City councillors are expressing unease about the treaty negotiations process affecting the Western BOP iwi.
Tauranga Moana iwi are in the final stages of negotiating multi-million dollar Treaty of Waitangi claims, with the settlements to involve a mix of cash, property and shared governance rights.
Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Pukenga and Nga Potiki will each have separate settlements, but they have also formed a collective to press for co-governance and co-management of natural resources such as the harbour, coast and rivers.
A confidential report following a recent workshop was made public at Monday's council meeting with the Mayor Stuart Crosby saying because the negotiations will affect public assets, the public should be involved at the beginning of the process.
'I am uncomfortable that treaty settlement negotiations and issues like that are going to be kept in confidential,” says Stuart.
The negotiations over Treaty of Waitangi settlements are between the Crown represented by the Office of Treaty Settlements, and the involved iwi.
'When they start talking about co-governance, co-management of public assets I firmly believe that the public need to be engaged up front right at the start, not at the end,” says Stuart. 'So I have some significant concerns about the process.”
He's going to have discussions with the chief executive officer and others about how a more public and more open and transparent process can take place when the negotiations resume in the new year.
'Round the rest of New Zealand local government and regional government have been stuck between a rock and a hard place in the settlements,” says Stuart.
'When we had the workshop here last week we were told the negotiations are between the iwi and the Crown, and we were only being consulted. To my mind that's not good enough.”
The report to council is titled Tauranga Moana iwi settlements, and refers to a workshop on December 15 attended by Tauranga City Council, Western BOP District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective representing Ngati Ranginui, Ngati Pukenga, Ngaiterangi and Nga Potiki.
The attachments to the report which detail the state of negotiations so far, are not able to be made public because the council is not a party to the negotiations between the government and the iwi.
Maori are seeking a greater role in natural resource management relating to water, the harbour and waterways that enter the harbour and sea. They also want to secure a greater role in decision making not just to be consulted but as another stakeholder. Co governance is about participation, says the report.
The purpose of the OTS engagement with local authorities is to enable local authority input to develop a framework for iwi involvement in natural resource management.
Agreements will have to go through the select committee process. The OTS has to have a paper ready for cabinet by late March. Most of the discussion will happen January February, with input requested from the council on a framework for natural resource management.
Negotiations are expected to be concluded by July 2012, with legislation passed to enact them by the end of next year.
11 comments
Give all back.
Posted on 21-12-2011 07:56 | By Zara
But charge them for all road, hospital,schools,Maori TV. etc use. Also no welfare or any other social services, use their treaty claim money to support their own people.
double standard??
Posted on 21-12-2011 08:23 | By Raptor
That's interesting. I heard a report that a certain local 'iwi collective' tried to hi-jack or takeover the Kaimai Catchments Forum group (a non-statutory body) at a meeting at Bay Park earlier this month. The iwi reps (allegedly) wanted to have 'elections' for the forum executive done there and then, instead of waiting until the scheduled time of March 2012, and with an insistence that there was an iwi Chairman - or at very least a Maori co-chair. While this bizzare coup attempt was shut down, it does raise a possible double standard - 'we won't let you into our negotiations which will definately have an effect on your future, but we will try to take-over/hijack voluntary non-statutory community bodies that we are only a (minor) participant in?'
Hold our MPs Simon and Tony accountable
Posted on 21-12-2011 08:19 | By Gee Really
Our MPs represent us in parliament. They are the ones ultimately responsible for Treaty negotiations, not ratepayers through local Councils. Why are Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall seemingly so quiet on this issue? As for natural resource management, a persons race has nothing to do with it. People and societies of all races have done both good and bad things for the environment over the centuries. So let's leave race out of it. For bad resource management look no further than both european and maori practices that saw large tracts of forest destroyed and the moa made extinct.
Ridiculous
Posted on 21-12-2011 08:48 | By Jitter
Firstly these treaty settlement should not be kept confidential when the proposed result will effect the whole community. For once I agree fully with Mayor Crosby, negotiations must include all interested parties and not just iwi and the Crown. Unfortunately however we have a weak Minister of Treaty Settlements who will agree to most demands to keep the peace. When details of this proposed settlement are publicised it will be too late for any opposing action to be taken. Secondly, why should a small proportion (approx 15%) of New Zealanders be given the right to have so much say in the management, control, governance etc of our waterways or any other natural asset/resource, for that matter, which are not the property of this group but belong to all NZers. I believe TCC should object strongly to these demands. We know from past experience that this group will and can on a whim veto or alter drastically and obstruct very large essential developments using the arguments of cultural sensitivity, traditional occupation etc none of which can be proven with documentary evidence. If the proposed settlement goes ahead we could see development in Tauranga dependent on the harbour and other waterways stopped or at least slowed down to such an extent to affect the growth of the whole BOP overall, and possibly result in major commercial operations moving away from the BOP.
The Government of the day ..
