Mana Whenua & Council

Kōtui Mana Whenua

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Wairarapa are mana whenua in Wairarapa.

Carterton District Council recognises and respects the responsibility of the Crown to acknowledge and honour the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi and the obligations set out under the Local Government Act 2002.

The Council acknowledges Hurunuiorangi Marae and hapū, Ngāti Kahukuraāwhitia as mana whenua entities within its district and values the role of the Marae and associated hapū and whānau in the social and cultural fabric of our community.

We also acknowledge other hapū in the District and we will continue to develop meaningful relationships as the opportunity arises.

Māori Participation in Decision Making

Mana Whenua input

Local government legislation requires councils to take account of the perspective(s) of Māori on many matters. Initially, councils’ key requirements came from the Resource Management Act 1991. This Act contains obligations for councils to consult with iwi on resource management matters.

Visit our Preparing your Resource Consent Application page for more information on resource management consultation with mana whenua.

The Local Government Act 2002 contains provisions that are broader in definition and scope. This Act requires councils to take appropriate account of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi [Te Tiriti o Waitangi] and maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local decision-making processes.

Partnership, Participation, and Protection

The RMA 1991 places an obligation on the Council to consult with Māori during the planning process.

This obligation is in turn derived from the underlying principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which in this context, refers to:

Partnership

• The development of an active and ongoing relationship between Council and local iwi.

Participation

• A principle which emphasises positive Māori involvement in the business of the Council, and in particular its planning and delivery functions.

Protection

• The requirement to ensure that Māori well-being is enhanced whenever possible and that principles of equity towards Māori are observed in the Council’s decision-making process. The Council is committed to engaging in active consultation with Māori and to fostering positive relationships in pursuance of the partnership envisaged under the Treaty of Waitangi, on matters that affect and concern Māori. The tangata whenua who are mana whenua of this district are independent iwi, hapū and marae that each maintain their mana and tikanga.

 Our Mahi

• Hurunuiorangi Marae representation is provided for at meetings of the Council, the Policy and Projects Committee, the Risk and Assurance Committee and Council’s advisory groups and workshops.
• We have an evolving partnership with Ngāti Kahukuraawhitia, and a new partnership agreement between Ngāti Kahukuraawhitia, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Council for the development of nursery land at and adjoining our Dalefield wastewater treatment plant. In addition, Council is working with the hapū on projects and initiatives of common interest.
• We have worked with Iwi, hapū, and whanau, along with Masterton and South Wairarapa District Councils, to engage and consult on the Wairarapa Combined District Plan Review. This review will introduce a framework that better recognises, protects, and enables tangata whenua with the insertion Māori Purpose Zone, Sites of Significance to Māori, and others provisions such as providing for papakainga, marae, and business.
• We have appointed a permanent Māori liaisonto facilitate korero and kaupapa between Council, Iwi and hapū, and support Council staff in developing their cultural competency.
• We acknowledge the importance of water for Māori and are working with mana whenua on two projects considering the impact of Local Water Done Well legislation. These projects are investigating the potential for a joint Water Services Delivery Plan across the combined Wellington Region, and separately for the Wairarapa and Tararua Regions. Mana whenua representatives have been appointed to the Advisory Oversight Committee for both projects.
• We’re looking forward to long-lasting and respectful relationships with mana whenua and working together under anticipated new governance arrangements. Following deeds of settlements between Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
  Tāmaki Nui ā Rua, we look forward to post-Treaty settlement activity that will involve the Council and mana whenua, including new governance arrangement and bodies. This will include the establishment of the Wairarapa Moana Statutory Board. The Board will have a committee
  for natural resources, of which Carterton District Council will be a member.