Ngati Pahauwera - One year on from settlement

Ngati Pahauwera Development Trust will be reporting on the significant progress made over are the past twelve months since Treaty settlement at their Annual General Meeting, this Sunday, 15th September, at Waipapa-A-Iwi Marae, Mohaka.

Toro Waaka, Ngati Pahauwera Development Trust Chairperson, says that, “The Trust has seen significant progress made against our annual plan over the past twelve months, with the appointment of key staff, including General Manager, Wayne Johnson. “

Mr Waaka said,” We have provided regular feedback to whanau members across Hawkes Bay and in Taupo-nui-A-Tia and have achieved a few really tangible benefits for members. One benefit has been the forestry access agreement with Pan Pac for the Pahauwera Pig hunting club as well as an agreement with Pan Pac to provide employment opportunities for beneficiaries with Pan Pac in the forestry industry. Another benefit has been access to free firewood from Pan Pac for whanau living in the Pahauwera core area. We have provided support for Te Huki Marae rebuild and look forward to this marae being re-opened for whanau in the coming year. A walk in freezer has been purchased as a Pahauwera Pataka kai to assist whanau with fish and wild pork at tangi.”

Mr Waaka noted that, “Just like the whakatauki Mohaka Harara Taupunga Opunga, we are united in our diversity and looking forward to the rigorous debate and discussion that invariably occurs amongst our people at our hui a iwi. The Trustees are committed to serving the interests of our whanau, wherever they live, today and into the future. We will be providing an update on Sunday regarding our authority for Hangi stone extraction from within our tribal area.”

Ngati Pahauwera General Manager, Wayne Johnson added, “We have completed extensive studies on our potential land use and have provided a range of opportunities for whanau at home to hook into employment and economic development opportunities such as roading and forestry projects, cropping, horticulture, bee keeping, and other ideas for co-operative land management.”

“We know that technology will be instrumental in the future our whanau, hapu and iwi, but our greatest asset is and will always be our people”, Mr Johnson added.

Tureiti Moxon, Manaaki Trust Chair for Ngati Pahauwera said, ”Ngati Pahauwera congratulate Mohaka school for their commitment to delivering Te Reo Maori as a core subject, and for providing opportunities for school staff and whanau to access professional development to this end. We also congratulate Raupunga for co-ordinating community classes in Te Reo Maori in conjunction with Eastern Institute of Technology. This is Te Oranganui o Ngati Pahauwera, Pahauwera wellbeing, in action, whanau and communities taking charge of their future!”

Mrs Moxon went on to say that, “The Trustees are committed to providing mentoring and support systems to students as they move through education and on to secondary schools. This will ensure our children have the best possible future and that they know who they are and where they are from. We are working with the Ministry of Education and Te Puni Kokiri to implement a plan to ensure a prosperous future for our tamariki, mokopuna.”

Members of Ngati Pahauwera are encouraged to attend their Annual General meeting at 10am at Waipapa A Iwi marae, Mohaka. Those who are unable to attend are able to get copies of the Annual report and draft Annual plan by contacting the Ngati Pahauwera office in Wairoa.

Ends.

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