Posted on 21-12-2011 09:34 | By Murray.Guy
'A nation of sheep breeds a Government of Wolves' - how many true, and applies equally at local government level. All I ask is that the whole community be included in 'real' opportunities to share thoughts, give opinion, to influence outcomes. Present processes employed by the Crown and Office of Treaty Settlements bears little different to the mindset adopted by the Crown in the 1800's - CORRUPT. The outcome of their processes will see (is seeing) an increased cultural divide and two (or more) aggrieved parties rather than one, acknowledging that this Treaty Settlement Process is by no means the last! Early in the year the three local authorities, Tangata Whenua (local Maori) and the OTS met. I asked when the wider community was going to be included in the processes to any meaningful degree, be included. It was acknowledged that efforts in regard the community were woefully inadequate. I was misquidedly delighted when the CEO of the Regional Council stood and gave an undertaking, to all present, to immediately take steps to initiate a combined council taskforce to better inform and include the community in the processes. Typically and sadly, the words were without meaning, and no effort has been made to date, nor, I suspect will it ever be!
when will it stop
Posted on 21-12-2011 13:29 | By Capt_Kaveman
it does not go where it is needed just a gready pack of few govt needs to toughn up n treat us as equal or lets go bk to war over the land as no one will stop me from any beach i want to goto that has public access
treaty negotiations
Posted on 21-12-2011 13:54 | By len barron
time for simon bridges and ryall to stand up and let us know what is going on .yeh right bridges did nothing for us in his last term dont expect him to now .
Backwards View
Posted on 21-12-2011 15:43 | By Jitter
This group of NZers (15%) believe it is their god given right to have a major say in decision making right throughout the country. They in fact have no more rights than the rest of us. They are being, and have been compensated, over the years for past genuine wrongdoings to them with billions of dollars of taxpayers money. In addition to this they also want the right to be included in decision making in the development of major resources. By obstructing and vetoing major development projects they are not only holding the country back but themselves as well. Unfortunately they do not seem able to see or understand this.
Hiwinui
Posted on 21-12-2011 15:48 | By Hiwinui
Discrimination is suppoed to be colour blind, but it is alive and well in New Zealand. I am a sixth generation New Zealander with my nearest late immirant a grandfather. My mokopuna are 8th generation with their most recent non NZ born ancestor being one great grandfather, but we have less rights than a part Maori one of whose parents was born overseas and who now lives in Sydney. I don,t mind some of the Treaty settlements by way of cash andland, but management of pblic resources should be by way of a democratically elected body that represents us all. Two votes for one group based on a smattering of blood is discrimination. We are creeping closer to aparthied.
More divisive crap - STOP IT!!
Posted on 22-12-2011 10:36 | By Demandthetruth
For the 1st time I agree totally with Mayor Crosby. The Minister for these affairs is weak and the OTS are hiding everything from 85% of NZers. The treaty might have recognised Maori as the owners. History is showing that many people lived here when Maori arrived here (the same as Pakeha did - in boats) those people like the Moa were hunted to extinction. There are now many graves that prove their existence. The last Labour Govt were using Doc employees to remove evidence of their buildings, Maori have almost destroyed the 'stone henge” up in the back of Waiapoua. Mt Eden was not a Maori fort ,it had no water & the steps were cut by maori predecessors, already proven. I met an Archeologist in taupo that showed me proof solid of occupation in Taupo before the big explosion. I have an arab type carving from a big hole in Taupo carved from rhylite. He could not print all his amazing material because Clarke would have stopped his Uni study grant. The pyramid in the Kaimanawas, the boulders at Bombay & Warworth; they have all been hidden to change history to suit Maori. The Brits did not know any of this when Maori pleaded with them to be protected (thus the treaty) from all the other colonial b…ds like the French, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Spanish etc, because Maori knew that the best of the bad lot were the British. READ 2 sites www.celtic.co.nz & http://www.kaimaiview.co.nz and you will learn that there were many here before Maori Lets stop this nonsense now. Lets have an open forum - lets demand the truth - let our elected Members stand up! And discuss it with ALL the people. Enough is enough. Give back land or pay for it if it was never done correctly but do it at the rate of the time. If it cannot be done agree to a fair rental & place it in Trusts for ALL. The Treaty was never ever designed for the B..S that's being read into it now & by the way which is the correct document?? Does anybody know 171 years later?? Ooh Ask yourself how do 15% of the population get control?? Because the rest are apathetic and accept the B>>S we are fed. Good on you Stewart keep the pressure on!
Racist Government
Posted on 22-12-2011 15:36 | By Jitter
The Minister for Treaty Settlements and the OTS are increasing and fostering racism by excluding local bodies and all other NZers from the settlement negotiations. If this minority 15% of NZers want to be included in decision making on any local resources then, like everyone else, they should put up candidates for election to local bodies. They would gain far more respect from their fellow NZers if they used the democratic process to have their representatives elected to office. Their demands (and in their opinion, right) to be appointed to local bodies does nothing at all to reduce racial tension. The leaders of the various culturally based political parties do nothing to help the situation when they mouth on about central government giving more funds to reduce poverty, improve education etc for "our people". It amazes me when in one breath they make that statement and in the next state that the people of NZ are "one people and one nation".
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