Wānanga-ā-Tangaroa ki Mahia Kaiuku Marae 349 Mahia East Coast Road Wairoa 1 to 3 November 2007

Transcription

1 Wānanga-ā-Tangaroa ki Mahia Kaiuku Marae 349 Mahia East Coast Road Wairoa 1 to 3 November 2007 Introduction As a result of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, the government recognised the need to improve Māori engagement and understanding of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act In particular, the Commission noted the need to involve Māori early in the development of research programmes to ensure that Māori cultural and Treaty of Waitangi perspectives are appropriately incorporated and addressed in applications made under the HSNO Act. To achieve this ERMA New Zealand has been charged with developing and implementing a strategy for improving Māori participation in HSNO decision-making processes. As part of this strategy a series of annual hui/wānanga are held to provide a forum for Māori to discuss and investigate issues relating to HSNO decision-making that raise significant interest from a Māori cultural perspective. Acknowledgements Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao (Ngā Kaihautū) and Kaupapa Kura Taiao (the Māori Unit at ERMA New Zealand), were pleased to host this wānanga in response to calls from ERMA New Zealand's to provide a forum for consideration and discussion of environmental, cultural and other issues associated with Tangaroa. Ngā Kaihautū and Kaupapa Kura Taiao would like to thank the following people for taking the time out to attend the wānanga and to provide us with useful and thought-provoking presentations - Bill Blake, William Greening, Ngahiwi Tomoana, Robert Walker and Harold Ngarimu, Hori Parata, Grace Ormond, Anna Madarasz-Smith, and Charles Royal. Ngā Kaihautū and Kaupapa Kura Taiao would also like to acknowledge members from the following government agencies for their contribution, organisation, support and participation at the wānanga - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation (East Coast/Hawkes Bay) and Te Puni Kokiri (Wairoa). He mihi nui ki te whānau whānui o Kaiuku Marae mo tā rātou manaaki ki a mātou ki te wānanga. 1

2 Purpose and Outcomes The overall purpose of the wānanga was to provide National Network members with the opportunity to engage with key environmental agencies in relation to a broad range of issues associated with kaitiakitanga, Tangaroa and sustainability. In terms of the number of government agencies involved, this wānanga also served as an initial test case for developing a model for cross government engagement with iwi/māori. The following overarching outcomes were achieved: 1 The exchange of information and knowledge between iwi groups and with government agencies relating to kaitiakitanga associated with the wider aspects of Tangaroa and sustainability. 2 The establishment of a foundation for more regular collaborative cross-government engagement with iwi/māori aimed at: improving relationships and opportunities; developing in partnership, unique and innovative solutions; providing an effective platform for informed iwi/māori participation in government policy and process; and enhancing quality decision making. Participants Invitations to the wānanga were sent to all members of ERMA New Zealand s Māori National Network representing iwi/māori communities charged with the responsibility for managing and dealing with resource or environmental issues within their area. A total of eighty-seven participants attended the wānanga including Network members and government agency representatives (Appendix 1). Facilitator The wānanga was facilitated by Tipene Wilson, CEO of Maximize Consultancy Limited, a company focused on maximising opportunity, creating value and building relationships in Māori organisations and in the ability of corporate and government organisations to work productively with Māori. Tipene has extensive management experience and applies current business thinking and theory to market place and iwi realities. Tipene is the inaugural chairman of the Ngāti Tura, Ngāti Te Ngākau Hapū Trust in Te Arawa and is also the secretary of Pōhara Marae, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura in Waikato/Raukawa. Programme - Day 1 Following the powhiri and mihimihi, Terry Smith from Ngā Kaihautū gave a brief overview of Ngā Kaihautū roles and responsibilities. Ngā Kaihautū is a statutory advisory body providing advice to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (the Authority) on matters relating to policy, process and applications from a Māori perspective. They do not represent their own iwi or other perspectives, but seek to provide a broad overview of Māori 2

