Ngati Porou ki Poneke notes from Connect hui 27 July 2014 at Kokiri Marae
Ngati Porou Ki Poneke Taurahere - Connect Hui Notes
Sunday 27th July 2014, held at Kokiri Marae, Lower Hutt.
The taurahere thanked the Runanga-nui representatives, Teepa Wawatai, Alan Jensen and others for coming and the opportunity to have a Q&A session with them.
Alan Jensen identified in his presentation on the structure of the Runanganui that the Trustees are elected and that chairpersons of the different subsidiaries of TRONPnui are appointed by the Trustees. These appointments include:
- Matanuku Mahuika – Chair of all of our Properties and Investments committee
- Whaimutu Dewes – Chair of our Fishing committee
- Teepa Wawatai – Chair of our Forestry committee
- Selwyn Parata - Chair of our Farming committee
- Amo Houkamau – Chair of our Cultural and Social committee
Communication: issues raised by a number of speakers identified that most people present at the hui were very unhappy and critical of the low level and poor quality communications that are coming from the Runanganui. As one speaker put it, ‘while you, the Runanganui were seeking our help to get a mandate from the people, your communications to us were regular, asked good questions of us, were thoughtful and respectful, and now that the money is in the bank, there is none of that.’
The hui identified that our own ngatiporoukiponeke.org.nz; website has been built through voluntary contributions and aims to always include current information of the whanau.
We heard from the whanau that they want to be informed about what the Runanga is doing, they want notice of the events that are coming up well ahead of time and that the decision-making processes be more transparent and accountable to the people.
The hui heard how decisions about what constitutes a marae and criteria to be a marae that receives funding from the Runanga have been decisions taken by the Runanga. Whanau would like an opportunity to discuss these criteria and how they are applied.
Ngati Porou ki Harataunga identify as Ngati Porou but their marae is not considered part of the group of marae that can receive marae funding. Teepa said this was because any Settlement of the issues in Harataunga would not benefit all Ngati Porou.
The taurahere identified Kokiri Marae, Horouta, Wainuiomata, Orongomai, Maraeroa and Te Mangungu as marae that have had a long history of meeting the needs of Ngati Porou in Wellington. The hui stated it would like these marae to be considered as marae to receive Runanganui marae funding.
This also lead to the request that the issue of nga tāngata o Ngati Porou who identify as Ngati Porou but who have lived most, or in the cases of many of our tamariki and mokopuna, all of their lives outside of Ngati Porou – how the Runanganui sees itself responding to their needs and concerns. Less than 5,000 Ngatis live on the coast and approximately another 5,000 live within the Gisborne City location. Aproximately 13,000 Ngatis live in Auckland and about 11,000 live in Welliington. At the 2013 Census, the Ngati Porou population decreased by 2.1% to just over 71,000.
Leadership – how do we scout our talent? Teepa identified for him, over the past 20 years his experience has mainly been with Uncle Api ringing him up and asking him to attend meetings with him. He aims to always have others with him when he attends meetings. Ensuring there is more planning and accountability so that people can ‘expect to be rung’ because they are part of a leadership plan was asked to be put in place.
These notes were passed as a fair account of our Connect-Hui at the Horouta Taura Here Hui on Sunday 17 August 2014.
Moved: Tamati Reedy Seconded: Matehaere Konia