West Coast Harbour Tribes Exercise Tino Rangatiratanga Over West Coast Harbour Claims

On 25 September 2010 a number of west coast harbour tribes and coastal marae within Tainui agreed to work collectively on all matters concerning the protection and future management of the harbours at Kāwhia, Aotea and Whaingaroa.

Members of Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Te Wehi, Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kārewa, Ngāti Tūpatupō, Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāti Tahinga, Tainui, Ngāti Whakamarurangi, Ngāti Te Kiriwai and Ngāti Tamainu met at Waipapa Marae in Kāwhia to discuss the need to form a harbour collective. “Working collectively will enable us to better manage our kaitiaki responsibilities as mana whenua across the three west coast harbours” said Meto Hopa of Ngāti Hikairo.

The hui articulated the importance of providing coastal leadership directly into the claims process. “Our tinorangatiratanga is important to us and this development will enable us to practise kaitiakitanga more positively and in a proactive way” said Boss Mahara of Ngāti Te Wehi.

Preparations are underway to further develop the collective and there is a desire to meet with the Minister of Treaty Negotiations to develop a direct relationship that will make the claims and the post-settlement process work more effectively for the coastal tribes.

“This has been a long time coming” said Angeline Greensill of Tainui. “Working collectively will have huge benefits for the future management of our west coast harbours. It will also be good for non-Māori communities living on the west coast” she said.

The West Coast Harbour tribes plan to meet on 6 November 2010 to take the next steps forward.

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