Local Government and Mana Whenua

In 2007, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) published a booklet of case studies illustrating aspects of Crown – Tāngata Whenua engagement, called Co-Management: Case Studies Involving Local Authorities and Maori. “Co-management describes decision-making processes where more than one party is involved” (p 7). This work came out of an earlier survey of the agreements between authorities and tāngata whenua, done in 2004.

The case studies, which record five different co-management arrangements, were written to give a better understanding of different types of arrangements, how they operate and their benefits as well as to assist policy development done by central government (p 4). The relationships studied were:

  • New Plymouth port assets – the New Plymouth District Council, Port Taranaki Ltd (wholly owned by the Taranaki District Council) and the Ngati te Whiti Hapu Society, a hapū of Te Atiawa. The area covered by the Memorandum of Understanding drawn up in 2002 includes Ngamotu beach and Pioneer Park (p 23).
  • Te Whiti Park – a relationship between the Hutt City Council and Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui which recognises the obligations and interests of both parties in relation to Te Whiti Park. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 1998.
  • Ohiwa Harbour in the Eastern Bay of Plenty strategy development. Three Crown agencies manage the harbour – Environment Bay of Plenty, the Opotiki District Council and the Whakatane District Council, with input from the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries. The iwi involved include Whakatohea, Upokorehe (an iwi of Whaktohea with ahi kaa in relation to the harbour), Ngati Awa and Tuhoe.
  • Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes) – the relationship between the Kaipara District Council, Te Roroa and Te Kuihi through the Taharoa Domain Governance Committee. This group manages the domain according to the Reserve Management Plan drawn up in 2002.
  • Okahu Bay/Whenua Rangatira Reserve – the relationship between Ngati Whatua o Orakei and Auckland City Council to manage the reserve (which includes the Okahu Bay foreshore) was set up by the Orakei Act of 1991. Three representatives of each sit on the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Reserve Board and their job is to manage the reserve for the public enjoyment of Auckland citizens and hapu members (p 34).

Some of these arrangements, such as those in New Plymouth and Auckland, were founded on the acknowledgement that there had been generations of ‘bitter history’ (p 23) and all of them have resulted in better relationships between Tāngata Whenua and the Crown.

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