Fire of Wharekauri

The Legacies Of Our Time...

2010-06-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Many have written about who we are , where we are from , how we lived , how we get on with each other , about who said what and who did this and who did that.....For what ever reason or cause, the words they have written , have created a history about us , that is now taken as gospel in the minds of people ...These have caused government's to create policies , that we have to live with...

But what about our stories?

what about our histories about our lives with each other, about how we lived with each other? worked with each other , built roads and schools and homes and sheep yards and fences with each other, ran the committees and Council with each other...married each other, had families, died and were buried with each other?
These first began to emerge with the Sealords case in 1992 when the Runanga challenged the Crown and the tribes of NZ, for a right of access to the fisheries settlement , in its own right.

The Legacy of Roger...

We did this by sending Roger out to sea so that legal advisors for the NZ Maori Council, would not find or reach him, to get him to agree to the settlement that had been agreed to, by the Crown and the tribes of NZ. The Chathams was included in the initial case against the Crown ( known as the Muriwhenua case) through the NZ Maori Council. ( they were members as Chatham Island Maori Committee), and Roger had signed the Claim. All members had to agree to withdraw the case from the High Court, to enable the deal with Carter Holt Harvey , to proceed.
The only way to challenge the deal, was to remain lodged in the High Court...which we did by changing lawyers. If it wasn't for the Runanga doing that, the Chathams would not have access as a seperate zone, as you have now.

The Waitangi Tribunal hearings followed and a host of stories have been told. Islanders talking about who they were, how they lived and what it was really like on the islands. Each is told through their own eyes... as they ought to be...
So why have we got such a mess now now? Why is there such a split in our whanau? What happened?

As the Tribunal hearings completed, I had a sense that our stories were not going to find a rightful place in the outcome. The Runanga immediately applied to the Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court, seeking a determination on who owned the lake bed of the Big Lake. Our request was ignored ..
When the tribunal report was released 8 years later.. we understood why..I had spoken to many experts, inlcuding Professor Alan Ward, on the issues throughout that time of waiting....including trying to understand 'Why are we waiting?'
There has been much written about the report since and much remains unsaid and unresolved.. Micheal Belgrave has written extensively about it and his findings have lead him ........

....' to the conclusion that Ngati Mutunga’s claims have been rejected, and that in doing so the Tribunal mirrors the actions of previous “courts” by handing on a fresh grievance to new generations ...'

You can read more in his book:
Historical Frictions: Maori Claims and Reinvented Histories by Michael Belgrave. Auckland University Press, Auckland. 2005. 388 p. NZ$49.95 (paperback). ISBN 1869403207

It would seem to me that there have been some huge myths created in the name of competition for resources around the Chathams.... And poor old Taranaki got blamed and done in...for it all! well...almost!

Wharekauri?

It's good to see the truth about where the name " Wharekauri " came from--- not from those Taranaki cannibals at all! And yet you will find most modern commentators of our history, attribute the name of Wharekauri, to the Taranaki invaders...the Maori name of Wharekauri and the Moriori name of Rekohu (meaning misty skies).' Wikipedia. The name 'Rerekohua' has gone and yet the translations are different.
' As for the origins of Moriori..Are they really different or just from an earlier migration? .Don't we all whakapapa back to Toi and Whatonga of our Polynesian ancestral geneology? And what of Rauru and Rongo and let's not forget those magical people from Waitaha?
In which case , is what happened to the tribal societies of Wharekauri, any different from that which happened to tribes in NZ as they migrated and settled the lands needed as they grew and sought resources to sustain themselves?

There exists a proliferation of stories by experts on the matter including Wikipedia.....

' It had been thought since the 1800s that the original Moriori arrived directly from more northerly Polynesian islands, which would make the Moriori's fishing rights claim invalid. However, current research indicates that ancestral Moriori were Māori who came to the Chathams from New Zealand about 1500.[4][5][6][7]
As Kerry Howe puts it,
'.Scholarship over the past 40 years has radically revised the model offered a century earlier by Smith: the Moriori as a pre-Polynesian people have gone (the term Moriori is now a technical term referring to those ancestral Maori who settled the Chatham Islands).'[8]

Oh well, they reckon if you cry loud and long enough, you'll get attention.

But I am not convinced that the crying was authentic in reality, truthful in content and historical fact , to warrant a $6 million payout of taxpayer funds for compensation and rehabilitation of what ? and for ...how many people?

Perhaps the root cause of the destruction of our tribal community and the split in our whanau, over the last 30 years, can be found in the policies implemented by those whose quest to gain power and control, using deliberate strategies to seek popular support. These strategies were legitimised by the policies, legislation, regulations and administrative systems, implemented by our electoral processes.

My view is that this is the prime reason for the continuing chaos on the Islands and amongst our whanau. .It rules and divides and leaves a confusion of complex issues that numbs the senses and emotions into a paralysis that cauterises the ability of ordinary people to take action.....what can you really do, to effectively have a say in the governing of the islands, so that you have a better quality of life?

Gosh.!.. so many things go on without our knowing about them, don't they!

The only way out of the conflicts that plague our whanau, is for all groups to meet, to korero for as long as it takes, with a person who knows the rules and will do what is right for us, until we find a way forward ...TOGETHER..

Thank goodness we have the Cheif Justice of Nuie, who is also a judge in the High Court of the Cook Islands and a retired Cheif Judge of the Maori Land Court , as the Runanga Chairman...

Maybe he can sort this all out....If he can't , well, I'll have to ring up God next time....

Oh..did I tell you? he is of Mutunga whakapapa... cool dude ...don't forget to feed him well when he comes home to the Chathams !
He is the first person we have had who is a strong advocate with credibility that those who govern the islands, will listen to. Lets ask him to lead us through the tangled scrub of the past years, to find a pathway forward for all., while we still have him...

That would be a great legacy for us all to leave for our mokopuna..

We are kaitiaki of the Papatuanuku.. of our papakainga... of our whenua...

cheers Evelyn

All That Is Necessary For The Triumph Of Evil Is That Good Men Do Nothing.

2010-06-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

It has been an extraordinary week!

The continuing disaster of the oil leakage off the coast of Florida; the decision of the Judge on the death of Hawea Vercoe; the ducking and diving over the seabed & foreshore issues; the 'feigned remorse' of Minister G Brownlie as he apologised for not telling Ngati Porou and Te Whanau Apanui about the contract to explore for oil off their foreshores, that was already signed with an overseas oil interest; the protest over the attempts to push through amendments to allow local government(Councils) to privatise your water supply; and who could ignore following the news bulletins that became episodes akin to a TV soap, to keep up with the spending habits of our elected representatives of the Crown, especially Shane Jones ?
As someone once said ..

..an event has happened, upon which it is difficult to
speak. and impossible to be silent...

On the bright side, the sight of Jim Hickey's and his team on a wintery visit to the Chathams, experiencing the delights of the island, was great. However, his shots of the closed Post office and businesses, told another story, to those who
who could see. I could not help wondering whether they would have been shut, if the proposal of the Runanga to build a meat processor on the Islands, had not been opposed by the Council, the Iwi Trust, Hokotehi Trust, Enterprise Trust, when the government officials visited the islands in 2005-6 ?
That was a project that had sound scientific and economic research support and was for the benefit of all Chatham Islanders. But the Island rot could not be stemmed . It was a case of playing the person , not the ball and you lost the game. In business, you have to play team. The economy has deteriorated further, whanau are leaving the islands , businesses are closing and that means little or no money coming into the families. What's happening to the schools? What's the cost of things on the island's now ? And so, what now?

FISH? FISH? FISH?

But who's got it? who controls it and who gets the income from the fish inside your territorial waters? Chatham Island whanau or just a few select who can influence the committee's and don't have to rely on their farm incomes. ?

The deal done with TOKM was a shocka...!!

It looks like it might be revisisted..and so it should, if we are want to make sure there are no further injustices done. If we continue on the waka that was set up, it will be like the leaky homes syndrome.....things done for efficiency and commercial gain for those who did the deals behind the cowshed.

No wonder the Iwi Trust and Hokotehi committees are not interested in Treaty rights of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri. That would mean, the benefits have to be for all who could whakapapa to Mutunga o Wharekauri .
All members need to have a say in what's happening ... it is written into their contract with TOKM but is ignored.
The tribal right is a collective right , not an individual right, as are the rights bestowed by the Crown, via its various legal entitities. The fisheries settlement was compensation for a customary tribal right.... the rights belong to the tribe... not the committee.... The customary rights to the rohe, the turangawaewae, the papakainga, the taonga, i.e all its assets, belong to the collective i.e all members of th tribe.

Consultation with all its members , has to happen... I could not imagine the Executive committees of e.g. Tainui, Nga Puhi, Kai Tahu, getting away with the things that have happened in the tribal groups on the Islands.

You see, there is a fundamental principle of government ( or governance) at stake here and, it is one that you will need to know about, for example, if government ( or your local Council ), proceeds to privatise water and/or any other service, that you think is free

No taxation without representation....
What this means is, you have to be told before they carry out policies on your behalf, especially if they also incur levies, rates etc, i.e taxes.
If you own property and pay rates, it might be a good idea to write to your Iwi group and your local council. Ask if any services are going to be privatised, i.e like the school bus service on the islands, or your water services. Will a private company from NZ or is the Enterprise Trust, going to take over the water supply?
Click here if you are interested in any more information : www.stopprivatisation.org.nz

So, what prompted this post about things going on around us.?

I met my nephew downtown this week, while I was out on my daily walk and we had a korero over a cup of hot chocolate. What got me was his intense questioning about what was happening to Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri ?

Questions about why there was nothing for people to learn about , to engage in and, more importantly, to develop economically as an Iwi. He asked why , despite there being a generation of highly skilled, educated and experienced members, but there was still no infrastructure that provided the trust, assurance and confidence, for them to engage in. He asked whether anyone was doing anything about the oil reserves around the islands? Was anyone looking after the Big lake?

Significantly, I was struck by the signals of his conversation about the fact that there was no sense of whanau, hapu or iwi community, that encouraged their involvement in their Iwi development. And that, is a tragic legacy of the committees' of the past 5 years. They have had millions of dollars in the bank, and yet still our whanau have left the islands. So you may wonder why I keep asking

" What were the $6 million of tax payer funds for and where is it now"

What it says is , as with the opposition to the meat processing plant, as with the collusion between the NM Iwi Trust and Hokotehi over the contract with TOKM, as with the continuing lack of accountability and transparency in the current Iwi committees, as with the destruction of the contract to be the education provider for the Chathams when the staff of the Runanga were dismissed, the negative impact upon our iwi whanau, has been significant.

The rules of the game being played by those in control, are destructive, out of date and have set up a process of developmental suicide for our Iwi.

THIS HAS TO CHANGE..
WE HAVE TO GROW OUR WHANAU

As someone once said...

THERE IS NOTHING MORE SCARY THEN IGNORANCE IN ACTION..

There are a lot of good people who just want to live ordinary lives...but sometimes, you just have to round up the mob and do some dagging....

cheers Evelyn

Bright Stars Of Our Future....

2010-05-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

We are not good at celebrating our achievements and we ought to.. Instead we are more likely to give out a sarcastic slur... a joke.. as a way of dealing with our feelings about success ..or ..whatever.it is that makes us do what we do.

Here is someone we can all celebrate as she is one of us...
She is the mokopuna of Uncle Raape Tuuta and Aunty Joan...
And she already has LLB ( Honours) and BA Maori...!

Click here http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/molecular_bioscience/1893.html?newsstoryid=4980

Congratulations to Meika Foster on being awarded the 'Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement'.

Isn't she cool!!

Messages From The Mists Of Time...

2010-05-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

Technology has opened up the world and as information spreads far and wide, old ways of doing things, are falling over. People can read and search for information about what ever they want ...and that is great.

I had a great teacher of customary Maori law and was taught about Maauriuri.

These things always held a sense of the unreachable .. of things known only to a few. It was easy to hold that sense that I now knew something 'special' and would only engage in conversation about such matters, with those who already knew.

That was 30 years ago. Now it is all on the Internet... open for all to see and to know .. and that is great..

Here is an article that contains some of those 'special ' bits of information ..
Read about the Chathams and enjoy it for what it is...... A story of our past that can bring clarity in our present...

Is it a myth of not? Enjoy.

Click here: Te Runanganui O Waitaha me Maata Waka Inc . - Te Kauwae Raro

The question is, ' Who do we believe ?

a.The Maui Solomon/ Mana Cracknell / M King version?
b.The H T Whatahoro ( Maori version ) ?
c. S Percy Smith version of the account of Whatahoro. ?
d)And you can add to that, the stories of A Shand and Captain Gilbert Mair..
To add to the maze of myths and stories written by people who could write stories , are those found in the...
e) Maori Land Record's ... spoken by the Chiefs (in Maori) who actually 'did the deeds'.

So Where Do We Go Now?

The challenge is that NZ (represented by Dr P Sharples)have finally signed the Charter earlier this year, for the United Nations Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples Rights, having previously refused to do so. Moana Jackson is now drawing up a constitution to represent the indigenous peoples of NZ, to fit within the structures of that UN forum.

Click here if you want to read more on these issues for yourself..

www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.html

www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.

www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3599153/NZ-does-U-turn-on-rights-charter

The question is, .. how will the Chatham Islands fit itself into the new constitutional framework, being developed for the indigenous people of NZ?

How will it deal with the constitutional issues ( i.e. Treaty of Waitangi issues} of conquest? Raupatu? within its own Rohe, so that it can legitimately and authentically, fit in with the traditional and cultural norms of tribes in NZ. i.e tribes who practised the same customary traditions. No special deals this time....as in the case of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, when it came to raupatu at Wharekauri. it has been marketed as very uncommon....different...