3 interests and perspectives. Terry introduced facilitator Tipene Wilson who provided some housekeeping information and introduced local kaumatua Bill Blake to provide some local history and background. Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chairman Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. - Keynote Address Ngahiwi spoke about the rebuilding of the Hawaiki nation. Whakapapa needs to be kept as a central theme, to give a united foundation for science, policy, government, etc. Lots of focus on pulling things apart, whakapapa is a way of putting it all back together. We are currently trying to fit whakapapa into government policies when we should be fitting the policies into Māori whakapapa. Needs to be a discussion surrounding tikanga and whakapapa first before we can talk about Tangaroa. It is a struggle trying to get government to understand or grasp things Māori. We are looking forward but we forget to look back at the base of that foundation. Education programmes are not providing true korero. No cultural component in a lot of the current education programmes. Robert Walker, Project Manager, Whakaki Trust - Whakaki Lagoon Wetlands Restoration and Enhancement Programme Harold Ngarimu also present on behalf of the Trust. There are 9 trustees and 1300 owners. The lagoon is 577 hectares, 300 of which are wetlands. The Trust was formed in 1965 to reclaim the awa. After the restoration was completed, wanted to re-grow and enhance the lagoon to how it used to be and also wanted sustainable management and self governance. Some of their goals are to restore the coastal forest, to build an economic future and to leave a legacy for future generations. Future planning includes walkways, bird lookouts, environment education, native bird breeding, wetland tours, beach tours, economic future. Positive outcomes are wetland habitat restored, vast birdlife and fish populations, regeneration of native plants, buy in from the community, level of lake restored, native fish such as mullet and whitebait in the lagoon. Hawkes Bay Regional Council helped with funding. New generations to set new goals and maintain traditional values, keep wetland park vision going, let legacy live on. Traditional harvesting would be good to come back to. Have self governance and sustainable management. Ministry of Fisheries is still involved. Not currently planting resources for harakeke, pingao, toitoi, etc, but would like to go in that direction in the future. Water comes into the wetland and rivers from farmland rather than ngahere, so it carries more pollution. Planting of the margins reduces that pollution. For 40 years there was no-one to push the project, this could have been through lack of knowledge. Government made legislative changes to drain all wetlands to make it into farmland. People of Whakaki were trying to convert it back to its nature flow. By bringing the sea and the lagoon together (Rahui River), Whakaki now thriving. Kaitiaki Field Trip Guided tour by Bill Blake around Opoutama, Mahia. Hori Parata, Whangarei - Whales A think piece on whales. Making the links between mātauranga and science, eg, database. 3

4 Programme - Day 2 Grace Ormond/Peter Neilsen, Mahia - Te Au o Hikairo (Marine Science School) Overview of school - educating rangatahi in mahinga kai monitoring and kaitiakitanga of kaimoana. Practical education, how to make resources to catch kai, where this kai lives, how to grow, etc. Pilot project started March this year, runs for 10 days, no costs for training but will have to charge a minimal fee for kai. Reef balls originally used for erosion control (called erosion balls). Have been modified to be a nursery for kaimoana. No copyright issues, creators want access for everyone to help protect the environment. Making science accessible and relevant to Māori. Practical science that enhances habitats. Bringing science to the people, demystification. William Greening, Mahia Māori Committee Overview of fisheries issues in Mahia and environmental issues facing marae in Mahia. Māori Heritage Council (Historical Places Trust) looks after waahi tapu. Charles Royal a Council member. (contact Historic Places Trust in Wellington - Te Kenehi Teira, Kaihautū Māori, Amosa Kamo, Maori Heritage Policy Manager, Anna Madarasz - Smith, Hawkes Bay Regional Council - Estuarine Ecology Monitoring Programme Provided an overview of estuarine ecology monitoring programme. Estuaries are interface between land and sea and act as a buffer zone to protect both, therefore need special attention. Services or values provided by Estuarine Ecology are that they regulate water flow, protect the sea from the land, protect the land from the sea, variety of habitats in a small space, important contribution to fisheries. Threats to health of NZ estuaries include increased sedimentation, nutrient and organic enrichment, decreased clarity/increased turbidity, overfishing, invasive species, increased toxicity. Estuaries are significant to overall health of Tangaroa because of buffer effects of land use from extending to the ocean, provides nursery spawning areas for fish species, provides roosting, feeding and breeding areas for migratory and wader species. Charles Royal, Mauriora ki te Ao - Tangaroa: The Creative Potential of the Māori World - Coming to Consciousness Discussed some of the fundamental differences in value surrounding Tangaroa as an atua/kaitiaki as perceived by the peoples of the Polynesian islands and Māori who were exposed to a forest paradigm as opposed to an ocean paradigm hence Māori elevation of Tane as principle kaitiaki/atua. Matauranga Māori has changed, is changing, and will continue to change. Te Puna o Tinirau is the tipuna of fish (means the multitude) reflects the idea of schools of fish. Relationship between mana and mauri - mauri must be present as the vessel within which mana can reside. If you are not well, eating bad food, suffering sickness, your mauri becomes depleted and therefore this inhibits your capacity to be a repository of mana. Creative potential of Māori world: In the past century or so the Māori world has been dominated by two key ideas; the question for social justice - retribution for historical wrong 4

