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Kawenata Tapu signed in Tauranga

Ngāti Paoa sign Kawenata Tapu with Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui

A joint media statement on behalf of Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Settlement Trust, and Ngāi Te Rangi in relation to the signing of a Kawenata Tapu today in Tauranga.

On Saturday 16 December 2017 at Maungatapu marae, Tauranga, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui came together on the marae to sign a Kawenata Tapu (Sacred Covenant).

The Kawenata Tapu talks about how they will resolve issues in the present and engage with each other in the future.

“You could feel the ihi, the wehi, the mana of each Iwi, the wairua of our Tūpuna and the aroha of the people on the day. It was really good to elevate out of the quagmire called treaty negotiations and see Iwi supporting each other based on our own tīkanga (customs). At the end of the day it’s about the next 100 years.” said Gary Thompson Chair of Ngāti Paoa.

Ngāti Ranginui Chair, Te Pio Kawe, supported Mr Thompson’s comments. Mr Kawe added “Today is a great day and Tauranga Moana iwi are fortunate to have been able to host this significant event.” Today’s proceedings commenced with the arrival of waka (canoe) on the shores of Maungatapu marae followed by a mass haka powhiri (welcome) to the numerous visitors from Ngāti Paoa and other allied tribes. “Our waka Takitimu has received other waka and sea voyaging vessels into our beautiful harbour on previous occasions, sometimes these have been friendly encounters and other times not so.

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However, today Takitimu was honoured to welcome and escort Ngāti Paoa’s waka into Tauranga Moana. The participation of the tribes’ waka also demonstrates the significance of this occasion.” said Mr Kawe.

Earlier in the year, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui met face to face on the marae to discuss their overlapping interests.

“We were humbled to be hosted by Tauranga Iwi on the marae to discuss our inherent interests together. We accepted the invitation to meet Tauranga ‘Kanohi ki te Kanohi’ (face to face) on the marae because we believe it’s important that we exercise our own ‘tīkanga’ and ‘mana motuhake’ (autonomy). It was good to get away from the foreign processes and follow our own tīkanga for once.” said Mr Thompson.

Mr Kawe also reflected on this earlier encounter favourably. Mr Kawe stated, “The key principles of Ngāti Paoa’s tikanga process clearly aligned with Ngāti Ranginui and we were encouraged by Ngāti Paoa’s affirmation that they have no interests in Tauranga Moana.”

It was from this earlier meeting on the marae between Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui that enabled them as Iwi to look at a durable solutions to their overlapping interests Iwi to Iwi and face to face. It also enabled them to future proof their relationship with each other in years to come based on their own tīkanga.

“Ngāti Paoa have always advocated for a ‘Tīkanga’ based process during Treaty negotiations and will continue to do so long after negotiations are finished. A good example of how our tīkanga works is our Kawenata Tapu with our whanaunga (relations) from Ngāti Whātua Orākei. There we were able to find an out of court solution. Now we can stand together shoulder to shoulder and support each other as Iwi should.” said Mr Thompson.

For Ngāti Paoa Chair, Gary Thompson, signing the Kawenata Tapu was about life post-settlement. “History won’t remember the hustle and bustle of treaty negotiations, but it will remember the Kawenata Tapu that we signed on Saturday. Why? Because the Kawenata Tapu is about the next 100 years. It’s about following our own tīkanga. It’s about how as Iwi we can grow together. That’s why I signed the Kawenata Tapu.” said Mr Thompson.

“As an Iwi we have received numerous calls of encouragement and support leading up to Saturday from both Māori and non- Māori alike and indeed the wider public. They all recognize the intention is to try and do something positive for future generations.”

When questioned about the tensions it might cause at the Collective table especially at the Hauraki and Marutūāhu Collectives Mr Thompson’s response was very clear.

“For Ngāti Paoa our relationships with our whanaunga from Hauraki, Marutūāhu, Waikato and Tauranga are very important as they were in forged in place centuries ago. Therefore, it is important to remember those relationships were reaffirmed by ‘Iwi to Iwi, Mana to Mana’ not through foreign constructs and entities called Collectives or PSGEs. It was great to be able to reaffirm those relationships once again on Saturday as individual Iwi.” said Mr Thompson.

When asked, why is today’s event so important to Ngāti Ranginui? Mr Kawe replied “Today we have demonstrated Iwi’s ability to resolve difficult Treaty settlement matters based on Tikanga. Hopefully this will encourage other iwi of Hauraki to engage with Tauranga Moana iwi on a similar basis. The agreements that have been sanctioned today and any similar arrangements that we aim to achieve with other tribes should assist the Crown to correct any errors and make the right decision when settling the Hauraki and Tauranga Moana iwi Treaty claims. However, most importantly today has provided us with an opportunity to acknowledge our historical tribal links and set the basis upon which Ngāti Ranginui will look to engage with Ngāti Paoa for the advancement of our future generations.”

END

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