In fact, the body of public and 'expert' opinion, can, at times, be said to have placed the raupatu of the Chatham Islands, within a zone of similarity not unlike that of the war crimes of the 1st and 2nd World war's of Europe..

I was once questioned by the media at the launch of the Waitangi Tribunal Report. We had already questioned why Parliament and not the Island , our papakainga. Consequently , a small team of Tribunal staff, including a few whanau, had flown in to the Islands, to deliver the document to the people. The flight down, apparently revealed a tale rather like the Erebus intrigue...
Moriori , however, preferred to have the document delivered in the that venerable icon of demacracy that we have in NZ, Parliament.

I was asked to go by those on the Islands, to 'keep an eye on things" .
At this event, I was asked by the media whether I felt sorry ...to which I replied “For what?” . I had no idea what they were talking about ..until I was given a copy of the Waitangi Tribunal Report "Rekohu" in its own special kete..... ....and then I got it......
They already had their copies and were well aware of what was in the document.

I too, already knew... What we had guessed 8 years previous ,was now being delivered with pomp and cakes and ale, in the very heart of the institution that continues relentlessly, to pursue the glorious -splendour of their tribal past - in a clone of their Westminister tikanga... parliament.

It was a self fulfilling prophesy..playing out an irony that was both a tragedy and a comedy to watch...a bit like the Sealords Deal signing ...same place...same irony...same tragic comedy..

So you see.. these issues are not little matters. They are not the ravings of a ranting woman sending out 'diatribes ' as some would believe and say... They are about the legacy that has been left for you and for me and the one that you and I and what ever we each choose and decide to do, will leave our whanau ...our mokopuna......

It is as simple as that...It is not about the fish..or who got the quota...In a few years time.. the stocks will probably deplete ....and then what?

The unresolved matters of customary traditions as they affect the constitutional status of the iwi o Wharekauri, has to be resolved. Not talking about it, won't make it go away..It is a global issue now...

So What do you think or more importantly, what are you going to do?

Cheers Evelyn

You Cannot Travel On The Path Until You Become The Path Itself. (Gautama Bouddha)

2010-05-20T02:35:00.000-07:00

There can be no doubt that the path to a better future for the islands of Wharekauri, has been long entangled in its historic past.
Driven since the 1700's by a global demand for the economic gifts from the sea,and the pursuit of advantage by those who sought such riches, the island's are peopled by a mix of those who found safe haven, in those times of exploration.
Like many other NZ'ers, we grew up not knowing anything about that past, so I am always fascinated by the story of the battle with the French on Waitangi Beach - the same beach that we played on , got pipi and blind eels, and trained race horses or just raced for the fun of it.....the recent TV programme showing that Mark fella' (?) was a reminder that it is a local 'tradition' that still brings a lot of Island style fun.

And the attempt to buy the Islands ,by that astute German businessman back in the 1842, that eventually resulted in the British, ( we were under British rule - what ever that was ! ), intervening to stop the sale . The Brit's brought the Islands into the jurisdiction of NZ by moving to issue a Letters Patent , modifying the Charter of 1839 Colony of New Zealand, to include the Chathams. It shows that we have never been without importance in the economic equation of NZ as a nation, or indeed, other trading nations of the world.

Not only does it remind us of the rich history, that shaped the Islands before we were born, it also reminds us that the habits of history, are not easily discarded.. That it is the people who lived in those times, that set forth pathways for those of us who are now here. That's whakapapa...

There is nothing more frightful then ignorance in action

There are major changes going on, that will affect the economic realities of whanau on the Islands - even more, I would hazard a guess, then those of us in NZ. The Treaty settlement for the Islands , are also on the move again and we need to be reminded that the manawhenua of the Chatham Islands, has not been resolved yet.

There are those who would assume that the settlement for the fish, would be the way to go with the rest of the Treaty settlements, however, we must also realise, that raupatu has its own rules that are well laid down in legal precedent.

There's more then one issue to resolve. Lets not confuse them.

It cannot be assumed that the politics of fish will decide the land and lake settlements. That would be sheer arrogance ...even though some leaders are already pushing this....Just as well we have a independent Chair of the Runanga who is also an expert in the legislation as determined by the Maori Land Court! Lets hope we can find a way through the egoism of ignorance and self serving competitiveness of 'what's in it for me'.
You see, if there is going to be hope for the future for our mokopuna, then we must build our communities from the bottom up ....and that means focusing on what is happening inside our whanau and finding ways to bring out the best in them....Our kids and those still to come, deserve that respect and care. . .

I previously posted a story about what happened in the fish story and how the decision about islands around the Chathams, were dealt with.. well... not all of it. You see, again I am reminded of how people shape outcomes ..sometimes in a very disastrous way.

I have attached a followup to the last documents ,about how TOKM decided on how to deal with the Islands around the Chathams ..AND WHO was instrumental in making it happen. You see there were two submissions called for , within a very short time .. almost too short for credibility.. actually. the final draft was already on its way to the printer.before we finished .... but that's another story.......

Anyway , read and enjoy the game that went on...just remember, it was your islands , your papakainga, your manawhenua rights , your Treaty rights that were being decided.

My view is that the way to sort out this huha and fighting between the 'rellies, is to set up under our own Act of Parliament , seperate from other tribes ... after all we do have our own 200 mile zone outside the NZ 200 miles that's why we are 800 kms east of NZ... in most places... ... 2 + 2 = 4 and there's 4 left over..

What do you think ?. ...solves all those problems we have with the coastline calculations done by those clever people in TOKM, when they reduced out Treaty entitlements to fish species - and increased the right of all NZ tribes to our fish....around our coastline and within in our own 200 mile zone. .

Worse then that, they even took our Treaty rights and gave half away !!.. and some of our 'yes sir, no sir , three bag's full sir' whanau on the committees, nodded their heads in agreement, behind the cowsheds... but that's another story still to come....

But they forgot to ask us.....

Oh well...I suppose they got first bite at the 'fish and chips' ....that's called competitive advantage I suppose ..... good old fashion 'management technologies.' ....this is the way we do it around here.... .

That brings me to that $6million given to Hokotehi Moriori Trust

" Money is like manure. If you spread it around, it does a lot of good.
But if you pile it up in one place, it stinks like hell!"

WHAT WAS IT FOR ?
Perhaps it was part of their Treaty settlement? Does that mean all other tribes who suffered raupatu, are also eligible for compensation?
Shucks ! the government has only just given $6.5 million to hurry up settling the rest of the claims for all Maori, by 2014 !
But they are a special case...peaceful people ...so the myth goes..but whose myth is it?
..Moriori., we are lead to believe ....are different from Maori, ... ( that is , until the Sealords deal - they needed some fish! then they had to be considered as Maori ..what a drama that was ... full on fight...NO BLOOD WAS DRAWN....)......According to stories they were allowed to beat the s--- out of each other as long as they didn't draw blood...That's cool...a good idea if you are stuck on an isolated island with a fragile waka as the only means of transport and commnication . But what happens in the reality of now? Surely ,with planes and boats and trains and telephones and education and knowlege freely available to all as well as some handy colonial rules that banned slavery, female infanticide etc, the reason for crying , has long gone (I wonder if they knew about pressure points ? ancient therapies of Polynesia were well versed in these)

If they are so different , in what way? What is their whakapapa? Are they not from where other Polynesians come from? Who do they descend from?. (You might like to click on the article under WHAREKAURI on the right called = Ka haere a Kahu ki Wharekauri" Scroll down and you will reach the translation in english.)

You see , I am fully respectful of historic pasts and the colours and rich tapestries inherited from tribal cloaks. They maybe torn and tattered, but nevertheless, they are mine, handed down from times, now gone. And I am also respectful of those who are adorned by other tribal histories, that are very different from mine.
But lets clear out the weeds and scrub along the pathway .so that you can walk your path and I can walk mine.
...
There are tribal histories that are more ancient then the mists of time , and that are still untouched and unspoken by any of this modern colonial style tribal histories being dished up in the past 20 years , in the name of native rights. And I am in total respect and awe of the powerful messages, the fineness of leadership , the kaitiakitanga , rangatiratanga and manaakitanga, that those histories left as legacies for this time in our history. They are untouched and sit waiting for us to see it, to get it and to do it.

And so back to the myths of modern day Chatham Islands ! What a myth! ..but is it a myth deserving of an entitlement for more Treaty compensation then other Maori in NZ or the Chatham Islands? ..

What an ode to democracy and majority rule! .

You see, the Sealords Deal was hugely significant in customary terms as we witnessed the changing tides of tikanga Maori in a post modern Maori society, when it comes to the cutting edges of battle over territory and resources, with Crown. I have written about it as it affected us, and I will reference it on this site , when I can figure out how to do it.

SO WHAT WAS THE HUGE GRANT OF TAXPAYER MONEY FOR?
Not to save those trees surely? How old are those trees at Kaingaroa anyway ? Why are they saving those?
Why don't they use those trunks old Mrs Jefferson shipped back to NZ on te coastal trader ? - along with those bones she dug up.
All I know is most of the kopi trees around the Island, are dead . Are there any kopi tree's or any tree for that matter, 100 years old ? how old are those tree's with pictures ?
So ,I reckon our artistic uncles carved those taonga ? Leo can tell you some great stories .....like the ones we all did at some time in our younger days, on the limestone rocks and trees at home? It was part of life and what you did - if you wanted to..just for fun .outdoor learning and creativity...

Gosh, the more we ask, the less we know?

NOW WAS IT FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF TAX PAYER FUNDS?

HOW IS THAT GOING TO BRING PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL FOR

THE PEOPLE OF THE CHATHAM ISLANDS?

Life is so perplexing sometimes!

cheers Evelyn

PS. Access to the documents has been changed because security systems
are changing. Click on the documents under WHAREKAURI up there on the right and
it will take you to the page.
Follow the instructions. There are plenty more to come.

The Tangled Web Continues...

2010-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

The ownership of water supply to people and communities is under hot debate at this moment. Government are moving legislation to virtually privatise supply of water for 35 years.
............................AND THAT INCLUDES YOU ON THE CHATHAMS!!
But where does your water come from now? It might be a good idea to check up. I know we always had a huge water tank and the water came from God ....and when there was a drought.. the stock suffered and we had to be very careful having a wash. I wonder how they will cook up a scheme to fit the Islands current water supply to homes .

. A bit like when they privatised the power and you had to pay to put in your line to your house.
Imagine , just like the road works and the bus service to our schools - all run by NZ companies . Now government is moving legislation so that your water will also be owned and run by NZ owned companies.. for 35 years...

So too are mining exploration on so called DOC land.- and we all know about the mining rights around the Chathams and those minerals that lie hidden in the Big Lake....although some people may think we don't know..............in fact some people may not know at all..

Why am I bringing this up now?

Because you have to face what's happening to you.
You have the opportunity to stand up to government and say " No" no more .. you have taken everything we have ". And they have.

The fish settlement is a joke. I will lay out the behind-the-cow-shed negotiation with TOKM and Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust all the while the people thought and attended hui , thinking they were part of the process. But it was a dual process as other hui were being held with Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust ..and no one knew...Even those held in NZ, and those who attended the Waikanae Hui at Whakarongotai Marae , can well remember the farce as the constitution changed as people tried to have input...

And Ohh! guess who Chaired the Hui? No other then the now infamous Danny Mullins ..It will be interesting to see where and how and if any of his $300,000 income was derived from his business relationships with the Iwi Trust. Oh well, it is now all under investigation.
The point being , the foundations upon which the fish settlement was set up with TOKM and the Iwi Trust, lay the whaariki for its current problems . It had to happen... a bit like the leaky homes syndrome..

And so we have the water supply, the mining rights and the manawhenua of the Chathams still unanswered. TOKM was smart enough to set up the deal with the Iwi Trust and Moriori, with the proviso that it is without predjudice to manawhenua rights over the Chathams. both parties had to agree to the split coastline.

What I cannot workout is this.
In customary terms, you have to have continuous ownership of the land adjoining the sea and presumably the lakes & waterways. Lake Waikaremoana, Lake Taupo, Lake Rotorua, Lake Ellismere and others all set precedents for this question.
So what coastline did the Iwi Trust agree was Ngati Mutunga and what half what Moriori? What whanau still own those lands and many still live on the same land blocks from 1835 ?
.............and remembr, the Islands were not brought into the jurisdiction of the Crown unitl 1842. Do they fit the analysis done by the Iwi Trust or did they just do it as they are doing the yearly distribution of quota to the people? In a closed door hui behind the cowshed?

I'm picking no one knows what went on then and even less know about what is going on right now.
Who knows about how the water legislation will affect the Chathams? GO ASK THE CHATHAM ISL.ANDS COUNTY COUNCIL They are a Regional Council and
manage out to the 200 mile Zone.
Who knows how the mining in DOC land or anywhere on the Chathams 200 mile Zone, will affect the Chathams? GO ASK THE CHATHAM ISLAND COUNTY COUNCIL AND D.O.C. They will know
Who knows about what is happening with the assets of Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust that have been liquidated ? GO ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS. ASK THE CHAIRPERSON. They will know and members have a right to know

Lastly but the most important of all, why is the Minister of Treaty Settlements meeting with .
Moriori and Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust to discuss the lake this month?
I sincerely hope the Runanga has received the papers and the invitation to attend . This is where the rubber hits the road ...and thank God for having a Judge of the Maori Land Court as a Chairman , to guide the Runanga...

My question ' Why is the Minister looking at the lake as an issue associated with the Seabed & Foreshore Review WHEN THE LAKE IS NOT AN ARM OF THE SEA?

His comments that it was left out of the Review , leads one to think
there is an assertion that the lake is part of the sea. It may be large..but it is not an arm of the sea.

