Friday 29 September 2006
Council approves relationship agreement with Ngati Te Ata
An historic moment in Manukau City Council’s relationship with Maori occurred yesterday when the Council approved the
final in a series of relationship agreements developed with the city’s Mana Whenua tribal groups.
Council now has five formal relationship agreements with Mana Whenua in Manukau. The last of these, with Awaroa ki
Manuka Incorporated Society representing Ngati Te Ata, was approved by full council at its meeting last night (Thursday
28 September).
The Council has been negotiating relationship agreements with mana whenua groups since 2001. Agreements already signed
are with Ngati Te Akitai (Pukaki Marae), Ngati Te Ahiwaru (Makaurau Marae), Ngai Tai Umupuia (Umupuia Marae) and the
Ngati Paoa Whanau Trust Board.
“This is an historic occasion for Manukau city,” says Deputy Mayor Cr Anne Candy, who chaired last night’s meeting. “The
Council has, since 1986, maintained a commitment to uphold and honour the Treaty of Waitangi and improve its
relationship with Maori. It has sought to do so by building these relationship agreements with Mana Whenua groups and
including in the District Scheme recognition of Maori tradition, culture and their connections with their ancestral
land.”
Cr Candy says that the relationship agreements with mana whenua have resulted in many advantages for all of Manukau
city’s residents, culturally and economically, but especially in regards to the environment.
“Relationships with these groups have, over the years, made a huge contribution to the improvement in the environment
that has been achieved in and around Manukau Harbour. A key benefit of these relationships can be seen by the marked
improvement in water quality through a reduction in the pollution carried into the harbour by run-off and discharge.
Birds, fish and marine mammals have been noted as returning to the harbour in renewed numbers as a result.”
Involvement of Maori in council processes and consultation had also led to an increase in participation of Mana Whenua
representatives in council activities such as the monthly meetings of the Mana Whenua Forum, the Wahi Tapu Working Party
and the formation of Council’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi Committee.
ENDS