Last month, Kia Anga Mua Ngā Hapū o Ngāpuhi (KAM) held their third hui hosted by Mangakāhia Te Tārai o Rāhiri Marae as progress gets underway to begin uniting Ngāpuhi Hapū.
“The kōrero centred around reaching out to other Ngāpuhi Hapū to move together as one, towards a united Ngāpuhi redress agreement with the Crown,” said Anna Brown Working Group member.

KAM was established with the initial support of 31 Hapū members who acknowledge that significant change must happen to increase the number of Hapū engaged utilising a truly unified approach. The KAM Working Group is made up of a diverse group of volunteers mandated by their hapū to open dialogue and lead collaboration with wider Hapū. We know that new conversations must begin in earnest to deliver more information about KAM’s members and its intended destination.

“When you are sitting in the whare and feel the mood shift and your whānau and hapū warming to the new ideas being shared by the Working Group, we know we need to keep focussed on what’s right for Ngāpuhi” said Brown.

Respected Rangatira Te Hapae Bob Ashby, gave his blessing for the hui to be hosted in Mangakāhia.

“I have reflected on that hui in Mangakahia and feel proud of how it worked out and felt it went very well. Our rangatahi voice in the Working Group spoke about how we will approach Tuhoronuku and agree that a refresh of TIMA members is needed to reignite the confidence of other hapū. This is what we should be thinking about! How to move forward and how we should be engaging with all of ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi. Moving forward, together as one, is all I want to see us do,” said Mr Ashby.

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