Just remember, you don't have to agree with the Minister. it can be left until you do your settlements with Crown rather then have to fight to get it back of them because of the political aganda.

I suspect they are trying to do a deal like the Waikato deal with Tainui..

What are you going to do about it?

The tangled web goes on...as does life...

cheers e

" ,,,The Tangled Web.continues......

2010-05-02T04:10:00.000-07:00

I was reflecting upon the dilemma that must face those who liquidated the assets of Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust recently. How on earth did it happen?

Someone once said we should reflect on our past as it allows us to find the wisdom of where we have been. Those words came to me as I began to wonder what Trust entity could still be in place that would create the confusion that lead to liquidating assets.

And then I began to remember .... and I am almost sorry I started to remember until I realised..' not many know this story ..and they deserve to know so that they may think about what happened and why and whether it contributed to the chaos of the Treaty fish settlements to the Islands. and our whanau.. ....as it all occurred during their lifetimes. If nothing else, it brings light upon a time that has been hidden ... and there is no need for it to be so...

I was emptying by files and came across a letter following up a submission to TOKM, on the final allocation policies for allocation of the fisheries assets. I focused on a section of a letter sent to TOKM,, challenging the fact TOKM had ignored the Runanga submission regarding the Islands surrounding the Chathams. TOKM was stating , instead, that the Runanga was not seeking entitlement to the coastline lengths of all our Islands...which, in fact, was a whole lot of ...B...S...! The submission of the Runanga, had clearly included manawhenua of all the surrounding Islands in its Rohe potae.
.
" I note your endorsements of the Commissions proposal for a seperate fishery for the Chatham Islands as proposed in "Ahu Whakamau" and 'He Kawai Amokura' and also that Te \Runanga o Wharekauri Rekohu Incorporated, does not seek entitlement to the coastline lengths of any other Islands...."

I have posted the Runanga submission to TOKM on ' Islands ' and you can click on it, in the right column of the blog.
Try finding the statement that may have persuaded TOKM that the Runanga was not seeking manawhenua or entitlement to the coastline lengths of the Islands.of Wharekauri....!!.

So why did TOKM cook up that b...s....? More importantly, HOW ?

A way through the intrigue, the deceit, the chaos of the Treaty fish settlement for the Chathams, can be found, but if we can reflect upon what happened... to find a way forward , using the wisdom found in the pain and conflicts ... that is the nature of human survival, the nature of hope...
Doing the same things will not bring greater health , wealth or a better future. for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, our whanau or those generations yet to be born.
..
More next time..
cheers e

What A Tangled Web We Weave, When First We Practise To Deceive"

2010-05-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

There are things going on with the groups that purport to represent Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, that reminds me of a Chocolate Wheel at the School Fair.
We are all holding our batons with our numbers, that we have bought ( no Treaty rights here!) watching it spin , hoping it will stop at our number...
The problem is, you don't have to be Ngati Mutunga to buy a ticket.. you can be another tribe in NZ, a commercial company, a local government ... just buy your ticket and watch the spin...

The question is .." Who's spinning the Wheel ? "

I am even more confused when I see that the Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust have liquidated the trust that holds the assets of the Tribe . And even more intrigued when we see who has joined the Iwi Trust as ' helpers to the management' in some form or other....TOKM must be worried... Stock depletions, economic recession , liabilities of quota ownership, deepsea stocks depleting...contracts to meet....oohhh what a headache!
Might just join Twitter with this one...Don't you just love technology!..
Keep following this ...
I'm still trying to find a job to pay off my bills from the 3 years of nailing the Runanga Chairman and his cohorts ..
Almost there...Life's a B---- sometimes!
cheers

We All Live UnderThe Same Sky But We Don't All Have The Same Horizen.

2010-03-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

The Seabed & Foreshore legislation is a hot topic at the present moment but I am wondering whether our leaders on the Iwi Trust and the new Runanga committee , understand what it means . How will they develop a process that enables Iwi members to understand and contribute to a Ngati Mutunga Iwi policy, on the Seabed & Foreshore?
I was especially concerned when I heard that the old song of " But you only want to take control away from the Island" was being sung by the committees again , when members say 'we want to have a say in what happens to our tribe.'

My question to them is" what do you control now?" .

This was a song sung by both NM Iwi Trust and the Runanga , way back in the 1990's, even after TOKM and government had made the rule that no iwi member could be excluded from the entitlements of Treaty settlements. It is what made a group from Christchurch and a group from the North Island, set up entities, to enable them to have a say in what was happening to their Iwi on the Chatham Islands. This was unfortunate as it set up another faction within Ngati Mutunga, which it did not need. However, we had no process to participate in the existing Iwi groups who represented Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

In fact the only thing they controlled , was the money in the bank that they had received from leasing fish assets from TOKM. and who was got the leased fish each year. It became clear that those on the committees, wanted to keep control over the resources , rather then take responsibility for the rangatiratanga o Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, in its rohe potae.

Have things changed? What do they control now?

The customary rights of Ngati Mutunga? The land development ?, rates ? The government? The policies that affect the island? Submission to legislative changes are few and do you let the people know , what you are saying in the one's you do submit!! What about health services to the island? Education policies as they affect the island children? DOC? Economic development of the island? And the fish settlement for TOKM ? well...that is a story to tell your mokopuna....what a disaster!
How many millions have you received from the fish and how many millions have been spent on educating our children ? on training our young people? or on the health care of our old people and our young families? These are things you, as our leaders, ought to be dealing with. If you read your constitutions, it is all laid out there .

As well as all that, you are supposed to administer and manage the organisations , on our behalf and in the best interests of the members of the organisations i.e us the members of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

Rangatiratanga, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga are principles of Kaupapa & Tikanga Maori. Do these committee's understand their fiduciary duties of care of the people, within these principles?

As far as I can see, you don't actually control any of those things now - so what is it you are really concerned about? At best, we only find out what you are doing , after it has all happened. As for the customary rights of Ngati Mutunga, how many tribal members have had input into any policy development over the past 4 years? .

It is a bit like living in the dark ages ! It would be too easy to say ' lets help them i.e those who are on the committees, ' but I don't think they would listen to anyone...and they certainly don't ask us for opinions ! . While other tribes seem to have come into the 21st century, and try to comply with normal management systems, or at least we can see and hear in the media when they do things that are not quite right. No doubt you have read about the Danny Mullins and his team of cohorts who managed the Te Runanga o Atiawa ki Whakarongotai of Waekanae. What people maynot know is the close association with the Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust as Danny was an active member of the Trust. . You might wonder how come ?

Well, if you go back to my earlier posts on the pre 1835 history, you will fiind some answers in the migrations that were taking place as settlors from Britian were making their mark in Aotearoa.
Along with the pressures that were occurring between tribes as they fought battles over territory, so too were tribes having to contend with the British settlors who were looking for land to settle. Soldiers, guns and new religions gave weight to the complexities of survival as a tribe. Mutunga Cheifs, along with those Cheifs of associate hapu and tribes, took part in various heke , to find new and safe havens for their whanau and hapu. These heke were usually carried out with great strategic intent, planned relationships and many battles that are still remembered today in whaikorero, waiata and haka. That was the custom pre 1840.

So what has that got to do with Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust and Te Runanga o Whakarongotai ki Waikanae and Danny Mullins and his cohorts ?
Whakapapa is a grand thing - you can pick your firends but you can't pick your relations.
What you will find is that many whanau from Waikanae are descendant to Wharekauri whanau i.e those who migrated in the various heke from Taranaki, Waikato and other areas, eventually moved on and settled either to south of Waikanae or to Wharekauri. That was the custom of pre 1840 life in Aotearoa...That is the whakapapa of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri

I was fascinated to find the names of tupuna of many whanau on the Islands today. Prominant names who laid claims to land blocks in Waikanae is that of Inia Tuhata.. and Mere Pomare..- she was the first wife of Inia Tuhata and the second wife of Wi Naera Pomare . Also we find tne names of Te Wiata, Tamati and many others...it explained why my father has land on Kapiti... It would be interesting to see who on the Islands Danny laid whakapapa to.

So.. that is why Treaty issues are critical for Ngati Mutunga...and the landblocks .that were set up by tpuna..It defines cut off points for those who settled on stayed and developed the land.and held the ahi kaa , those who .who love elsewhere, who while they may whakapapa , it is with a different relationship with the whenua, that needs to be defined and developed. I don't mean there is no relationahip , it will be different.
If you understand the full significance of the signiture by NZ to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, , you will understand why we have to get the Treaty Rights done properly. Before NZ signed ( by Dr P Sharples last week) 144 countries agreed and signed up, 4 had opposed (US, NZ Australia and Canado) and 11 had abstained. Australia and NZ have just signed.
Treaty matters are not racist issues, they are about the future of our kids and the Chathams.

The iwi of Wharekauri, seem to be lagging behind in the bog, a position that does us all no favours. It in fact, allows government to either keep on ignoring the Chathams or to just make rules to keep everyone in the same place., predictable and the same...
A website hides the truth - it looks good & probably cost as much, but where is it going? Where are the people policies ? It allows those with computers and internet connection ( those can afford it) to talk to each other.. but how about those who dont have computers? who don't have telephones?
A Chatham Island picnic won't cut it in a economic recession....makes you feel good but it but changes nothing...

Our whanau are leaving the islands so what are the leaders doing with our resources?

Find a way forward so that Ngati Mutunga can look after its people , its whenua and its future.

The Important Thing Is Not The Number Of Years Given To A Man But What He Does With Them

2010-03-17T01:53:00.000-07:00

Well, the Hui is over and the new interim committee of the Runanga is in place .
However, already the underlying conflicts have threatened the peace of a new way forward. What a start!
Accusations of death threats!!! Sounds like someone is watching too many dvd's ! Such drama! Oh well, No doubt the appropriate people will sort that out.

Aue !! Upon the shoulders of those elected, lies the future of Mutunga
I salute their courage!

I was astounded to receive notices about the liquidation of a trust that seemingly, was holding the assets of the Iwi Trust. Does that mean the assets of Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust, are now in the hands of the liquidator? What a mess! How did that happen? Paula, aren't you the Chairmaperson responsible for good governance? You are supposed to tell the members about signoificant changes to the assets of the people.

How can someone do so much damage in so short a time? If these documents are confirmation of such actions, then Ngati Mutunga is in pickle. Who is running the Trust? Who was the Chair when it happened? they should resign. Who were the advisors?
But the Iwi Trust non't have Treaty policies so it may well be that such compliance mechanisms , don't count. But how did they get the assets in the first place?
What are they doing? For those who may not know what's going on, the papers are added to the blog on the left. It will take you to the NZ Companies Office.
I will keep putting things up as they arrive

Few Things Are More Satisfying Then Being Able To Inspire Other Human Beings To Accept New Challenges

2010-03-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

It has been almost 8 months since my last post - much has happened.
Decisions of the court have been made and set in place, and so now, we set
out on new journeys and challenges. It is a time of change.
Personally, the challenges of the past three years cauterised the very core but I
am mindful of the following words as we seek to rebuild Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri..

' There must be no bitterness in the reconstruction work. We must try to forgive those who injure us"
Madame Kai Shek.

As the journey to repair the splintered and charred whare that cloaked the journey through the very heart of the tribe, continues, it is with hope and anticipation of a better future for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, that I begin to write again.

As for the issues of the case, it seems important to let you know what has happened since the court decision. Throughout this blog, the consistent statement has been that the whole affair did not have to happen. So many rules of the constitution were broken that clearly the lack of management knowledge and skill of the Board members steering the ship. were wanting. While my goal was to get it resolved quickly, and to get on with the Runanga duties, if we look at the delays and time dragging by the Chairman and his advisor, it clearly was not a priority of the Chairman. It seemed they were more interested in playing the person and not the ball.

Throughout the 2 and half years, the process was thwarted by the constant attempts
to lay the blame for the debts upon me.
While it was difficult ignore the accusations, my advisers were adamant, that I
take a pathway that would lead the tribe out of the violence and destruction
that was being laid upon the Runanga, and leave aside the matters and accusations that were being slated me, until the main task was done.
For my part, it was imperative that the Runanga and the customary rights of Mutunga, be placed in a safe space, where the issues could be addressed in a proper manner and time.
It is the reason why I chose to negotiate a settlement as it was the quickest way to end the case.
In the event, the action taken by the Chairman ,destroyed the whole
internal and external infrastructure of the tribe. Networks and relationships
that had taken years to set in place, were wiped out. Today there remains but
the threads of the original whaariki, that was set in place by the old people.
The opportunity loss not only for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and its members but also for the whole Island community, has been significant.

Consequently, following the case,I laid a complaint to the Law Society,
against the legal advisor. The assumption is that it was he provided advice to the Chairman. Despite the difficulties around process, the situation remains on the table. While the argument is that lawyers are entitled to use a robust and forthright manner in the protection of their client, my concern remains.
The concern is that as an officer of the court , a legal advisor has duties in carrying out the roles and responsibilities of justice. An officer of the court must not use, or knowing assist in using ,the law or legal processes for the purpose of causing unnecessary embarrassment, distress or inconvenience to another person's reputation, interests, or occupation. An officer of the court has an over riding duty to the court, which includes a duty of fidelity or honesty to the court.