5 doing and the place of Māori in contemporary New Zealand society. The second concept is the desire for cultural revitalisation / repatriation of Māori culture to Māori people, revitalisation of Māori language, interest in tikanga Māori, establishment of Māori medium schooling, Māori language broadcasting, etc. Mana-derived approaches: systems healthy if they realise their natural potential. We are healthy if we realise our own natural potential. Innovation, entrepreneurship, advancement underpinned by mātauranga. Government Agencies Overview An overview given by each of the government agencies about who they are and the work they do. Presentations given by Carl Ross - Ministry of Fisheries, Erica Gregory - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Whetu Tipiwai - Department of Conservation, Mani Crawford - Te Puni Kokiri, Dick Burgess - Ministry for the Environment and Zack Bishara - ERMA New Zealand. A general theme was that government is working smarter to work together with Māori, rather than talking to Māori individually. Together we have to be responsible for managing our resources for our future generations. We need to look after our resources. MAF is the leading government agency for sustainability in the agriculture/forestry area but is also responsible for biosecurity protection. A Māori Advisory Forum of agencies within government for biosecurity and environmental issues has been set up. The forum is to discuss how the agencies can work together better for the betterment of Māori. The Forum also wants to increase the value of Māori input to policy development and decision making through better engagement with Māori. The forum recognises the creative potential of Māori and is committed to increasing opportunities for Māori to optimise the economic potential of their land, fisheries and forestry assets and to protect Māori biologically based economic and cultural resources from pests and diseases. The Pou Kura Taiao of the Department of Conservation are not advisors for iwi, rather they get together with iwi to sort out any issues. They try and manage issues rather than advise, to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in kaupapa atawhai. Te Puni Kokiri introduced a Māori potential framework working towards ira tangata, placing emphasis on potential and eliminating negative thinking. The Māori potential approach is intended to assist Te Puni Kokiri in contributing to Māori success. Te Puni Kokiri look for the enablers that are fundamental to Māori achieving their potential. They consider what success may look like within and across the enablers. They prioritise interventions to optimise the benefits for both the government and Māori; providing a consistent focus for performance. National Kaitiaki Issues Chatshop Workstations were set up by each government agency and participants split into groups to rotate around each of the agency groups to discuss specific kaitiaki issues. Specific questions were harvested from these chatshop sessions and those helped populate a board of queries to be discussed at a later stage during the wānanga panel. Wānanga Panel Panel consisted of representatives from each of the different government agencies. Questions came from participants throughout the hui. 5

6 Question Who controls this forum (Māori National Network)? Who controls the Māori Advisory Forum? Do any of the agencies have a vision of how they will assist iwi to live kaupapa tikanga lives? Consultation - too many departments doing the same thing, what processes are in place for early and more meaningful engagement? How does a collective forum see that it will improve involvement / participation of Māori? When will DoC be in a position to utilise transfer of power of permits/ concessions to tangata whenua? Does DoC agree that they are the caretakers of our whenua and do not have the decision making abilities without tangata whenua input? Response 2003 ERMA charged with increasing participation of Māori in HSNO decision making. Therefore created a suite of hui, wānanga, regional and national networks and we have been working in that area. Held wānanga-ā-tane similar to this wānanga with similar issues. Previous hui have been asked to bring together multiple agencies to share information. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry currently facilitates this forum which includes Māori units within government agencies that deal with biosecurity and environmental responsibilities. The forum has had several meetings and is currently creating a terms of reference. It will be a valuable addition to other government forum that are already in place. A work programme will be put in place to address some of the issues that have been discussed at this and other forums. Constant theme for all our korero, to you as a whānau community, is that we have responsibilities to you as kaitiaki and the environment. Although we have different roles to play, we are responsible for improving the effectiveness of iwi/māori in environmental management. We all have our own budgetary restraints, so we are trying to work together. Whilst there have been improvements still not as good as it could be. Usual constraints - time, money, resources. From this hui we can continue the conversation between us. Have to consistently work on this. Time consuming and challenging and each organisation has a big brief. Need to extend the korero to other agencies. Will report back to those able to influence budgets to enable this forum to grow in the range of issues we want to talk about, and the number of people we need to talk to about those issues. For example, MED could be invited to future hui in regard to their work on protecting traditional knowledge as part of intellectual property protection. The Network needs to be communicating what comes out of this hui so other whānau get the message and participate. It is about engaging Māori into this process and sharing the knowledge. DoC already does this. Contact DoC in the areas you live in. We are the managers and work pretty extensively with iwi we think we do this very well. Obligated by statute to manage conservation areas but do this with input from tangata whenua. Have statutory obligation to consult. For more information contact DoC people in your local area. 6

7 Does DoC have any education programmes? How does tangata whenua access the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to monitor local government authorities? What process is in place so that tangata kaitiaki have enforcement powers to effectively manage local resources? Why isn't a cultural element included in the commercial areas? Why isn't there recognition of Māori customary rights in commercial fishing? Koha is mentioned within the Fisheries Act, how does MFish allow tangata kaitiaki to use this kupu? Updated report on setting up legislation and separate body for kaimoana customary fisheries as agreed in settlement - what are timelines? Does quota management system take recreational fishing into commercial environment? Started an education forum to train kaitiaki under the customary regulations. Five to six programmes run in the last 6 months. Give them a call. Contact Reece Martin on or reece@pce.govt.nz Under regulations tangata whenua can nominate honorary fisheries officers to manage resources. Through deed of settlement we have a lot of resources to support Māori. Mediation funding to support arbitration. Talk to Carl or Jonathan for more information. Tangata whenua kaitiaki do not have enforcement powers unless they become honorary fisheries officers. As kaitiaki everything is done for nothing - we need resources just to do the job let alone trying to provide enforcement as well. This has been ongoing for ages. Needs to be addressed at the very highest level - lobby the ministers so the ministry can take a proposal to cabinet for funding. In terms of resourcing when the settlement occurred there were commercial and non-commercial elements. A lot of iwi have received putea to support this. Look to ourselves for resourcing rather than government. Proposing a mechanism to try and get other groups to match the funding the ministry is providing. Koha, recreational, manaaki, etc included within the cultural component whereas the model treats the commercial as separate. Customary treated separate to commercial. Commercial harvesters pay compliance costs back to the ministry they are also primary contributors to research. They should have a commercial component included in customary. The koha system includes tangi, hui, fishing, etc. See koha as non-financial. Deed of Settlement settled commercial side. Other side was for Māori and Crown to negotiate regulations to put around customary non-commercial side for hui, tangi, etc. Māori from around the country wrote regulations. Tried to include as much tikanga as they could - currently what Mahia is regulated under. Amateur regulations come under recreational fishing regulations. Kaimoana regulations are for appointing kaitiaki, setting up mataitai. Remove the customary resource and move to a commercial environment. This happened with the kahawai in Mahia. 7

8 What are future amendments to the RMA that would benefit Māori? What are government doing re compulsory measures coupled to incentives for riparian planting and environmental restoration and protection? Does MfE have a Māori unit? Are you the Māori perspective of Maruwhenua? Query about fire ants? ERMA - overview of processes. If the RMA was changed in the current political climate would there be something better at the end of it. We don t think so. There are some good words in the RMA, they just need to be put into effect more clearly. Stronger national direction in way that councils operate is needed and is the reason for national policy statements (NPS) and national environmental standards (NES) being prepared at present. Work going on around the quality of water. Will be NPS and NES for water management that will create a strong incentive for riparian planting and restoration. These NPS and NES will regulate the way in which the RMA has to deliver improved water management in your region. Sustainable management fund provides people with funding support for environmental improvement projects. Dick Burgess and Chappie Te Kani are the current staff of Maruwhenua. The Māori perspective for MfE comes through hui like this. It is also provided through the Ministry s iwi CE forum, and the setting up of Māori reference groups for key policy work. This Network provides a Māori perspective by turning up and advocating at these types of hui. Ants found in Hawkes Bay. Sample taken, sent to MAF, identified as fire ants, biosecurity restricted area, talked to local community about not moving contaminated soil from particular region because the ants are very serious problem. Ants sting humans, have serious impact on industry, destroy crops. Costs to industry is hight so we do not want to have that happen in New Zealand. Eradication programme in effect. Baiting programme in place. December this year second round of surveillance and treatment in Hawkes Bay region. Involves aerial application of bait. Applying to ERMA for approval to use bait and for ground application. Ants came from Texas. Process applications for new species of plants or animals. Call ERMA to get correct application type and form. Will advise what we expect regarding information on risks. Trigger need to conduct national consultation dependent on what application is. Part of role to increase participation of Māori in HSNO decision making. Varying degrees of interest in how iwi want to participate. created. Contact ERMA if want to be part of Network. ERMA deals with hazardous substances and new organisms - two distinct parts of the business. ERMA charged with making decisions for approving applications for these. Once Authority has made decision on new organisms applications, MAF is compliance/enforcement officer after the decision has been made. Several compliance/enforcement agencies for hazardous substances applications, Ministry of Transport, OSH Department 8

