September 21, 2023
Maunga authority co-governance in action
The chair of Auckland’s Tupuna Maunga Authority Paul Majurey sees the restoration of the maunga as co-governance in action.
He says the fact co-governance has been made an election issue is part of a populist trend in politics – but the authority’s vision is already evident with improvements in the tihi at Maungawhau, with other maunga to come.
That work was acknowledged by National’s leader Christopher Luxon in this week’s leaders’ debate, with Labour’s Chris Hipkins and ACT’s David Seymour also on the record with positive comments.
“When you have leaders of major parties during election cycles acknowledge that work of the many who have been involved, recognising the aroha and contribution of the mana whenua, Te Waiohua, Ngati Whjatua, Marutuahu in terms of what they have brought to these maunga, and the whole changing dynamic of these places we have taken for granted for so many decades, that’s the focus, that’s what keeps you going,” Mr Majurey says.