The concern expressed to the Law Society remains as follows;
Over the 2 and a half years I was consistently accused by the legal advisor, of being responsible for the financial decisions and situation of the Runanga even though he knew I was never the CEO or had any authority for financial decisions, and that he had lost the staff grievance case against the Runanga, in the Employment Court.
What I want to know is whether it is acceptable that " deception' be considered an acceptable form of strategy or action taken by an officer of the court, in the robust and forthright defense of the client ?
I await their reply...and will be relieved when the nightmare ends.....
The question is... have the lessons been learnt? Will the next
governing board of the Runanga , understand what happened? Or will
they continue to do things 'the way we always do things' and play the person and not the ball?
Perhaps the bigger question is 'what is it we want for our tribe ? 'for our Rohe? for our whanau?
Do we want or value our tribe Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri?
What do you want your tribe to do?
Do you know what your tribal land block or hapu is ? Did you know there was
one?
What do you want? What do you know?
My belief is that people have become so disconnected from the tikanga and culture of their tribal selves that when critical constitutional matters relating to their culture , arise, there is no understanding of its critical value in determining the impact uopon their needs and those of their whanau.

Consequently, I don't think people even think about these matters as the demands placed upon them to survive, overwhelms some and for others, closes down the freedoms of believing they have a right to the resources that have been caught in the tahae net.
The effort of trying to neeet the ever changing demainds of our daily lives, overwhelms and reduces the energy and time required , for us to consider these important things that are the real things that control how we live. Worse then that, no one really knows how to change what is happening.

My hope is that Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri becomes a time, a place and vehicle that grows the families of Ngati Mutunga , develops the Rohe o Wharekauri in a way that
brings prosperity for and from the resources and benefits the whole of the Chatham
Islands. It is our papakainga, our whakapapa , our tupuna rohe.
"If you want one year of prosperity,
Grow grain.
If you want to grow 10 years of prosperity,
Grow trees,
If you want one hundred years of prosperity,
Grow people "
Ref: Success is in Giving. W Harria1998.
It is a time for reconstruction......a challenging time of growth ....to be taken one step at a time..

cheers Evelyn

'You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give" Churchill

2009-07-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

How to Value what you are and do
1. When the rules change in any game, existing attitudes, skills and knowledge have to be transformed into elements and forms that can be learned or caught in a way that empowers and enables people, within the new environment and rules.

2. Through the school of hard knocks, most people learn the real lessons of life. lessons that guide their gut and tune their senses to the signals of the ever complex & changing challenge of daily life. Most people , however, have great difficulty sorting out their knowledge and how it fits or whether it fits, into the new way of doing thngs. And this includes those who are responsible for changing the rules and those who have assumed a role of interpreting the rules on behalf of others.m

3. There are many reason for this phenomena including

a) Schooling into mediocrity by our sociey's education system and middle class parents( G Ditzel- 2009)and other social & cultural norms. Following the rules is crucial as reward and punishment are pitted against each other as the accepted tool for compliance.
b) People have no systems or structures, either internally or externally, to properly help them develop their experiences, into tools and pathways, that they can use to help themselves, in the constantly & rapidly changing world that we now live in.
They simply do what they always have done and the new world rolls on - drowning them in its changing tide... They don't know that the rules have changed and most often, they have no idea what the new rules are.

4. The great hope is that people know something is not right as things no longer work as they use to. We have a sense that things are going down the plug hole, no matter what we do. But do we stop doing what we do? Mostly ...No.
Why? because that is what we were taught - to follow the rules , what everyone else is doing. Its the proper way to do things..

But What Happens When The Rules Change?

When life changes beyond all that we knew as a child, where and how do we take our next step forward?
How do we build the hope of a new & better day when we don’t have the skills or rules of the new way?
Or as new skills and rules are set out neatly in a report, do they fit with our internal knowing of what is needed to satisfy a sense of what we value and do?

So much has happened since the last post and yet nothing has been done to empower the people of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.
At best, it can be said that people are reacting to changes , but no one has really moved or done anything different to what they normally do.- and it shows.

Those who are involved in changing the rules, have and are, dislocating the core of our Iwi, by designing & controlling systems and processes that leave the people isolated and at the mercy of those who are on the Komiti.
A review of an organisation , tells you how and what systems & processes need changing, to make sure people line up and follow the rules that are already in place. 5 years down the track, people are still treating the Iwi as a part time job - and it shows !
Guess what! Its not! It is a serious full time job and you need highly skilled board members to make sure the work is being done properly.

It is horrendous that the Treaty audit on the Trust has been consigned to a secondary status, behind management and governance because there was no time to gather sufficient information!
Are you kidding? It was the Chathams that took the Sealord’s Deal!
Substantial Waitangi Tribunal hearings have been completed years ago. There is a mountain of information available –

Why don't you ask Iwi members/groups who hold the knowledge & information? Sometimes a series of hui-a-iwi is needed to develop agreement to decisions and to find a way forward.
Try doing something different instead of setting up a 'same old way of doing thigs facilitator' to consult the people about their tikanga and customs'

TALK TO THE PEOPLE

We do not need another report. We are a small iwi

It can only be said that the current Iwi Trust has derailed its Treaty based foundations and has thus disregarded not only its history and customs but significant Treaty legislation. It clearly indicates a huge lack of knowledge and skill on such matters. Consequently, the focus has moved to the assets and fish and relationships with like minded groups & persons - but what about the Iwi? . I am betting that even if you are told, you would not know what to do anyway. Consequently, the actions of the current Board to Treaty issues, appears lax and casual. it was up to them to prioritise the significant issues to be reported on.

I am including here a bit of your history , a voice from the past , to tell you about how importsant Mutunga was and is...My hope is you get the message. it is a significant one for this time, especisally as we have the Seabed & Foreshore issues to be debated amongst us. and yet you have not made contact with Iwi or set up a forum for us to participate or if you have, we haven't been told.

Whakaronga ki to tatou tupuna !

Waitangi 1905
Ki te Etitia o Te Puke ki Hikurangi.,

Tenei etahi kupu hei tuku atu mau , hei titro, hei mahara manga s iwi, ma nga kaimahi hoki i nga ture, ara, ma te kawanatanga.
He whakamarama atu i te ahua o te noho o nga Maori o tenei motu o Wharekauri; kua penei ta ratau noho me ta te Pakeha, i te mea kei a ratou te tikanga o o ratou whenua. Kua whakatipu i te taonga nga mea hikaka ki te mahi , kua puta mai he oranga ki era , kua titiro atu te hunga e ahu ke ana nga mahara ki etahi ke atu tikanga , i te ora ka puta mai ra ki ana nga mahara ki etahi ke atu tikanga , i te ora ka puta mai ra ki te hunga mahi. Kati, kua ahu katoa i runga i tera tikanga , i te mahi pamu.
Nga poraka i tenai tikanga i te pamu , Otonga poraka, 10,000 eka( he hipi, he kau, he hoiho, he poaka nga toanga o runga) , Kekerione 1000 eka, ( ko tana ahua ano nga tangata ), Wharekauri 5000 eka, Manukau 2000 eka. hui katoa ng eka kei to mahia e naga Maori ki te pamu , 23 500.
Ko nga taonga kei runga he hipi. he kau, he hoiho, he poaka, me te nui atu o etahi , hei tohu koia nei te ara e puta mai ai he oranga ki a tatau, he tahuri ki te mahi i ngqa whenua . E nga iwi, kei penei te mahara , na te papai ano pea o nga whenau i pai ai te whakatipu i te taonga. Kati, me ki atu au ki a koutou, ko aua ngaherehere ano me nga rarauhe me nga repo ngaere me te tini tu o etahi , engari na te hikaka tonu o te ngakau ki te mahi, i te mea kua kitea he oranga e puta mai ana i roto i te mahi i nga whenau.

he nui nga ahuatanga e puta mai ana i te mahi i nga whenua, he arai atu hoki i nga korero a nga Pakeha e ki nei he iwi mangere te Maori ki te mahi i o ratau whenua. Kati, he arai atu hoki i nga ture maha e hungaa mai ana hei muru i nga whenua o nga Maori.

na Inia Tuhata

When I think of the hours & hours of work, and the cost of that work, often paid out of their own pockets, to secure the Treaty rights, put in by our kuia and kaumatua, most of whom are no longer here, I am deeply concerned and angry. So many fought for that Treaty right - a right that belongs to all Mutunga o Wharekauri, not just those who signed up to giving away half our assets.

More importantly, if it wasn’t for one of our own, Bill Goomes, who put up his gear, his boat and information for Maori to demonstrate to Crown that there were Maori fishermen operating fully in the fishing industry, there would be no Maori fish for anyone in the country - including you on the Chathams. And what did he get for his contribution to proving Maori fisheries existed?

BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU WON'T ASK OUR OWN PEOPLE

WHY?

BECAUSE YOU DON'T VALUE OUR OWN PEOPLE.

WHY DON’T YOU GO AND ASK BILL TO TELL HIS STORY?

He deserves a better deal then what he has got now - then all of you sitting on the Board. Look after him - he is a taonga....

As for the contribution of Jim & Norman, it is without question. without them, you would not have what you have got now. Their fight for the treaty rights of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, enabled you to have the fish you have today.

And where were you when they were paying out of their own pockets to do the work?

How dare you diminish the role & significance of the Treaty to a back seat on the bus.!

e>Organisation & Governance Systems & Structures

Specifically, it is a great concern to see that the review, under governance principle one, identifies core agency/principle issues common to all organisations , and attributes difficulties to tikanga ( I presume this refers to tikanga Maori’ ) and the need to try and ‘minimise the difficulties that arise in fitting a Maori organisation into a pakeha legal structure. That is a bit like the debate on whether customary rights exist as in the Seabed & Foreshore Act. If you as the elected Board members, cannot put up front, the existing legislative protections for the customs, tikangs, tinorangatiratanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and its Rohe Potae, i.e the Treaty of Waitangi, then you should resign.
As it stands, I can see the Iwi Trust cuddling up to the Council and other local government agencies, so that you are all saying the same thing.

But, but what about the customary rights of Mutunga that already exist? they belong to our children , our mokopuna and those still to be born. This blog is a record for them in case something happens to me.

What a load of c---.! The comment of principle one, clearly shows that there is a perception that Maori have organisations that are different from pakeha and that it is difficult to reconcile them. It is a racist comment and should not be there.

Well of course they do...so do pakeha have organisations that are different from other pakeha. So what are we talking about here?

All organisations want to be successful and most set out clear goals and rules (tikanga) about why they have come together as an organisation.
Everyone knows there are laws & Acts governing how organisations are to be run and most set up skilled people, to carry out the work so that they can achieve the goals set. Even organisations managing the assets and interests of Maori, have such rules & systems e.g. TOKM ,Tainui, Maori Television, Te Wananga o Raukawa. Te Runanga o Kai Tahu.

The current mess in the Iwi Trust was & is a result of poor foundation systems set up in a covert manner,with poor management & governance skills. The people involved did not have the skills and refused to appoint highly skilled people who did!

BUT , we learn and move on. SORT IT OUT! LEARN & try not to do the same thing again

The rules are set out in the Acts, TOKM have clearly set out your agreements (I have put these on line so all can read for themselves) atnd the rest is about good management skill and expertise. But you need someone who is trained in corporate management. You are not running the local church committee nor its it part time – it’s a multi million dollar corporation, or was supposed to be.

Tikanga – (hopefully Maori ...or is there an emerging widget

A token comment is made that tikanga and kawa of Iwi are taken into account and customary values are to be identified – BY WHOM? WHAT IWI?
This sound like someone who is quoting the rules to apply for funding and needs to meet the criteria – so adds the words from the rules. but what does it mean?

What about Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri? Are you going to consult with the Iwi on tikanga? Or are you going to decide what our tikanga is, for us?

What does AHI KAA TUTURU MEAN? Where did that tikanga come from? What is its origin? Wikipedia?
It certainly did not come from my grandparents or greatgrand parents and that takes the whakapapa back into the 1860’s

You have the agreement with Tokm and the relevant Acts, and I set out the relevant clauses below I guess that means you have to talk to the Runanga - just as well we didn't have a copy of the agreement, back when wrote to you seeking a hui and you refused !! AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO ! THAT'S WHAT THE ASGREEMENT SAYS!

Its amazing what information and knowledge does to help empower the people ..
I think you all need to look up the definition of FIDUCIARY DUTY

A. Notwithstanding the transfer of settlement assets to the Trust or its AHC, Te Ohu continues to have obligations, consistent with both its duties and the purposes of Te Ohu Kai Moana under the Act, to assist and advance the interests of Iwi individually and collectively.
B. Prior to the transfer by Te Ohu to the Trust or its AHC of any settlement assets allocated to Ngati Mutunga (Chathams) under the Act and consistent with Te Ohu‘s recognition of the Trust as the MIO for Ngati Mutunga (Chathams) the Parties have agreed to the terms and conditions recorded in this Deed.

(a) it has at all relevant times maintained the mandate and confidence of Ngati Mutunga (Chathams);
(b) notwithstanding the transfer of settlement assets to the Trust, Te Ohu continues to have obligations, consistent with both its duties and the purposes of Te Ohu Kai Moana under the Act, to assist and advance the interests of Iwi individually and collectively;Finding Our Values by Facing & Confronting Conflicts

People join the Komiti in the hope of trying to change things but become cauterized by the dysfunctioning systems and the way things are done around the table i.e. the old way of doing things.

People have to be involved in the process of developing their Iwi organisations. We are unique and unlike any other Iwi in NZ. You are 800 km away.
By the way, I can’t work out why Kevin left – his presence made the lineup more independent less like a family affair .It also gives an excellent example of why we need a hapu styled model based upon our land blocks, as a system to define membership & customary whakapapa rights . Avoids the messy membership scrap going on About DIX whakapapa.
Hope there's no inside trading going on!..Who got the fish this year?.

In the case of the Runanga, this has been played out predictably as the Chairman ‘did things the way he always did ‘despite rules and regulations, telling him otherwise.
Iwi organisations are serious corporate business and should not be run like your farm or fishing business. The assets are not your personal assets - they belong to the people and there are rules you have to follow , as you have found out.! The last 2 years have not been a picnic !

