First Wellington iwi participation agreements signed

Two Mana Whakahono ā Rohe iwi participation agreements signed on Thursday, with Greater Wellington, are now formalised under the Resource Management Act. 

Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki Incorporated and Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust agreements were agreed by iwi governance and approved unanimously by Council. The two Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements are the first of their kind to be completed in the Wellington region. 

The agreements are a statutory mechanism in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) available to hapū and iwi organisations to pursue. Imminent planning system changes including to the RMA led iwi to initiating Council to enter into Mana Whakahono agreements. An initiation letter was received from Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki on 23 February and Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai on 4 March, iwi and council have worked together since then to develop the agreements. 

Greater Wellington Chief Executive Nigel Corry said the agreements codify a relationship and partnership that has been in place for a long time.  

Former Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki Chair Denise Hapeta acknowledged the positive engagement and interaction with Greater Wellington over the past four-five years. “There hasn’t been a day when we have met with any member of GWRC, where we haven’t achieved traction.”

Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki Chief Executive Kim Tahiwi outlined the content of the agreement. “It isn’t anything new, it’s what’s there and what’s working, because we’ve proved that it works.”

Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai Chief Executive Richard Evans acknowledged the work from iwi of Kāpiti coast to protect tino rangatiratanga. “We need to stand up for tino rangatiratanga, and for those generations to come.” 

Chair of Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai Helena Gerretzen Parata spoke about the partnership. “We all talk about partnership and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and in most instances, we only talk about,” she said. “In this instance we are enacting partnership to the best of our ability in our lifetimes.  

Signing of the two agreements triggers the beginning of an 18-month review period. Work will begin in earnest when   impending planning system changes including to the Resource Management Act are known.

Watch a recording of the council meeting