Inaugural JMA meeting

The first hui of the Joint Management Agreement Forum (JMAF) was held today (Friday 17 May) with representatives of Council and Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou (TRONPnui).

This is the first meeting since Council and TRONPnui, on behalf of Nga Hapu o Ngati Porou, signed a Joint Management Agreement (JMA) for the Waiapu Catchment in 2015.

The forum will meet quarterly to discuss and make decisions on resource consents and Resource Management Act (RMA) planning for the Waiapu Catchment and will develop the Waiapu Catchment Plan for freshwater.

“The ongoing development and work plan of the JMA is important to our relationship with TRONPnui,” says Mayor Meng Foon

Selwyn Parata Co-Chair for the forum for TRONPnui commented that if the JMA is able to support the restoration, health and wellbeing of the Waiapu and its many tributaries, through sustainable freshwater and land management, then we will also be contributing to the improvement of the health and wellbeing of our whanau, hapu and communities.

Co-Chair, Mayor Foon also agreed the hui today had been very positive and fruitful.

Members of the forum also include TRONPnui Trustee, Tui Warmenhoven and Gisborne District Councillor, Bill Burdett, and is supported by Te Runanganui Chief Executive, Herewini Te Koha, and Chief Executive for council, Nedine Thatcher Swann.

TRONPnui will also be assisting in facilitating discussions with hapu in the upcoming months to discuss the kaupapa of the forum.

“We have much to gain in a true partnership that enables shared decisions and shared responsibility to our awa, and our whenua,” says Mr Parata.

“The chance to do things differently is before us, so we now have to make the most of this opportunity. We look forward to the mahi ahead to enable Te Mana o te Wai.”

Mayor Foon said he was pleased to be working together to help better understand the values of landowners so we can provide stewardship to our tamariki and mokopuna going into the future.

“We are currently developing a communications strategy together, as korero to all the residents in the Waiapu catchment is important.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media