Iwi and hapū from across Tauranga Moana are presenting a united front against the Government’s Fast-track approvals process, warning it must not override mana whenua, Treaty settlement commitments or the long-term health of Te Awanui, Tauranga Harbour.
The call comes as hearings continue at Whareroa Marae into the proposed Stella Passage Development, a major Port of Tauranga expansion project being considered under the Fast-track Approvals Act. The hearing has brought together mana whenua, environmental experts and the Port to debate the future of one of Aotearoa’s most significant coastal environments.
Te Pāti Māori Co-leader and Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi has thrown his support behind Ngāti Ranginui and the hapū of Tauranga Moana, saying the fast-track process must not come at the expense of tangata whenua rights or Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. He says the collective voice emerging from Tauranga Moana demonstrates that iwi and hapū are united in protecting their ancestral relationship with the harbour.
At the heart of the dispute is concern that the Government’s Fast-track legislation gives too much weight to accelerating major infrastructure projects while limiting opportunities for meaningful engagement with mana whenua and reducing environmental scrutiny.
Representatives of Tauranga Moana argue that while economic development is important, it cannot override whakapapa, kaitiakitanga and the Crown’s obligations under Treaty settlements.
The Stella Passage proposal would enable further expansion of the Port of Tauranga through additional dredging and marine infrastructure. Supporters argue the project is vital to New Zealand’s export economy and future freight capacity, while opponents say cumulative environmental effects on the harbour have already reached a critical point.
Throughout the hearing, mana whenua have emphasised that Te Awanui is far more than a commercial shipping channel. It is regarded as a living taonga that sustains customary fisheries, supports cultural practices and carries deep spiritual significance for the iwi and hapū who have exercised kaitiakitanga over the harbour for generations.
Evidence presented to the Expert Panel argues that continued expansion risks further degrading marine ecosystems, reducing kaimoana, affecting food security and undermining the ability of tangata whenua to uphold their responsibilities as kaitiaki.
Submissions also contend that any decision must take account of recently enacted Treaty settlement legislation involving Tauranga Moana iwi, with submitters arguing that statutory settlement obligations cannot simply be set aside in pursuit of faster consenting processes.
Those opposing the proposal have questioned whether the Fast-track process provides sufficient opportunity for genuine partnership with mana whenua, saying consultation should move beyond information-sharing towards co-design and shared decision-making.
Environmental concerns raised during the hearing include the cumulative impacts of dredging on water quality, marine habitats, shellfish beds and the overall mauri of the harbour. Mana whenua say these effects cannot be viewed in isolation, but must be considered alongside decades of industrial development that has already transformed significant parts of Tauranga Harbour.
The hearing also highlights the broader national debate surrounding the Government’s Fast-track legislation.
Supporters argue the legislation is needed to reduce consenting delays and deliver nationally significant infrastructure more efficiently.
Critics, however, say the legislation weakens environmental protections, limits public participation and risks marginalising the voices of mana whenua in decisions affecting their ancestral lands and waters.
For Tauranga Moana, leaders say the issue extends beyond a single port development.
They argue the case will help define how future governments balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, Treaty obligations and the constitutional place of mana whenua in resource management decisions.
As the Expert Panel continues its deliberations, iwi and hapū say they remain committed to speaking with one voice to ensure that development in Tauranga Moana proceeds only in ways that uphold mana whenua, protect the harbour’s ecological health and honour the enduring relationship between tangata whenua and Te Awanui.
#TaurangaMoana #FastTrack #ManaWhenua #TeTiriti #RawiriWaititi #NgātiRanginui #WhareroaMarae #PortOfTauranga #StellaPassage #Kaitiakitanga #TeAwanui #Māori #Environment #TreatySettlements #ResourceManagement #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews
