APPENDIX NINE: Manawhenua iwi views on local government reorganisation in the Wellington region

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1 APPENDIX NINE: Manawhenua iwi views on local government reorganisation in the Wellington region

2 SUBMISSION TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN WAIRARAPA ThisattachmentinsupportoftheGreaterWellingtonRegionalCouncilapplicationtotheLocalGovernment CommissiononproposalstoreformlocalgovernmentinthegreaterWellingtonregion,focusesontheneeds, wants and aspirations of individuals, families and whanau who are affiliated to hapu of Ngati Kahungunu havingmanawhenuainwairarapa. MattersofparticularconcerntoKahungunupeopleinWairarapainclude: Rates:Wearemoreaffectedbyratesriseswithmoreofourpeopleonloworfixedincomes PublicTransport:Similarlyourwhanauwouldbeaffectedbyfarerises Jobs:LackofindustryisthemainreasonforsomanyofourfamiliesleavingWairarapa Water:Waterquality,management,allocationanduseofwaterisofgreatconcerntoourpeople Rivers:Weareextremelyopposedtotherunoffofhumanwastesintoourrivers CoastalAreas:Coastalerosionisaproblem.Customaryandcommercialfisheriesareofconcern Aquatic Life: Strong concerns about loss and destruction of native aquatic species includingeels Land: We must have oversight of modification/disturbance of sites of significance and waahitapu Sewage:FourWairarapatownsneedsewageupgradesinthenearfuture.Howwillwe payforthem? BioSecurity:Protectionandrevitalisationofnativespeciesoffloraandfaunaofevery kind. These points are of special concern to tangata whenua in Wairarapa. Other factors affecting the general populationarealsorelevanttokahungunupeople andshouldbeconsidered.weneed optionsforfuture governancethatwillprovide: a) Strengthofleadership b) Qualityofservices c) Costefficiencies d) Competitivenesswithotherregionsandaccesstonewmarkets e) Strongerinfluencewithcentralgovernment f) Connectednesstothepowerhouseofbusinessandpolitics g) Abilitytoattractmorebusinessandinvestment(andjobs) h) Agreatplacetolive,work,playandretire InterIwiUnityandInfluence: Sincetheinceptionofthecurrentformoflocalgovernmentin1989,themajoriwigroupsholdingmanainthe regionhavejointlyworkedwiththeregionalcouncilundertherequirementsofthelocalgovernmentand ResourceManagementacts.Aformalcharterofunderstandingwassignedbytheiwipartiesandcouncilin 1993asAraTahi.Throughevolutionandreviews,andthestrengtheningoftangatawhenuainvolvementin regional affairs, a new memorandum of partnership was signed by the parties in That Ara Tahi partnership covers a structural and operational relationship of mutual benefit between the council and tangatawhenuaasshownbelow: Appendix Nine Page 1

3 AraTahiLeadershipCommitteeTheformalpartnershipoftangatawhenuaandcouncil leadersdealingwithhighlevelandstrategicissues Te Upoko Taiao The regional planning committee of equal numbers of iwi nominated members and councillors with equal voting rights to develop and monitor the regional plan and regulatorymatters Pou Whakarae Maori relations manager employed by GW and part of its executive leadershipteam.thispositionwascreatedthroughtangatawhenuainitiative CouncilStandingCommitteesOnetangatawhenuanominatedmemberoneachcouncil standingcommitteewithfullvotingrights IwiLeadershipGroupsCouncilandindividualiwileadersmeettoidentifyanddealwith keylocalissuesandpriorities. IwiConsultantsCouncil/iwicontractsforserviceasdeterminedindividually ResourceConsentsHearingsIwiandcouncillorhearingcommissionersmakedecisionson resourceconsentsapplications plans OperationalWorkCollaborativeworkingrelationshiptodevelopanddeliversharedwork Cross CulturalCompetenciesToincreasemutualunderstandingofrolesandcultureto beundertakenbyallinvolvedthroughworkshops,wananga,secondments,internshipsetc. Tangata whenua members of Ara Tahi are strongly insistent that the levels of engagement currently maintainedbyitsiwipartners,continuewithanynewcouncilformedafterthereformationoflocalbodiesin the Wellington region. They are also vitally concerned that the strengthened unity and goodwill of iwi working collaboratively with the regional council be maintained into the future. They note that tangata whenua, speaking as a united body can and does exercise considerable influence with local and central government,andotherpublicbodies. OptionsforFutureGovernanceinWairarapa: ThreeoptionsforafuturecouncilcoveringtheWairarapaareaarebeingconsideredatthistime, 1. AsingletieredcouncilcoveringthewholeofthegreaterWellingtonregion 2. AtwotieredcouncilcoveringthewholeofthegreaterWellingtonregion 3. AsingleWairarapaunitaryauthority SingleTieredCouncil: Advantages Asinglestrongpoliticalandbusinessvoice,oneadministration,acoordinatedapproach tobothlocalandregionalmatters,abilitytoapportioncoststobesteffectandpriorityareas,more cloutindealingswithgovernment,businesses,nationalandinternationalaffairs.greaterabilityto meetinfrastructureandothermajorcommitmentsthroughprioritisation. Wairarapaaddsbalancetoamainlyurbanisedwesternregion.MuchofWairarapa srural industrygoesthroughwellington.inthecommunityofcommoninterestwairaraparegionalratesgo towardwellingtonamenitiessuchasarts,events,sportsetcandinreturnwairarapareceivesfunding forlandmanagement,floodprotection,publictransport,waterandcoastalmanagement,biosecurity andsoon.withasingleratingregimeforthewholeregion,fundsareexpendedwheremostneeded, regardlessoflocation.naturalandphysicalresourcesareprimeareasofexpenditure,suchasthe airport,harbourandlandmanagement. Tangata whenua groups through Ara Tahi are expected to maintain the status quo of beingincludedindecisionmakingatcouncillevel. Appendix Nine Page 2

