June 01, 2023
Ngāti Rangi sets partnership terms with Ruapehu Council
Ohakune-based iwi Ngāti Rangi hopes a formal relationship with Ruapehu District Council will foster a sense of honesty and trust.
Chair Whetu Moataane says it hasn’t been an easy road to get the council to treat it as a treaty partner, but things have improved under new mayor Weston Kirton.
He says the fact the council now has Māori wards does not mean it can replace Ngāti Rangi as mana whenua, and the iwi needs to be in the loop on any major developments.
“This is all about treaty partnership. This is all about our treaty responsibilities in our deed of settlement. It’s not just the interests of the tribe and the iwi but we have responsibilities to our manuhiri and to all peoples who live in our community. We have to show that manaakitanga to them and tat responsibility does not sit with RDC. It sits with us as mana whenua,” he says.
Moataane says.
One example where cooperation is needed is the future of the insolvent Turoa and Whakapapa skifeilds – in which Ngati Rangi says it has a manawhenua interest.