As his actions contravened the Court order, I had to move to fix the potential mess. It demonstrates how such people can create costly events by dumb, ignorant actions.

a) Someone should remind the Chairman that he has to give notice of a meeting,
b)call meeting and actually hold a meetimg so that
c) the annual accounts can be received, approved and passed by the meeting BEFORE it is filed with the appropriate regulatory forums.
d) That the meeting should have a quorum and minutes should be taken.

Using a court case as an excuse not to call a meeting is a little naive but perhaps demonstrates what the real problem has been since he fired all staff of the Runanga in 2007. The hearing was already over Charlie! I am sure Helen Clark did not stop parliament when an investigation was being held into her speeding ticket

It is an example of the dis ease and old ways that plagues the Chathams. The rules have long changed.
Evelyn

Of Treaties,Trusts & Constitutions...& Foreshore and Seabeds....

2009-05-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

What a busy time it is..I think one step at a time is a good way of dealing with each day. Everyone has things to deal with and at the moment, the economic crisis is affecting us all...Making decisions can be a challenge, as is finding ways to get through the things to do. It is often the time when new ways of doing things are created as old ways tip over.

This is happening on an international level as new business and administration infrastructures are put in place to deal with the new economic climate. It seems even the jobs that our institutions are training our young for, are no longer meeting the needs as a new economy emerges from the embers of the global recession. We all have to think differently as the old structures crumble. It seems a key component for successful business is to make sure you provide a service to meet the needs of people. If you are not, you might find it difficult to survive.

Makes sense to me.!

It's great that people are sending in ideas about how Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust should be run. It shows people are concerned about what is happening There are many aspects of a constitutional structure that need developing before organisation can fully function.
The purpose of being part of developing the constitution, is that you can make sure the people you appoint, have a set of rules in place that you have agreed to and can monitor them with. Like having the best tax structure, how should we develop relationships with other Maori? Other Iwi, Urban Maori? - what's the difference? how processes work, rights and access to benefits of Ngati Mutunga - who qualifies, rulea for membership, how should these be checked? whaangai ( rights of adopted children?) to benefits of Mutunga? what happens when adopted shildren inherit customary land from their parent? what entitlements do they have? ,what constitutes a conflict? how to deal with disputes? etc, etc. etc
Everyone has different ideas and tribes have different rules, so what are the rules for Mutunga o Wharekauri?

Definitions of key concepts (e.g tangata whenua, ahi kaa, manawhenua, kaumatua, kuia, Rohe, Whakapapa, how to determine, monitor rights of whakapapa, land blocks? why are these important? who has the rights? how are these determined? who decides?How?

THESE ARE SOME OF THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS THAT AFFECT EVERY MEMBER OF NGATI MUTUNGA O WHAREKAURI

Underpining these rules are the constitutional & legislative foundations set in place by the Treaty of Waitangi. Every clause must be capable of enhancing the regulatory framework of the Treaty. If it does not, it places the future of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, at risk by potentially extinguishing the rangatiratanga of every member of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri. It is without question that the fisheries assets must have explicit protection by these conventions. It seems,however, the Iwi Trust assets do not carry these protections. Perhaps it is time to clean it up, so let's get on with it.

As a matter of interest, it took 7 years for the Runanga to work through its new constitution so that it could protect any Treaty asset- however, even though it was the first group into TOKM with a constitution that took account of the rules, the monkey doodles who set up the Iwi Trust, were already out the back doing deals on quota with Moriori and TOKM - all trying to secure control over the quota assets that belonged to us all- and we were not told, were not part of those negotiations. The deceit was appalling. You might like to ask Toa and Eddie bout their experiences.
And so that is how Mutunga lost half its Treaty fish.

FOR WHAT? What benefit have the people received in exchange for the 'gift' given to those who did the deal? Manaakitanga without reciprocity? ...a new kind of tikanga? What's mine mine and what's yours is half mine? Have you had any benefit?
Did Moriori offer the Iwi Truat, half of their $6 million deal with Crown? Did you know anythng about it? What was the $6 million for?

Meanwhile, at the time , the Runanga was climbing through the bog with hip gumboots, working with the Fraud Squad on more monkey doodle activities with the BNZ in Chch, involving financial transfers in big bags and constitutional quick steps, also set in place by the first Iwi Trust members. This evidence remains live...

SO...the way I look at it is.. we all need to start again...
CLEAN UP THE MESS!!!
The current Iwi Trust is built on activities that can destroy our families .. and I don't think that is what we are all about It certainly wasn't what our kuia and kaumatua wanted.

The only way forward is to bring everyone into the same paddock, warts and all, and find a new way forward. That includes building a new constitution by taking the best from both constitutions - the Iwi Trust documents and the Runanga documents .. Fixing up the Iwi Trust constituion won't work as the evidence is clear on why and how it got to be a mess. Let's hope we don't have to use it...The number of people on the board won't take away the problems or mend the broken bits. Only the combined will and commitment of the people to strive for a better future for our mokopuna, can clean up this mess.

To demonstrate the importance of the Treaty in our daily lives, I am wondering whether anyone put in a submission to the Foreshore & Seabed Review Committee?
My guess is no.. perhaps County Council did, maybe DOC , as they may have to manage it .. but I am not sure whether Te Iwi Moriori or Iwi Trust did anything..T
he Review process was really important for individuals who own land bordering the lake and sea, to respond to. It was your Treaty right to your land access to the lake and sea, that had to be defended.
Anyone answer? Or were you all more worried about how to keep the Iwi Trust going and and getting rid of some members?

However, I am not sure if any of the Board or members actually know how the Treaty works on the Chathams as they look to other iwi for answers . the thing to get is this..

The Rohe or territory of Wharekauri is the papakainga of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.
Its history, its tikanga, its rangatiratanga can only come from the relationships built by the people i.e how they managed the political, economic, social and cultural activities that enabled them to live on ISLANDs that are 800 km away from NZ. If you come from the Chathams, you know how to survive its seasons, its isolation, its lands and seas, its risks and how to do what you have to do to get on with or dodge your whanau and neighbours ..Survival has its own code - in all cultures.
NZ's as we call them, i.e those who are not born of islands, can have a different view and perception of life on the Islands and they don't have the Treaty rights. Other tribes lived differently according to their landscapes and environments, tikanga and rights- IN NZ. However, we are all of the culture of Maori.

When government moves legislation to create a Crown property right in customary Maori territory, property or assets in any way, without consent or compensation or redress, all Maori object When the quota system was introduced and created a property right in the territorial seas around NZ, Maori tribes lodged legal challenges in the High Courts of NZ. The Runanga sonsequently lodged in the High court with everyone and continued onto the Court of Appeal, in an effort to protect the territorial rights of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri aqainst the tribes of NZ and Crown. The case was known as the Sealord's Deal. From this came the quota and assets and cash that are now held by the Iwi Trust. They have denied the Runanga and its members access rights......
A funny old world isn't it!

In the case of the Foreshore and Seabed, Crown are moving to create ownership rights from the mean high water mark out to the 12 mile zone. This is curently in customary ownership under the Treaty rights of Maori within the legislative frameworks currently in place. However, as the case to determine who has mana over the islands has been affected by Te Tau ihu o Te Waka case in the Maori Land Court,[top of the Sth Island tribes]. So, Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri is in limbo, unless ---you keep protecting your rights.
I note TOKM was clever enough to keep their rear ends clean by allocating the quota without prejudice to mana whenua rights and indemnified itself from all risks and failure by the receiving groups. That means the battle to protect your rights to the Islands, is still to be fought!!! And so we have the Foreshore & Seabed Reveiw. My hope is that you continue to protect your Treaty rights - the rights and responsibilities of kaitiakitanga, rangatiratanga and manaakitanga.

As the Runanga is out of action, it is unable to respond to any critical legislative changes. It remains one of the most destructive implications of the actions taken by the Chairman, when he moved to dismiss staff. He failed failed to protect the Treaty rights of the Runanga members. Why did he sit for 2 years and refuse to do did anything? On the other hand, some would probably say it was deliberate.

What I have done is submitted a paper through my mothers Trust, on behalf our whanau and as a member of the Runanga. What else could we do?
The Treaty rights of Ngati Mutunga are critical to the survival of all members.
I understand there were 3 groups on a telephone conference with the Review Team, including the Council, but did any of you know about it? It would be great if we could see what they have written, perhaps someone can ask for a copy and we can put it on the site.
I have put the submission document on the Google site if you want read it. It was a rush job but at least it is there.
I have also added a submission responding to Steve's proposal for registering memberships and whakapapa. My intention is make try and sure the customary rights of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, are noted explicity in the constitution so as to protect future generations of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri. Who knows, Crown might sell the rights mining to the Chinese, in exchange for closer economic partnerships!!

The Cost of Ignorance, Incompetence & Selfishness...

2009-05-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

If you are wondering why it’s been quiet, it’s because my internet connection switches between wireless and dial up. Daytime connection is a hit and miss and if it rains, the connection goes haywire – and we have had heaps of that - and then I have to use dialup which means I have to wait for my turn as there is only one outlet.. and so it goes on... Oh well. on to other things ....

Anyway. back to the response from Steve Tuuta, to my blog on communication and other things. It seems an odd response to the content of the blog. It has obviously triggered something.

The thing to remember is this - the only reason this blog started was because no information or communication about anything to do with the Runanga as an organisation, was being sent out. The social, cultural and economic condition of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, the Iwi represented by the Runanga, was unknown, but more importantly, the status of critical Treaty negotiations with Crown for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, had been stopped. No one knew or had any communication about why all the staff had been fired in July 2007, why a Board member had resigned and that since July 2997, no Board quorum existed, no Board meetings had been held, hui-a-Iwi, or agm called. No one knew what happened to major economic and education projects that had taken years to develop and staff were being blamed for the situation. Yet decision making continued with no accountability or communication with members, despite independent advice pointing out the concerns and possible outcomes.
So, in this instance, as far as we knew, we had a renegade and split Board doing things they way they thought things should be done.

So what happens when this happens in an organisation? Who has to do what?

There are many things that could have happened, but didn’t.
The organisation belongs to its members who, ultimately, must take responsibility for who runs it. It is the reason why the Statement of Claim includes the members and the Board as Defendants and sets out the concerns. The constitution provides the rules and guidelines by which those who are elected by the members, must run the organisation and for for members to monitor and make the Board accountable. On top of that, the organisation must comply with a whole lot of associated laws of administration, management, financial control, human resource management etc. In addition, and more importantly for me, are the fundamental principles upon which the organisation was instituted.

The Runanga, like the Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust, is an Iwi organisation AND must comply with the lore, laws and regulations that protect the customary entitlements of tribe (Iwi) that it says it represents. Underpinning these laws and lore’s are the protections covenanted by the Treaty of Waitangi. That means in simple terms, look after the people, the land and the environs of its Rohe and the things within,for generations still not born. It means 'leave a legacy that will empower all our families into the future'. It is also the access right to Treaty settlement assets.

So what did the members do to put the breaks on the renegade Board and Chairman?

I can’t answer for others but I do know what I did and the result is posted on Google Groups and the Blog. It was the only way to stop what was going on and for the process to be transparent, open and to let everyone know what was going on. I simply followed the rules of the constitution because that is what any member can do; as those who belong to the Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust, can also do. More importantly, because I knew that a consequence of the Board decisions to dismiss all staff, was to stop the Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations for the Chatham Islands. I was not prepared to stand by and let the Runanga go to the wall because of mismanagement or rather no management, blaming staff and other groundless accusations or in other words, lying. The Runanga was never insolvent.
The problem was, the Board did not know how to manage the organisation i.e an incorporated society, through tight financial times and reverted to ways and knowledge that they knew.

Like wise, my interest in the Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust is exactly the same. It is the reason I attended the Hui-a-Iwi in Whanganui a Tara and continue to query what happened in Christchurch and the Chathams. It is about telling the people what is happening as it is happening, not after all the decisions are made. That type of accountability, transparency and draconian management is destructive, disempowers people and leads to mismanagement and poor leadership. It is the point where the freedoms expoused by democracy, tip over into tyranny.
It is no longer acceptable especially as so many are suffering painful outcomes of the economic recession. It is even more important when the assets are collectively owned by the people, not the individuals who manage the organisation. Treaty assets are not supposed to be the property of individuals as a private institution!

A new and more empowering model for organising and managing ourselves in an increasingly complex world, has to be found. The future of Ngati Mutunga depends upon it.

The Status of Treaty Negotiations for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri?

These remain my key concerns in regard to Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust. If they have been given the mana as Kaitiaki of the tribe for receiving Treaty fish assets, then there ought to be policies, accountable & transparent mechanisms in place, that track the management of the assets so that they can be seen to be accountable as Kaitiaki. As they have been in this role for 5 years and as the value of the allocation of assets were significant, the expectation that proper and appropriate mechanisms are in place, was considerable. So....my questions remain..
What is the status of the critical Treaty negotiations with Crown for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri?

Has the Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust developed policies and implemented systems and management that monitors and protects the Treaty of Waitangi rights of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri?

I am not a member of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust but I am Ngati Mutunga so what ever they are doing, affects my Treaty rights and those of my whanau as well as the rights of every member of the Runanga. I also knew that there was a perception that because the Trust had become the organisation to receive the fish Treaty assets from TOKM, they were also the organisation to settle all other customary rights. Not so!
I can assure you the Sealord’s Deal and the resulting Act that extinguished the Maori commercial fishering rights by removing section 88(2) of the Fisheries Act 1983,had little to do with settling the land rights. However, Runanga members were denied access rights to the Treaty fisheries settlement assets – and that has created a grievance which must be put right. Any assumption of mandate to represent Ngati Mutungz o Wharekauri under these conditions, can only be a flawed mandate.

