Inaugural meeting makes history in Turangi

23 June 2016

The creation of a management plan for Turangi reserves belonging to Ngati Turangitukua and managed by Taupō District Council took a step closer yesterday when a newly-formed partnership committee met for the first time.

The Turangi Reserves Management Committee was formed by the council in March and is made up of three council and three Ngati Turangitukua representatives. Deputy Mayor Barry Hickling and Turangi Tongariro ward councillor Maggie Stewart join Turangi Tongariro Community Board member Wally van der Aa, and Ngati Turangitukua representatives Ngaiterangi Smallman, Hine Mohi and Tina Porou on the committee.

The committee will be responsible for formulating a plan that will guide the future use, development and management of the reserves by identifying the desires of the owners, the council and the community.

The inaugural meeting was opened by Mayor David Trewavas who thanked the hapu for making the lands available for the people of the district to enjoy. You have my commitment today that we will look after these reserves for you, your people and generations to come, he said.

Mrs Stewart and Mr Smallman were elected co-chairs of the committee.

Mrs Stewart said the formation of the committee was something she had been passionate about for a long time and the inaugural meeting was a really positive step forward. Working together collaboratively is the way of the future and I am really excited about what that may bring, she said.

Mr Smallman said he was excited by the prospect of the council and hapu working together in partnership. It too has been an aspiration of Ngati Turangitukua for some time and to get to this stage is just wonderful, he said.

The committee used the first meeting to adopt rules around how the meetings would run and to approve the establishment of a project plan to outline the steps going forward and will meet a minimum of every two months or as required. Once a draft plan has been prepared the community will be asked for feedback.

ENDS

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