MEDIA STATEMENT

Rāhui Kātene
MP for Te Tai Tonga
Tuesday 8 November 2011

Kātene welcomes historic agreement

Te Tai Tonga MP Rāhui Kātene has today welcomed the signing of a relationship agreement between Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-ā-Māui and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

“I extend my warmest greetings to both Te Ātiawa and Ngāi Tahu, and the historic relationship agreement they have entered into today” said Mrs Kātene.

“This agreement formalises a shared relationship between Te Ātiawa and Ngāi Tahu, and helps strengthen the ongoing relationships iwi in Te Waipounamu have with one another. It acknowledges the long history the two iwi share, including support for political prisoners from Parihaka who were taken to the South Island in 1881, to more recent collaboration on fisheries and aquaculture developments, and their future aspirations for economic, social and cultural growth,”

“The Māori Party has always supported rangatira to rangatira, and iwi to iwi partnerships. We encourage the work iwi are doing with one another in the spirit of collaboration.”

"Indeed we congratulate them on the leadership they are demonstrating in working together, to advance mutual priorities. We hope that businesses, private sector industries, government departments and community groups throughout their rohe, will look to their example as providing the pathway to future prosperity"

Background Note:
Rāhui belongs to both Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-ā-Māui (Whanau Norton), and Ngāi Tahu (Whanau Kerei Keepa – Gray)

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