Treaty resources of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, are the property right of all Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, not just those who were able to gain the approval of those administrating the process of allocation. I was somewhat appalled to find out that Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust is actually a private trust and that apparantly it has no Treaty policies, no management mechanism and systems to ensure the assets are properly governed, in accordance with Treaty rights of all Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

Worse was to come when we found out, that despite being in place for 5 years, the organisation was still not registered and the assets had been given out on condition that those Trustees on the Board, agreed to give away 50% Ngati Mutunga rights to Moriori, for quota & assets. So they did, without telling the people !
What would you call that? Greed? Fraud? Selfishness? Ignorance?

So!.. Angry? Should we be angry?

I suppose the question is what triggered Steve’s aggression and caustic response to the Blog? Is it a personal or political? I will respond to his queries but the nature of his response does raise issues about the kind of leadership needed to take Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri into the 21st century.

The past week has raised an awareness of the violence in our society and the consequences for families, communities and nations and I just think we ought to think about how our leaders behave. Violence attracts the energy of further violence.
We all get angry, sometimes for good reason. Sometimes we can all do things we regret but when we step out and take on the responsibility for assets that we have a collective interest in, the rules change. Hence the importance of the constitution and the law to provide guidelines, on how we must manage. A privately owned organisation/trust/company, has different rules and laws to those of a collective.

As the world and that includes the Chathams, goes through phenomenal economic, environment and resource crisis, new ways of working have to be found if our whanau are to survive or more importantly, if our mokopuna are to inherit a better life then the one we have now. If we believe that our whanau are the core of the whanau/hapu/Iwi structure of Maori society, and then it is there we must focus our short and long term goals of development, not in our own individual pockets. To do this,there ought to be a strategic plan on how this is to be done, which we have all participated and agreed to, as a way forward.

Management of a tribal multi-million dollar enterprise is complex and requires experienced business management, Treaty Based knowledge, financial management skills and expertise, if it is to achieve development goals and profitability. The responsibility of the members is to appoint people to the Board, who have the vision and commitment to ensure people who are appointed to manage, have the skills and experience to achieve the development goals set by planning. The current Boards' have not been able to fulfil their duties,for a number of reasons and things have to change.
The continuing high cost of incompetence, ignorance and no real development,progress, benefits, products,services produced for the people in 5 years, has to be stopped.

An example of such incompetence and selfishness is the failure to assist with funding for meatworks project that would have benefited not only all Mutunga whanau but the whole Island.
The Runanga had spent $300,000 in research & development on the project, involving Ag Research, CRI and initial marketing studies to find niche marikets and develop new products, alternative fuels, fertiliser and other farm developments. More importantly, it created employment opportunities and improved income streams. $100,000 was needed to complete a feasibility study to develop financials for investors however the Iwi Trust & Moriori response was to state they had their own farm projects. THESE HAVE NEVER MATERIALISED.
The full extent of the selfishness and incompetence was revealed at the Hui-a-Iwi in Wellington when the value of the funds held on investment was stated. The funds for the feasibility study would have been like taking a teaspoon of water from the Big Lake. I will only say that a huge dis-service has been done to all Ngati Mutunga whanau and to the critical economic base of the Island, by those opposing the project. The impact on the whole Island is felt now and will last for a long time time to come.
It did not have to happen. But it did, because of ignorance, selfishness and incompetence.

So in 2009,we have the situation where the farmers are in dire straits, our fishers are in dire straits and as a result, our whanau are in dire straits. And our farmers? See March 17 Blog. .."a tide that had to be taken at the tide..."

In other words, if we are to progress in a healthy prosperous way, positive dialogue with each other has to be a critical part of the process. As both organisations are obviously undergoing audit & management scrutiny, it is even more important that those who are elected to look after the organisation by the people, must keep people informed.
A report is not going make the wrong doing, right so no one can hide behind it. It will simply tell us what was done and make reccomendations for putting things right.

The interesting thing will be to see if those who stuffed up, still expect to take the organisation into a prosperous future for us all?
Are you kidding? Its time to grow up! There's too much damage been done! If they haven't got the skills now, a report won't give them the necessary skills!
If we look at what other Iwi did when the Board did not perform, eg. Ngati Ruanui, they fired the whole Board, appointed an independant Chairman until a new Board was elected. These are serious problems.

Dialogue between people is to help understand what the other is thinking and accepting that that opinion is legitimate. If we are get anywhere in a peaceful and prosperous way it will be by open, dialogue and discussion and not by giving lip service and caustic sarcasm to feel good by scoring brownie points over the other. I am sure everyone is utterly sick of the fighting... especially amongst those who are supposed to be 'Rangatira ' and Kaitiaki /Trustees of the people’s assets.

As with the Runanga, a split Board is a sure sign that management was a mess. As mentioned previously, the state of the Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust, as indicated by the review, confirms that an even bigger mess exists.

The cost of ignorance and incompetence is appalling... but worst of all, the egoism,greed and selfishness of those who strive to hold power and control of an organisation and taonga that belong to nga iwi o Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, has destroyed much. Families are leaving the Islands.
It has to stop and a new pathway taken. A split tribe cannot be good for its people or for our mokopuna or the future of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri. Getting angry won't put things right.

Only a commitment by its own people, to the continuum of rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga bestowed by the highest goals of service to its people, can restore the torn cloak of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

Evelyn

a copy of the response to Steve's email will be put on the the Google site.

.." a man's philosophy is the sum of his beliefs.....the assumptions upon which he habitually acts......

2009-04-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

I think the best way to respond to Steve is to publish him so that we can all know what is going on. The interesting thing about being open and transparent on the Internet, is there is no where to hide.
I get many responses to the different things written which is what happens with a blog that is on a global Internet. The blog offers opportunity for dialogue which is what humans need to do when there is conflict or debate. Perhaps others will respond as well.

"Kia ora whanau

this is a response to a blog from Evelyn which is below,
Evelyn never hears anyone else does she but she has been true to form since 1988 and we all can't deny that.
A report concerning the Audit Hui's will be put to Trustee's by the end of May from Wynn Williams than on to Iwi members so that will break the Ominous silence Evelyn can hear.
I see you breaking your Ominous silence to Te Karere yesterday Evelyn sounded like a personal vendetta against Charlie Preece.

I wonder where your consultation with Runanga members was before you headed to the High court or is this personal.

Well at least some of the current Trustee's of the Iwi trust are consulting with their Iwi members for direction, all of us who choose to live in NZ can't remember to much consulting going on since 1988 by any of our previous Ngati Mutunga O Wharekauri Iwi structures.

Evelyn it's a shame you didn't have a longer time slot to explain what process seen you hired at the Runanga last time Oop's and the whanau.
While you are being open about the past you should tell the Moko's and Te Karere a fishy story how the Runanga had a fishy Company and a toy fishy boat and use to catch fishy's while you are at it tell the Moko's who use to Captain the toy fishy boat and manage it's fishy Company and before they go to sleep tell the Moko's what happened to the fishy Company and the fishy's and the toy fishy boat.
Don't forget to record it all it could be a best seller then the moko's will be able to live happy ever after Yep we may even be able to buy them some chocolate fishy's .
Never mind Eve everything will be revealed all in good time got to say Eve I'm starting to smell some fishy's maybe the deep freeze has had enough and called it a day I hope some of those deep freeze's from 1988 do the same then not only the moko's can live happy ever after.

From your cruz,
Steve Tuuta

An Ominous Silence ..Te Wai Pounamu Hui-a-Iwi...

2009-04-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

There's been a ominous silence following the Christchurch Hui a Iwi!
No news from anyone apart from an odd email from my brother, a visit from a deeply concerned member, family fights and the flu! Life goes on ...
I thought there would be much more activity as the Wellington Hui was such a success despite the fact it was shut down by karakia - for the day - rather then just for lunch - as we all thought was going to happen. A good trick but in 2009, a little obvious. If you can't handle the heat - get out!

Here's the thing.

Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust has been allocated quota ( ACE), shares, cash as a share of a Treaty settlement with Maori by Crown, FOR FISH. This did not include the land settlement.
The right to any Treaty asset exists because hopefully,members whakapapa to a tribe , in this case, Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and that includes members of the Runanga.
When TOKM allocated the assets to NMoW Iwi Trust, the Runanga members did not lose the right to the treaty assets, they lost the access because the NMoW Iwi Trust refused to engage in any form of dialogue, to sort out access rights for Runanga members.
That right remains today - and will not be going away. Those tasked with sorting out the current Iwi Trust mess, ought to remember this critical point. Hopefully another grievance will be avoided.

The entity eventually set up, had to follow certain rules set out by TOKM.
How it is managed, is also governed by rules, regulations, laws and Acts of Parliament. Those appointed to positions of management, are required to follow the rules - or were supposed to. My case against the Runanga was all about those who were appointed to the Board and who did not follow the rules.

Following the Wellington Hui,it has become obvious that there is much amiss within the Iwi Trust then previously known. In fact, in my view, when I read the audit overview papers, it is a bigger mess then the Runanga ever was. That must leave the Board in a most vulnerable position with its members who may or may not, chose to bring them to account for failing in their fiduciary duties of care. Saying ' its not my fault- I didn't do it' is not enough in today's economic climate. Insurance polices and Trustee indemnities, may not be enough to keep away responsibility for what has happened.

The question is ' how will they sort out the mess? What will be their priority?

Will it be cost ? i.e the least cost option which means members money will be saved.
Will it be a personal vendetta against individuals? i.e. to 'get them at all cost' for what they have done, make it publicly known,have personal ego's celebrated for 'getting them' and then to save the tribe last?
How will this help our whanau?. Will a personal vendetta help the economic,social, cultural and education needs of our whanau?
Or
Will they chose the option that gives the greatest good to all?

One thing I am absolutely certain of is this - all governments want the what is good as it is what they are chosen to do - govern for the good of the people. They will not want tax payer money or the Treaty asset, wasted on individual vendetta's while the good of the tribe is ignored. That is not good leadership or governance by anyone, including the Trustees.
What ever they do - lets hope it is for the good of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and its people, its rohe, is papakainga. They have taken a pounding over the past years.

The Runanga:
I am working through requests by the Maori Trustee, as set out in the Orders of the Court. There is further financial analysis to do before a report is handed back to the court and the new Chairman takes over. I will keep you informed of events as they happen.

cheers Evelyn

Hui a Iwi - Te Whanganui a Tara....

2009-04-22T02:33:00.000-07:00

From its genesis as a splinter from its parent in the mid 90's, Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust has always attracted drama and intrigue of the highest order. Like the conflicts between a defiant adolescent and parent, the ever widening relationship between the leaders of the Runangq and Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Trust, like power games anywhere in the world, inevitably caught the people and the Islands in a net of intrigue and deception.

As part of an audit review process, Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri iwi Trust held the first of 3 Hui a Iwi, in Wellington on the weekend and it attracted a good turnout. The purpose of the Hui was to tell people about the scope of a total management audit and to hear what people wanted to say about it. And so they did ! And the kina ,crayfish and paua fitters were delicacies that reminded us of ourselves - soul food!

While I arrived late there was a good feeling amongst all. It is always good to see other Chatham Islanders ! I couldn't help noticing with relief, the presence of next two generations as part of the kaiwhakahaere team and the sense of a continuity of rangatiratanga - manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, that they demonstrated. The capacity to look after people and to protect and support each other as we go through our lives, to face the challenges thrown at us and to find a pathway through, is really what it is all about. Strong and healthy communities are those that provide leadership and care that spills over to the flax roots level in meaning ways. if its not working for them, why should they support you ?

Have you ever wondered why no one takes any notice of the Chathams when it raises its voice in protest? We are 1% of the total Maori population and 0.0% of the total NZ population so in a world where numbers dictates everything, we really don't cause too much concern for Parliament except perhaps " What are we going to do with the Chathams?

So how should we respond? Wait for government to do it ? Or grow up and get on with the job?

The essence of a Treaty of Waitangi based Island in a post modern society must be that it has systems that empowers our whanau, hapu and the Iwi, where ever they are. The core unit of a tribe is the whanau. We only have one Rohe.
If we as an Iwi, cannot grow our whanau, our tribe will dissolve into an amorphous soup of unimportance and insignificance. Only we can change how Ngati Mutunga is to survive into the future.

It follows that those who are elected to represent the people of Mutunga on boards, companies or executive committee's, must bring benefit by way of products, services or by dividends and income to the people, i.e. to empower the tribe.
If you don't have the skills or experience to do the job, you have an obligation to get some training or to appoint people who can. No one knows everything about anything.

On the other hand, members need to appoint people who have the skills and experience who can strategically manage their assets and tribal organisation, to bring profit and benefit that you have, hopefully, identified previously. With a multi million dollar organisation, the current Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri Board cannot ignore its corporate responsibilities as it manages itself and its subsidiaries, nor can it ignore its fiduciary duties to members. Underlying it all, is the continuing need to make sure the nature and extent of the Treaty right is protected and not lost. It is a huge responsibility and each tries to do their best.

So, how did the Hui go? How is the Board doing? Good question !

This was the first time I had been to NM Iwi Trust Hui and as there are several Treaty policies currently being addressed by
government, I was keen to know how the Iwi Trust was dealing with the issues. The protection mechanism of a Treaty based organisation can be found in the content of the constitution or Trust deed. As they had received the Treaty assets from TOKM, my expectation was that there would be stringent mechanisms in place - I had been part of the team that developed the rules so I was keenly focused on the presentation. Others made very equally focused enquiry abut the financial investment and management.

I think the best thing to say is that the audit review is well overdue and may in fact , be too late to rescue the organisation. With an 81 page document, the cost of reviewing must be weighed against the loss that is occurring or will occur and against fiduciary duties required by law. The Trust has been up and running for 5 years and there does not seem to be much growth of the assets or benefit back to the members by way of products, services and or dividend value.