9 Do cross agencies talk to each other about policies? How much money have you invested in projects in Mahia? Māori Reference Groups. Will the Māori Advisory Forum consider investing in regional tangata whenua technical forum regarding statement of intent engagement? Who controls the forum - people or agencies? What is the purpose and objective of this forum (Māori National Network)? What is our main focus as a roopu today - kaitiakitanga or is it about ministries maximising? of Labour, Aviation, etc. IBSC (Institutional Biological Safety Committees) organisations delegated authority to approve low risk applications. IBSC issues around lone Māori members on committees. All iwi from the area should be on IBSC not just one rep from one iwi. Ten IBSCs in the country. IBSC training - Māori members bought together two years ago for training. Looking at annual hui for IBSC members. Iwi delegate mandated representative on each of the committees. ERMA makes sure IBSCs are operating within the limit of their authority annual audits are held. Māori potential framework - putting together a strategy about modelling best practices about management for Māori. Need to change our paradigm of thinking. Check website to see how Te Waka Umanga can assist iwi. Don't have capacity building any more now called investment funding. Invest in future and potential directed pathways. People come to us with proposals and take out of it what Te Puni Kokiri can invest in, other agencies can also invest in these proposals. Multiple ownership on rates inquiry with Te Puni Kokiri - worked with the Wairoa district council. Contact Mani Crawford for a copy of submissions. This was national inquiry. No reference groups attached to the 1080 application. However there were two external members appointed to the committee, including a Māori Network member. Currently no progress with reference groups. Do not have enough nominations for committee members. Agencies not yet had that discussion. From here we will take that suggestion away and talk about how we can do that. Iwi/hapū reps at this hui are the controller of their iwi/hapū for this forum. Acknowledgement to agencies for the work they are doing. We want more and better types of this engagement. Overarching theme of the hui cross agency forum, whanau participation, continued communication. The following questions/statements not able to be discussed at the wānanga, but are noted: 9

10 Is there a message that agencies can take back to add value to the hui? Why don't the government agencies hold hui further north than Whangarei. There are at least six iwi further north including the largest iwi by population - Ngā Puhi? To have a 'take' addressed, do I contact Ngā Kaihautū to begin the process correctly? What is the progress of ERMA's Taonga Species List? Were ERMA supported by the other agencies to facilitate this hui with our Kaiuku whānau? If not, why? Would like more wānanga on hazardous substances and/or new organisms. The Network need to continue to support the agencies at forum like this. Continue collaborative approaches with networks across kaitaikitanga issues facing iwi/māori. Logistics - funding, time, travel. Previous hui have been held in Whangarei - iwi from greater Tai Tokerau region have been invited. Contact ERMA's Māori Unit (Kaupapa Kura Taiao) in the first instance, phone , and ask for Linda Faulkner GM Māori for ERMA. ERMA to maintain watching brief on publicly available taonga species lists to share with Network. Level of discomfort amongst Network members - ERMA will not pursue development of national list at this time. Yes. Held several meetings/ discussions with agencies present to discuss the organisation of this wānanga including funding support. Noted. Future Network hui will include these topics. Ongoing. Kaitiaki Field Trip Continued guided tour by Bill Blake around Opoutama, Mahia. Summation Shaun Ogilvie, member of Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao summed up the two days. Participant Evaluations Thirteen feedback forms were received. Participants responded positively to all questions posed. The following statements summarise general opinions expressed. A more detailed report of the feedback forms will be provided on request. 1 Workshops and discussion forums very useful and informative. Excellent having different government agencies in attendance. Noted for future wānanga more time to be given for discussion at workshops. Continue to include and increase number of government agencies attending hui. 2 Very positive feedback about Tipene Wilson and his excellent facilitation skills. 10

11 3 Field trips enjoyed by everyone and the knowledge of the whakapapa and history of the local area provided by local kaumatua Bill Blake was amazing. 4 Good to hear what is happening in other parts of motu and people's outlook on problems facing Tangaroa. Government agencies korero provided understanding of political process behind implementing new/improved issues for Crown agencies. 5 Good interactions with other iwi/hapū resource managers. One respondent noted that they would like to see tangata whenua control of this forum (Network). Would also like to see more people who are more involved in environmental issues available at these hui to answer questions. 6 Topics suggested for future wānanga including wānanga mahinga kai, wānanga rongoa, another New Organisms hui. Should be more expertise in relation to kaupapa and that practical exercises with hau kainga be included on programme. 7 More representations from local government and Department of Internal Affairs was suggested. Further Information Any feedback or comments on this report can be forwarded to: Kaupapa Kura Taiao ERMA New Zealand Level 1 BP House 20 Customhouse Quay PO Box 131 Wellington linda.faulkner@ermanz.govt.nz zack.bishara@ermanz.govt.nz maraea.faulkner@ermanz.govt.nz Ph: Fax: