October 04, 2022
Tauranga returns mana of land to mana whenua
Tauranga City Council commissioners have given the green light for a new ownership structure for the land under its new civic precinct development.
The space to be called Te Manawataki o Te Papa will be held by a council controlled organisation jointly governed by council and Otamataha Trust, which represents mana whenua from Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāti Tapu and Te Materāwaho.
They’re the direct descendants of those who originally released the land to the Church Missionary in 1838 to be held in trust.
Commission chair Anne Tolley says the site has a long and complex ownership history and the decision represents an historic milestone for the people and city of Tauranga.
As part of the arrangement, the new CCO will purchase the land from Council for a nominal amount. Council will then lease the land back from the CCO on a perpetual ‘peppercorn lease’ basis.
Council will continue to own and be responsible for any improvements made to the existing buildings on the land, and for the construction and ownership of any new buildings and structures, as well as the day-to-day operation of the activities on the site.