The Board faced very pointed questions on the current state of the finances and seemed unable to answer clearly and at times, simply did not know the answers or chose to close down the questions. This brought a series of heated responses and a list of further queries were added to the review. It was also revealed that the Iwi Trust technically, has no mechanism in its deed for monitoring and protecting the Treaty based rights outlined above. Members then asked for copies of the agreement with TOKM as the situation seemed out of kilt and it seemed obvious TOKM would behave been aware of the situation. It seemed to be a mess on all fronts.

From my position, I felt the only way out was to do what I have been saying on the blog since the beginning - to form a joint working party to work on bringing the 2 groups together. In this way, the best of both constitutions, can be brought together in a new organisation without loss of assets or any mana of Ngati Mutunga or its people. It would then allow government to engage in a proper mandated Treaty settlement process with Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

In the event, the Hui in Chch may well have a significant influence on how things will go for Mutunga of Wharekauri.

Lets hope they do the right thing!

It was a great Hui ! Good luck for the rest.

cheers Evelyn

Being Right or Doing Right.... What is Tika....?

2009-04-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

Someone once said enemies or those who set out to cause you harm, animosity or dis-service, are your greatest teachers of inner strength, courage, determination and compassion. In the face of such crisis and events, outer cloaks of socially accepted behaviours are often stripped away leaving the raw reality of life.

The Rev Maori Marsden once said

"a man's philosophy is the sum of his beliefs;the assumptions upon which he habitually acts "

My mother would respond when I asked her about things

" All I know is what I saw and this is what I saw and this is what happened"

I am reading over some papers for the hui tomorrow in Wellington and can't help pondering over the past 20 years as it reflects in the words of Maori Marsden. I sometimes think the problems of the world can be found inside our families and that if we turn and face problems inside ourselves with the hope of making life better for those involved, it is highly likely that the world outside ourselves will also start to change and become a better place. As both Mutunga groups, Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust and Te Runanga o Wharekauri face their internal conflicts, the hope is that there will be a better future together, for all members of Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi.

As with all situations where there is conflict, every individual has a perception of what is reality? what is right? and what is wrong? In most cases, " my reality is what is happening to me and therefore I am right and you are not right." is the position taken and of course, we face the outcome of what we think and do. , and made decisions based upon what they knew.

Reality
If we ask ourselves what happened to Mutunga, the answer lies in the crisis now facing the Runanga and Ngati Mutunga Iwi Trust.
The reality for both groups is that their existence comes directly from a legal right that is legitimised by the Treaty of Waitangi.
In 1988, the Runanga was set up as a direct response to devolution and governments need to engage with the Maori tribes of NZ.
While they existed as authentic and legitimate structures as a culture of indigenous people, Crown did not recognise such entities and thus, did not have any legal structure which in their view, allowed them to engage in the business of government, with Maori. They provided services to Maori, through the Department of Maori Affairs.
Maori were thus required to set up legal entities that met government rules.
At the same time, major challenges to Maori Treaty fishing rights were being debated in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Chathams were represented by the New Zealand Maori Council, one of the parties in High court case. Devolution was also in full flight under Rogernomics.
Why NZ Maori Council?
The Chatham Islands Maori Committee, was a sub committee operating under the Te Wai Pounamu council, which was a regional committee of the NZ Maori Council. Our signature to the MZ Maori Council case in the High Court, was that of Roger Preece.

I remember the Ministerial Hui held at Whakamaharatanga Marae, made possible when I hijacked the final National Hui bringing in 'Iwi' development ' as it became known, in Wellington and Koro Wetere agreed to go the the Chatham's. Chatham's wasn't on the Hui list. What I remember most on the Islands, was the fighting and arguing between locals, inside the marae. It was a symptom of what was to come.

From this visit,I was appointed by the Minister, to deal with policy for the Chathams and the first job was to set up an entity to represent the tribal community of Wharekauri. Hui were held and the Runanga was set up as an incorporated society, which held as its foundation, the Treaty of Waitangi It has stood the test of many a tight scrutiny.

As the fisheries settlement debate progressed and Iwi (as Maori tribes were now known),company and individual competition for resources began to emerge, families began to pull away from the Runanga and seek a self determination in the new political and economic environment. Around that, political plays and policies began to shape the quest for those organisation and individual goals. A study of the organisations, groups and individuals that emerged during the fisheries debate,provide us with a wealth of information and study about the changing shape of traditional codes and customs.

New interpretations of customs and rights appeared, shaped by the changing political and economic landscapes and altered realities for all. Goals changed. Where once there was just the Treaty, we began to see the emergence of an analysis and policies with new realities and perceptions. " Principles " of the Treaty began to appear, forcing Maori into turbulant and unchartered waters as we sought to protect that which we held so dear and near. Where do we start? and what do we say? as the new opportunities provided by income from the quota, clashed with customary philosophies and codes.

For the Runanga, the game kicked off with the Sealords Deal as we challenged the Governmenet and tribes of NZ about the fisheries settlement. Up until this point, the Chathams had been subsummed into Kai Tahu by way of the NZ Maori Council. We had no seperate voice or rather, the island inhabitants had no idea of how to deal with what was seen as weapons of control i.e the machinary of local and central government. 'Council' was the authority i.e it was seen as such as they had a mechanism which government seemed to heed. The Council leaders were well known for trooping off to Wellington and coming back with news of who they had been to see , to get things done. In fact, it was the Chairman of the County Council who was instrumental in bringing together the initial hui which set up the Runanga in 1988. And as we all knew, all eyes were on the quota.
The debate in NZ, continued as tribes challenged Crown and each other, over critical interpretations of tikanga Maori in all legal forums. The debates was pounded out in the highest courts of the NZ and Britain e.g what is an iwi?.

The commercial constraints and administrative laws, surrounding the new entities that had to be set up, to deal with these new philosophies of managing resources and people, have continued to bring conflict. The dichotomy and duality of values between the individual right and the collective right, has created major conflicts up and down the country. The seeds of discontent and conflict in the Mutunga groups, can be found in these dualities of rights and values.

The Chatham's had its own form of emerging interpretations of customs as political and economic landscapes converged in quests for wealth, self determination and reparation - all rolled in one.

But ohh ! those perceptions of reality and right ! How far? how long ? and when did the Treaty start on the Chathams ?
where do you put the stake in the ground to make the perception valid ? How do we know it is valid? Can the Tribunal tell us about ourselves? did they write of our stories?
Is it the money? the fish? the people? or the land? outside Iwi? or government?

WHO IS RIGHT?

The Tribunal report is confusing on critical custom of conquest. In fact, it could even be said to be laying a 2 bob bet each way, to make things tika. Oh dear, there's that word again ! Has war ever been fair? Someone won and others lost. Did these things happen only on the Chathams?

SO WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED CUSTOM?

And what importance do all these things have on the structure and constitution of organisation's who say they represent the tribe, Ngati Mutunga? What does that mean? What of rangatiratanga?

The Treaty of Waitangi

The important thing to get about the two organisations is that both exist because of the importance and legal status of the Treaty of Waitangi.
It follows that both must reflect the fundamental philosophies of the Treaty, in their constitution, their management and their policies. This also means all elected to Executive positions, ought to know what the Treaty is all about especially as it impacts upon the land and the people. All are held in the rangatiratanga of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri. They become kaitiaki for tribe and have a duty of care of the people. Having such a duty means they make themselves available to ' be of service" to the people , the environs and future generations.

The current conflicts between the two groups are not consistent with being kaitiaki of a tribe. Service seems to have been for self interest and is not so obvious, for the people, the environs or for future generations.

Of particular concern, is the on going controversies over whakapapa for political gain to boast registration numbers for Moriori i.e the whakapapa of our tupuna kuia, Ngahiwi Dix. My great grandfather was Manuera Dix. What is disturbing is the associated compromise of fundamental principles of the Treaty, of customary rights and the Rohe Potae, by Executive members, for what can only be described as greed or self interest. Why else would you compromise your customrry right to land for some fish?

Personally, I cannot see how Ngahiwi could be granted land if she had been of Moriori descent. There are a number of early succession applications recorded in the Maori Land where the Judge clearly states that succession could only be awarded to Maori. It seems to me she is more closely related to Te Rauparaha, which makes her principally Ngati Toa and Mutunga. Now as Ngati Haumia was a hapu of Toa, that makes the reserve at Waitangi, an interesting place ? How's that for a twist in perception?
Ω
Once again the confusion tells us we need to manage our whakapapa and customary land information much better then is being done now. One of the greatest damages done when all Runanga staff were dismissed in 2007, was the Treaty research on the court wards of land blocks blocks and identity of the tupuna granted land and history of owners, stopped. The cost of the dismissal is immeasurable. Those of Mutunga, must dialogue and korero with each other, to learn and know who they are and what Mutunga is.

So on we go ...but where to?

I heard Cris Finlayson say on TV something about how a divided people can never be united. I thought how fitting that described Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri but it also sent a message to us. My hope is that the Ngati Mutunga Hui being held in Wellington, Christchurch and the Chathams, will not only face their internal conflicts, but also set a pathway for the future of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.

They ought to reccommend that a joint Working Party be set up, with the terms of reference to bring the two constitutions together, to take the best from each and to reshape it into a strong, efficient and effective wharenui for Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, so that it may engage meaningfully and fully, in the local, national and global society, as it has always done.

Still no media statement so I will put the draft version on the Google groups- Wharekauri site.
Do This:
Go to Google. click on Groups. click on the document you want to read OR
Click on 'wharekauri ' and then the document OR
Type 'wharekauri ' into the search box.

cheers Evelyn

Orders of The Court

2009-04-09T02:09:00.000-07:00

It looks like the media statement has not been released yet as I am still waiting for Charlie to respond to the draft that was sent to him. Maybe he will send it out anyway - without checking with anyone , hopefully to newspapers in Chch, Wellington and Auckland as well as the Chathams.

Anyway, as I am not prepared to wait another 2 years to get information out, I am posting the Orders of the Court on Google groups site- Wharekauri, so that you can see what the court has ordered.
As per the order, we are currently going through a process of agreeing on the terms of engaging the Maori Trustee.

I keep harping on about the huge cost and loss of opportunity that has occurred with the actions by the Chair and the Board taken in 2007. This also includes the loss of access to government services including major economic policies like the Economic Summit for Maori, health and education initiatives during those 2 years. A critical issue is the seabed and foreshore debate. The Ministerial Review Panel on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 is accepting written submissions up until 19 May 2009all groups with customary interests in the foreshore and seabed should make submissions. That means you. Ia anyone preparing a submission ? everyone should. I will post the details when I get them.

In the middle of case, my father's sister, Aunty Min (Te Miri), passed away in Chch. Confined to full time care as disease overcame her once fastidious focused mind, it was a relief to hear that she had gone. Amidst the chaos of the case, I needed to write of her, to mihi to her, as she had done so much for me during and for my life.
She had also told many stories and I had taped her telling those stories as I knew they were of a bygone era, about which, we would not hear from anyone else. So many of the issues being debated amongst the new kaumatua and kuia, would have been given greater credibility, if the stories of this generation, could have told to us all.
I will post the story when it is finished as I think we need to celebrate our kuia who achieved in her chosen profession of nursing, at a time in this country when the glass ceiling for Maori women was about 2 feet above the floor with a pinny and a scrubbing brush.

I loved to listen to her stories about going to school at Kairakau.. walking from Torotoro..she was brought up by Takiri ( daughter of Ngahiwi Dix) and Rua Herata. Ngahiwi was midwife to our grandmother, Te Amo Ngaonemaringi (Daymond) daughter of Te Amo Rereti and Matoha Daymond ( Tuhata) ...but there was bush about then... In her last year at school, there were 2 in her class, Mick Lanauze and her!
Their stories are critical as they tell us our real history...Hopefully someone will record his story and that of all our kaumatua and kuia.

This brings me to the notice I received about the Ngati Mutunga Trust Hui being held for the purpose of talking about a thousand things including an audit. Looks like you have to bring a sleeping bag, with a list that big. As a non-member, it looks scary! what do you guys do?

Maybe it's time we all sat down and had a yarn about how we can sort things out together. After all, we are all one tribe from an island Rohe - quite unique actually. And we are not going to go away. Why not sort out the mess together and try and find a better way of doing things as it is obvious, what's happening now , is not working.

Who knows.. maybe this was all meant to be ?

cheers Evelyn

Statement of Claim

2009-04-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

I have created another site for documents. It also has its own email that you can use. It was too difficult to do it any other way and you don't have fast download services. Anyway- here goes. Email me if it doesn't work for you.

Current web address:
http://groups.google.co.nz/group/wharekauri
Current email address:
wharekauri@googlegroups.com

FOLLOW THESE STEPS

1.Go to Google.com OR click on link above, which ever works for you.
2.Click on 'groups'
3.In the search box - type Wharekauri.
4.This will take you to Google sites with the 'Wharekauri' site at the top.
5. Click on Wharekauri and this will
EITHER
a) take you to a green site and a file called " Statement' .
6. Double Click on the file called 'Statement'
OR
7. Click on ' open' on the blue menu box that opens
8. Double click on the pdf file in the box on the RIGHT hand side. The statement of claim is inside. Just use the magnifying icon at the top of your page to increase the size of the document. There are 15 pages.

THE STATEMENT

I am posting this as it is a public document available to anyone. This outlines the greivances I had. The Maori Trustee withdrew and another independant Chair was found.
The hearing on 1 April was to resolve the matter. It had taken 2 years to get the Chairman to this point. My concern was that you are missing out on critical government services, the cost of continually delaying the case, and opportunities lost as a result, has been too high.

