrangitukua has a special relationship with the whenua and people located within its rohe which is reflected through their role as ahi kā, kaitiaki and landowners of most reserves located within its rohe. As a result of their generosity, a vast majority of these recreational reserves remain accessible for the benefit of the wider community and visitors alike. Some however are waahi tapu (sacred areas). It is important to Council that the aspirations and values of Ngāti Tūrangitukua as kaitiaki of these special areas and all reserves within the Tūrangitukua rohe are acknowledged and upheld.
What is the Mana Whakahono?
This is a comprehensive relationship-based agreement between Taupō District Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua.
The agreement includes a Mana Whakahono ā Rohe—which is a relatively recent Iwi Participation tool under the Resource Management Act (RMA), designed to assist tangata whenua and local authorities to discuss, agree and record how they will work together, including how tangata whenua will be involved in resource management decisions.
The agreement also covers matters wider than the RMA, which reflects the aspirations of both parties to enhance their working partnership on a range of functions within the Ngāti Tūrangitukua rohe and Ngāti Tūrangitukua’s aspiration to make decisions over particular matters within its rohe.
Among these include input into the development of Council policies, co-design of community infrastructure, reserve management and input into environmental, cultural, and economic development and “three waters” issues and initiatives. The Tūrangi Co-governance Committee - made up of equal representation from Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua - is overseeing the implementation of the agreement.
Why is the Mana Whakahono important?
Historically, the Crown acquired Ngāti Tūrangitukua land for the purposes of the Tūrangi township. This was not agreed to by Ngāti Tūrangitukua and was held to be a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Waitangi Tribunal. It is important that context is recognised for the purpose of this agreement.
Ngāti Tūrangitukua and the Council have been in discussions for several years to find ways to improve their relationship and build on their shared aspiration of working together in partnership on a range of matters for the benefit of both Ngāti Tūrangitukua as mana whenua and the wider community. Alongside general matters, the discussions included how the partners will work together on particular matters and how the Council will look to enable Ngāti Tūrangitukua to actively be involved in decision-making, either jointly with Council on Council-related functions, or alone as mana whenua and landowners within its rohe.
The Ngāti Tūrangitukua Deed of Settlement also included provision for the Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua to have a stronger partnership-based relationship. The agreement will reflect the Council’s desire to give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi principles of partnership (the duty to act in good faith in the nature of a partnership), participation (of Māori in council processes) and protection (the duty to actively protect the rights and interests of Māori) in our services, activities and planning work.
What are some collaborations?
The partnership between Ngāti Tūrangitukua and Taupō District Council has seen the development of a new sports facility at Tūrangitukua Park and a new papa tākaro (playground) at Te Kapua Park, both opened in 2023.
Te Mataapuna is a new sporting and community facility serving the people of Tūrangi and its surrounding areas. The facility has been built to host visiting sports teams, provide shelter in poor weather and create a space for community groups to use, too.
The new Te Kapua Park playground (papa tākaro) is a unique play space themed around stories significant to Ngāti Tūrangitukua and the surrounding rohe. The collaboration between Ngāti Tūrangitukua, Taupō District Council and the local community has earned the playground the prestigious Te Karanga o te Tui Award 2024, celebrating its excellence in design and community engagement.
For many years, locals and visitors alike have enjoyed recreational use of Ngāti Tūrangitukua reserves. In recent times Council has been working very closely with Ngāti Tūrangitukua as project partners and landowners to develop a Tūrangi reserves management plan.
How does the focus of the Mana Whakahono committee compare to that of the Tūrangi-Tongariro Community Board?
Council transferred all functions that previously sat with the Tūrangi-Tongariro Community Board (which was disbanded in October 2022) with respect to the Turangitukua rohe to the Tūrangi Co-governance Committee.
To ensure the wider Tongariro area is also fairly represented, the Tongariro Representative Group was established by council and delegated the powers and functions previously held by the Tūrangi Tongariro Community Board for that area. This is similar to other arrangements within the district that ensure effective representation for the Kinloch, Mangakino-Pouakani and Taupō East Rural areas.
