The NZ Planning Institute (NZPI) is pleased the Pathways of the Rangitāiki agreement is being released in the lead-up to NZPI’s Back to the Future 2015 national conference, during which the Papa Pounamu hui celebrates Maori planning.

Resilience, kawanatanga, and kaitiakitanga will all be themes at Papa Pounamu, where a range of Maori and Tauiwi planners and academics present case studies of Maoritanga in planning.

Papa Pounamu opens the week’s planning talks and includes a speech from Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell.

Te Ara Whanui o Rangitāiki (Pathways of the Rangitāiki) charter was officially released March 13. It was written by the Rangitāiki River Forum (RRF), made up of representatives from Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Whakatāne District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The document ties together the Treaty of Waitangi, the Local Government Act and the Resource Management Act (RMA). It’s the first co-governance regime over a river in the Bay of Plenty.

Jane Waldon, Team Leader of Maori Policy at BOP Regional Council, told NZPI Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare’s May 2012 treaty settlements helped fund the RRF, the purpose of which is to protect and enhance the mauri of the Rangitāiki. “The Pathways charter has been the goal over the last two years,” Waldon said. “It sets out the vision, objectives and desired outcomes for the Rangitāiki River catchment.”

The document requires all persons exercising functions and powers under the RMA to protect tuna (eels) and improve water quality.

At 155km, the Rangitāiki is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty and is considered by many people as a taonga. Its catchment is almost 3000sqkms. The river is an important resource including hydroelectricity generation, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and tourism.

Longfin eels have been living in the Rangitāiki for up to one million years; the Mataatua waka arrived 800 years ago. The Rangitāiki Plains were drained 100 years ago, and the Rangitāiki has been providing electricity services for more than 50 years.

Concern about the poor state of the Rangitāiki River and growing discontent with existing management was behind the call by iwi for a greater role in management of the river.
Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Tūwharetoa collectively claim mana whenua in the Rangitāiki catchment.

Waldon said her presentation “will look at the three year journey for the iwi and Councils involved, culminating in Te Ara Whanui o Rangitāiki.

Along with RRF chair Maramena Vercoe, Waldon will talk about the success of the RRF at the Papa Pounamu hui on April 14. NZPI’s Auckland conference continues afterward.

“The presentation will also focus on the importance of whakapapa when engaging with tangata whenua.”

Also at the Papa Pounamu hui, Mike Skerret of Southland’s Murihiku marae will hand over taonga to Auckland’s tangata whenua, Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei.

Presentations on the day address:

  • Auckland’s Independent Maori Statutory Board
  • What the RMA has done for Maori
  • Reinvigorating urban spaces through historical connections,
  • Integrating matauranga Māori into setting water quality
  • Demystifying Matauranga Māori
  • Mana motuhake for Tuhoe
  • The challenges of developing Treaty plans within a western planning framework.


Register for the Papa Pounamu hui here

And for the main #B2Future conference here