4 Disadvantages CouncillorswillbeelectedonapopulationbasiswhichmeansthatWairarapawouldonly beentitledtotwocouncillors. Community boards may be established at the discretion of the council. Council would decide what powers and functions would be delegated to them. Community boards have little controloflocalaffairs Community boards will be seen by Wairarapa residents as a poor substitute for loss of localcontrol OnthelikelihoodthatthemayorwouldbeWellingtonbased,Wairarapacitizenswould havefurthertotraveltomeetwithhim/herthantheyhavenow. TwoTieredCouncil: Advantages A governing council focussing on regionwide strategic decisions, regional scale infrastructure and services such as natural resources, biosecurity, floodplain management, water, sewageandpublictransport. Asecondtieroflocalboardstorepresenttheirlocalcommunitiesandmakedecisionson localissues,activitiesandfacilities,andprovideimportantlocalinputintoregionwidepolicies.they willbefundedthroughtheannualplanningprocess. Thefirsttwobulletpointsofasingletieredcouncilarethesameforatwotieredcouncil. Tangata whenua groups through Ara Tahi are expected to maintain the status quo of being party to decisionmaking at governing council level. It is also expected that local Maori committeeswouldworkwithlocalboardswithsomeshareindecisionmaking. Disadvantages CouncillorswillbeelectedonapopulationbasiswhichmeansthatWairarapawouldonly beentitledtotwocouncillors. AprobablyWellingtonbasedmayorwouldbemoreremotetoWairarapacitizensthanat present. Localboardswhilemakingdecisionsonlocalmattersarestillanswerabletothegoverning council. WairarapaUnitaryAuthority: Advantages AsinglecouncilforthewholeofWairarapaadministeringalllocalbodyfunctions,both districtcommitmentsandwairaraparegionwidenatural,physicalandenvironmentalresponsibilities. A single voice on Wairarapa matters to government, business and national and internationalaffairs. FullcontrolofalllocalbodymattersinWairarapa.Ownmayor. Somesavingsonsingleadministrationfromthepresentthreecouncilsstructure. Disadvantages AraTahitangatawhenuapartnershipwillbebrokenup.Theirstrengthandunitywillbe fractured.reducedinfluenceofwairarapaiwiwithgovernmentandmajororganisations. The Wairarapa mayoral working group showed their attitude to Maori by presenting a proposalthatreducedmaoriinputtocouncilaffairstoaminoradvisoryrole. Appendix Nine Page 3

5 MartinJenkins produced a report to the Wairarapa mayoral group that whilst showing wheresavingscanbemade,stillshowedabudgetaryloss.inadditionitdidnotincludethecostof publictransport. Thereportrecommendedreductionofenvironmentalandphysicalservicesinanattempt tokeepcostsdownandconsideredthecurrentlevelofenvironmentalspendingtobeunnecessary. NocostshavebeenallowedforMaoriortangatawhenuainput. Reductionsinenvironmentalmanagementandfundingislikelytoresultinjoblossesfor KahungunukiWairarapastaff. Recommendation: In comparing the three options above and taking into account peripheral matters associated with those listed, I recommend that the most appropriate option to meet the needs of whanau of Kahungunu in WairarapaisthatofOption2,atwotieredcouncilcoveringthewholeofthegreaterWellingtonregion. Themainpointsinsupportofthissubmissionare: 20 years of close cooperation with the regional council bringing tangata whenua to a positionofrealinfluencewillbemaintained,andthestrengthandunitythatnowexistsamongtheiwi oftheregionwillcontinue. Contractualarrangementswiththegoverningcouncilareexpectedtocontinue,providing work for Kahungunu ki Wairarapa staff and representatives and opportunities for knowledge and growth. Public transport, especially rail, will be maintained without additional expense of a Wairarapacouncilhavingtocontractthoseservices. LocalboardswillundertakecouncilcommitmentsofalocalnatureandlocalMaoriwill haveinputinlocalmatters. Current levels of council services of particular interest to our whanau are expected to continue. Otherreasonsforthisrecommendationare: PlannedreductionofenvironmentalandnaturalresourceservicesbyaWairarapaunitary authority (WUA) will impact on cultural wellbeing and likely to cost the jobs of Kahungunu ki Wairarapastaffandrepresentatives. AdditionalcostsofregiontypefunctionsbyaWUAindicatedbyMartinJenkinswilllikely resultinratesrises.trainfaresarealsoexpectedtorise. The establishment of a WUA will fracture the longterm partnership of regionwide tangatawhenuawhichincludeskahungunukiwairarapaandrangitaneowairarapa.thiswillimpact heavilyonourabilitytoinfluencegovernment,publicbodiesandotherpowerbrokers. TheWairarapamayoralworkinggroupproposestoreducelocalMaoriinputintocouncil affairstoaminoradvisoryroleasindicatedintheirpresentationstowhanaugroups. Iwillmakemyselfavailabletospeaktothisrecommendationifrequired. NelsonRangi Kaumatua Appendix Nine Page 4

