June 23, 2021
Ngatiwai feels left out of Hauraki Gulf planning
Ngātiwai Trust Board says it was left out of the development of a new plan for the Hauraki Gulf.
Chair Aperahama Edwards says the iwi supports the aims of the Revitalising the Gulf plan announced yesterday, but it is outraged at the lack of thought that went into the engagement process.
The plan is a response to the 2016 Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari plan for the Hauraki Gulf, which came out of a stakeholder working group co-chaired by Hauraki Confederation chair Paul Majurey.
Mr Edwards says the crown has a legislative obligation to engage with the iwi who make their homes in the gulf.
"Why are Ngātiwai whānau, hapū and indeed our iwi hearing about this over the news. There are significant decisions that have been made regarding our taonga and all of these discussions, all of these decisions and the public announcement have all happened without our involvement and engagement," he says.
Mr Edwards says the crown is preparing an apology over the way Ngātiwai was treated in the development of a treaty settlement for Hauraki iwi, but it appears it has learned nothing from that.
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