6 POBox12164,Wellington6144 1May2013 RegionalReform Wellington WellingtonYourChoice OptionsforLocalGovernance ThisistheTaranakiWhanuiresponsetotheconsultationwhichthefourCouncilsareholdingonthe reportthepotentialofthewellingtonregion;conclusionsofthejointworkingpartyonlocal GovernmentReform. ThePortNicholsonBlockSettlementTrust,TheWellingtonTenthsTrust,andThePalmerstonNorth MaoriReserveTrustaremakingthisjointsubmission. ThePortNicholsonBlockSettlementTrustistheentityestablishedtoreceiveandadministerthe settlementfortaranakiwhanuiasaresultofwaitangitribunalclaimsforwellington,lowerhutt andupperhuttcities.thepeoplewhomakeuptaranakiwhanuidescendfromtheoriginalpeoples wholivedaroundwellingtonharbourandthroughoutthehuttvalleyin1839.ourrangatiramet withthenzcompanyrepresentativesandestablishedarelationshipformovingforward.thesame RangatirasignedtheTreatyofWaitangiinWellingtonon29April1840.Thetupunawerefrom whanau,hapuandiwiofteatiawa,taranaki,ngatitamaandngatiruanui. WellingtonTenthsTrustandPalmerstonNorthMaoriReserveTrustaretruststhatoperateunder theteturewhenuaact1993andhavebeeninexistenceinotherguisessince1839and1866 respectively.theownersintheseahuwhenuatrustsarethepeopleoftheportnicholsonblock SettlementTrust. ThethreeTrustsrepresentinexcessof14,000people.Thepeopleofthethreetrustsareknownas ManaWhenua.TheyholdtheresponsibilityofKaitiakitangaintheregionoutlinedandthetakiwais acknowledgedinthesettlementlegislation. ThewiderWellingtonregionisknownasTeUpokoOTeIka,ortheheadofthefish.Wellington harbourisoneoftheeyesofthefishandlakewairarapaisknownastheothereyeofthefish. CulturallythisrelatesbacktothestoryofthebirthofAotearoawithMauiTikitikiarangifishingup theislandwenowcallthenorthislandorteikaamaui. Appendix Nine Page 5

7 Thissubmissionaddressesthefollowingmatters: Single tierortwotiercouncil StatusQuo currentarrangementstocontinuebutcapacitybeincreasedtoreflectchanging demandsforiwitoparticipateeffectively Taurahere Single tierortwotiercouncil TaranakiWhanuidoesnothaveapreferenceforeitherthesingletierortwotiercouncilbutthe interestasmanawhenuaandtreatypartnermustbeaccommodatedineithermodel. StatusQuo TaranakiWhanuiwantstoensurethattheexistingarrangementswithlocalgovernmentcontinue. Thesearrangementsincludebutarenotlimitedto: TeUpokoTaiao Obligationsarisingfromlocalgovernmentlegislation,theResourceManagementActandthe TreatyofWaitangisettlementlegislation CapacitybuildingarrangementswhichensureTaranakiWhanuiareabletocarryoutourrole fullyandeffectivelyasmanawhenua Taurahere WeunderstandadviceisbeingsoughtfromusinrelationtoTaurahereandlocalgovernment engagementintermsoftheproposedreform.weareprimarilyconcernedwithourdutiesas TangataWhenuaofourroheandthereforedonothaveaviewofhowlocalgovernmentmayengage withtaurahere.ourownrelationshipwithtauraherehasbeenestablishedthroughwhakapapaand observanceofourtikangaandkawabytaurahere.wesuggestdecisionmakersengagedirectly withtaurahereonthismatter,recognisingtheirstatus. TaranakiWhanuithankyoufortheopportunitytosubmittotheprocessandseektospeaktothis submission. Heoiano LizMellish NaturalResourcesAdvisor PortNicholsonBlockSettlementTrust Appendix Nine Page 6

8 Appendix Nine Page 7