Discussions have taken place to bring to the matters to a head so that you can get on with things that need to be done. While I am not at liberty to discuss what went on inside the court, the court documents are a public record. When they are released, I will add them to this same site so that you can read for yourself what happened.
My position was that I have no right to put at risk the rights of other members of the organisation or Ngati Mutunga.
There will be a media statement released.

cheers Evelyn

It's Been A Busy Old Time ....

2009-04-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy old time these last 2 weeks. Much happened.
In the days leading up to 1 April, as expected, things became more hectic, people reacted as the final form of what was to happen, took shape.

I have always found the law to be an interesting phenomena.
As one of our wise kaumatua put it...

" It is not the fact of law I question, it is the quality "

Justice seems to be shaped by perspectives, opinion and interpretation of lore, law, regulations and previous cases that have determined acceptable outcomes.
Focus is critical. Having good lawyers is critical if you want to achieve your goals.

The question is 'What do you want? Why are you doing what you are doing? Know this before you start and remember the reasons as you face each decision that comes your way .

At all times, I was mindful when I started this paepae in January. of what was in the statement of claim, which was already siting in the HIgh Court and where I hoped the whole action would go.
Doing this sort of work is no walk in the park. It is a good idea to know why you are doing what you doing.

I was also mindful of the whakatauki that I had used to guide me in my decision making over the years but there is something different about this time.
It has a more significant kaupapa then the Sealords or the Tribunal hearings. They were real opportunities for choice that would lead to better growth for all. However,that did not happen. We are now living with the choices that were made - and we have to face that. We are where we are now, because we did what we did. This case in the High Court, is the outcome of what we did. It can never be said we did not have the opportunity to do things better. We had it all.

This time, we have 1 last shot at getting it back on track.

Those of us who live offshore, are directly affected by what happens back home as that is where our Treaty rights are determined.
Treaty rights fall out of our customary rights to a particular territory - your papakainga. Wharekauri, Chatham Islands is the papakainga o Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, not Wellington, or Christchurch.
Those living in NZ could well be described as Urban Maori, a new term coined to describe the characteristics of a post modern Maori society. It is the phenomena of living away from our Rohe, for whatever reason.

What was happening to Ngati Mutunga, has to be brought back into balance so that the generations to come, can have a better life on that island. The one we are facing now, looks pretty grim. The issues still need to be sorted out in the weeks and months ahead but we cannot do that unless we talk together and then take action to do something about getting it back on track.

That starts at a whanau level. I have had my whakapapa questioned, my professional and commercial agenda challenged my personal, mental, emotional and interlectual capacities thrown at me - for what ? I am not the tribe.
I am just a member of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri and I cannot change the past but I can do something about the future by doing something now, to try and make a difference for my mokopuna in years to come. So what legacy are you leaving for our mokopuna? for the Rohe? for the papakainga?

Mutunga has been split for too long and it has been to the advantage of everyone else and the dis-advantage of ourselves.

When Mutunga sorts it self out, the Islands will come right.

"When one tries to tame external enemies, they increase. Therefore, it is a practice of the wise to tame themselves"

There are all too many stories about tribal people all over the world, who have lost their land through government programs, legislation and regulations as their land becomes the target for economic wealth and development. A global economic crisis has changed the world in which we live and the old ways are falling over.

Where would you go , if government presented relocation to you as an option now in 2009?

These considerations were all part of the things that ran through my mind as I considered the case I had taken to the High Court.

Never has it been more important to make sure that those who are placed in charge of of your organisations, tell you what's going on. The collapse of companies and organisations world wide have occurred for the same reason as I am taking this case. There are rules and laws that have to be followed if you are elected as a representative of an Iwi organisation. If you don't know them , find out what they are. Ask for training so that you can learn what to do.

I have finally worked out how to load up documents and will post the Statement of Claim for the case next time.

In all the work and events over the past 2 years, my goal was

a) To stabilise and get the organisation working properly and effectively.
b) To get the tribe into one paddock to stabilse the Treaty settlements

How to do this without too much cost, added to the challenge.

I will tell you about the case next time.

cheers Evelyn

a tide that had to be taken at the flood',

2009-03-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

As the days count down to 1 April, I am intrigued at the silence from some who were initially very vocal, pressure from others who seek a certain result and the activity of others who just want to get on with their daily lives and not be bothered by such things as Treaty rights and governance. Whatever that means, they don't really care or want to know! In the scheme of things, that is perhaps an average response.

How can you get excited about invisible things like constitutional rights, customary laws and the challenges of making competing rights work in every day life? It can all seem too difficult and far away at times.

The reality is, we have a responsibility to care. It's what determines how you live on the Islands.

Our lives on the islands, are shaped by laws and regulations that govern the whole country, even though it maybe 800 km away. We elect people to make laws, implement policies that regulate and and manage our nation. They do so that we may have the privilege of life with a right to aspire to the highest levels as a human beings. The extent that we have our aspirations fulfilled depends upon the mix of decisions made by our elected representatives and the effort by ourselves, as we make our decisions each day, when we get up and put the kettle on.

Sometimes our efforts can seem as if we are pushing the proverbial load up hill.

The right can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of things that you have to make decisions about. At some point we simply ' tip over' as the job of trying to satisfy the demands of everyday, outstrips our ability to meet those never ending demands.

At this point , we begin to make decisions about how to survive. It is a normal human reaction to stress as we seek to meet the basic human needs of ourselves, our families and our homes.

The right to develop seems to have an insignificant place in the thinking of those who have the responsibility to manage our resources and us as humans on the island. Sometimes you get the feeling that life would be easier for others if we were not on the islands. As one who was responsible for writing a paper for Cabinet in the 1990's on options to relocate people from the Chatham Islands as a solution for replacing the transport subsidy, I am all too familiar with the unbridled power of those we elect. They play team well when they have to. It is a skill we have yet to learn.

There is no doubt that Chatham Island Maori have had fundamental rights denied over the past 2 decades as intellectuals, legal experts and political environments set different agenda, goals and proclaimed myths, legends and injustices as the legitimising and moral codes for their conduct.

Events of the 19 century were revisited, pummelled by the intellectual minds of the 20 century, judgment's were made and then brought down on people who had long gone, and the punishment delivered to descendants of those judged to be in the wrong. 160 years later, in the 21st century.

For me, that translates to mean, customary events that are now considered in the 21st century, as 'sins'. These 'sins' of my great, great grandfather, of the great, great, great, grandfather of my children and the great, great, great, great grandfather of my mokopuna, , are being judged and punishment is being brought down upon us in 2009.

There is something blatantly unjust in this whole phenomena.

I remember Justice Cooke saying at our Court of Appeal hearing in 1992, that the courts cannot bind future generations or its successors and that there is a fiduciary duty owed by Crown in regard to matters of the Treaty. A Tribunal report delivered 8 years after the event, was bound to be a political document, yet it delivered messages and energies from other places, not connected with the local lore and life.

As Rodney Harrison QC warned Justice Cooke in 1992 when he stated that the Sealords deal was a tide that had to be taken at the flood',

The problem is ..the tide comes back in ...

In my opinion the current situation has triggered the prophetic words of Rodney Harrison and set dangerous foundations as seeds of unrest and disquiet lie germinating on the surface of an economic recession.

But were the events of war occurring only on the Chatham Islands in the 1830-1840's?

The implications and answers to these questions are determining what happens to you today.

Go find out what happened yourself. You have a great Island - it deserves your support and care!

Cheers Evelyn

Feast or Famine? The Silence of the lambs....

2009-03-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

FACING OURSELVES

The dilemma of being human is that we can never escape ourselves no matter what.

While others can tell us their view of stories about ourselves, only we can know the true story of what goes on inside our families. Silence is often a response. Sometimes the weight of indisputable and invisible authority silences the most vulnerable.

And so it is with the Islands. We all have family stories abut how life was and each generation has a different history.

Similarly, the Chatham Island customary tribal events of 19th century, have given rise to extra-ordinary political events in the 21st century, encoded by stories that touched the moral sensitivities of the 21st century.

For instance, we know about Cheif Tamati Ngapora writing to Governor Grey in 1848, to ask for help in controlling his slaves so obviously things were still happening in NZ well after 1840. Have the descendants of Ngapora had judgments and punishments visited upon them in the 1990's, as has been done to Mutunga descendants?

We also know cannibalism, female infanticide and slavery were abolished in all tribes when the British Crown took over and thank goodness for that.

Contrary to learned opinion that Chatham Island Maori felt aggrieved when the British brought the Chathams into the fold in 1842, they did not - why would they?
In fact it was the Chiefs who were responsible for bringing many of the changes that were becoming available in NZ, for the Islands. They needed to keep up with the rapid changes. Who else was going to do it? Crown didn't get going until after the 1900's.

The critical point to get is that there was a war over territory, someone lost and someone won using the customs and weapons of the time. That 's it! We cannot change the past so that is has a different ending - it is not a Play Station game.

Settling the Past ...

The huge task of settling, developing and growing a thriving community, was the responsibility of the leaders of that time. They were tied to the international trade routes of the world, with whales and seal trades dominating economic activity. They also introduced the age of agriculture to the islands when our potato's were exported to NSW. In those days,natural food resources were abundant and access was governed by customary codes.

Lifespan's, however, was much shorter. Medical science had not reached our shores, dis-ease was usually tied to spiritual beliefs and tohunga, were the experts for tribes. This was no different on the Islands.
When the new diseases arrived with the whalers e.g they annihilated hundreds. There are areas on Island farms, that have the evidence of what can only be described as attempts to find relief from the raging temperatures - who really knows?
We can only speculate , we did not live then but what we can do is look after them as they rest now.

As happened with NZ tribes who fought territorial battles, the codes of war were customary. They were dynamic and legitimised by the ongoing post war relationships that developed between the defeated and the victors in the 1830-40's, the Colonial Office and the multitudes that were descending on NZ to claim a new lifestyle for themselves.
This also happened on the islands.
Today's tribal mix is a result of this dynamic process of human relationships that evolved from the changes wrought by global economic drivers, tribal wars, where ever they occured. The fundamental kinship relationships born from such customs, cannot be legislated away by vehicles developed to drive Treaty settlements. They are born of blood that carries the genetic codes of ancestors and are embedded in our DNA molecules. To do is to invite indictment of social engineering as the inevitable result will be to split families as they are placed in a no win situation of having to chose between which parent, grandparent they wish to claim, to enable access to services, benefits and assets of the new order.

The testimony of our kaumatua , Charlie Preece to the Waitangi tribunal hearings, clearly spell this out. Other kaumatua and kuia also gave testimonies to support.

" I am Charles Henry Preece and I am 75 years old. my mother was part Moriori and part Maori. My father was pakeha from London and. My mother never spoke Moriori only Maori. They are both buried at Manukanu. But we very definitely got on very well with everyone back then. There was no animosity between Maori and Moriori. the fact that Maori had come from Taranaki and taken Moriori was never discussed. People just accepted that the Maori had conquered Moriori.
That was in the past, we just got on with out lives. When they say these things
I feel they are talking about my wife. It upsets me . I know...I am the oldest Moriori on the Islands....
We never lived as tribes, we lived as one people... As fasr as I am concerned I am just a Chatham Islander....And me with more Moriori in me then most other people. I am a Chatham Islander. I have been that way all my life and I will stay that way. I was born here and I will stay here.."/em>
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" My name is Minnie Heni Tuuta (nee Pomare) of Wharekauri. I was born in the Chatham Islands in 1917 and until my 49th birthday, lived on the Chatham's. When I was born my pito was buried under a tree at Waitangi, that happened with all my children in my family. i cannot remember any divisions between Maori, Moriori or European during my school life. We were all one people and we basically lived as one big family. Uncle John Tuuta who worked for Tommy Solomon who use to supply meat for the fishermen. We all lived together. We lived off the land, there was plenty of fish and shell fish and meat. We had our own gardens."

>Wars in the 1830's between tribes were not waged with the cloak of the British Crown hovering over the principles and policies of the customary codes. They weren't interested! In NZ, it wasn't until the 1860's that the contining lack of interest by
the settlor government problems associated with customary codes, lead to armed conflict. the contining coflict lead to the Native Land Act in 1862. while some progection was aforded by this Act, in reality, it created property rights in the form of a title that vested defined areas of land in indviduals who were then able to act independantly of their whanau, hapu and tribe. While the Act afforded some protection of the customary title, the operation of the legislation undermined the cloak of protection.

On the Islands, it wasn't until that astute German tried to buy us that the British, not the Crown, moved to bring the Islands into its paddock and thereby under its rule,in 1842. The Chathams had it's own version and there are dolcuments available to you from the Waitangi Tribunal hearings , should you wish to learn more.

As Micheal Belgrave argues, this time in our history was driven by a response to deal pragmatically with problems and disputes between the Colonial Office, the New Zealand Company, who was out from Britain acquiring land as fast as they could for sales to settlors still to arrive, the new settlors and Maori tribes , between Sydney speculators in Maori land and Governor Gipps of NSW. (Belgrave Maori Customary Law')
Grant Young explains,

" The Treaty itself was a necessary expedient, a product of recognition of the Declaration of Independence of 1835, the military strength of Maori ( generic term referring to tribes) and the political influence of missionaries and other hunitarians."

These post war relationships remain today and create the foundations of powerful tribal networks, that operate in the 21st century. It is the stuff that underpins the foundations of the NZ Maori Party - a party born of its time and for its time.

We live in a new Time. We have to find new ways of doing things as theold ways are no longer working.

So what place do the inter generational models have in the legitimised codes accepted by Crown and intellectuals, as they bring down judgments and implement rewards - 2009 style?
Does whakapapa still have significance in law or lore?

And what do the new intellectuals give as an explanation for our predicament? Our place, Our Rohe that

"..place so remote and neglected place ...beyond the gaze of officials.. They were so remote and valueless they were seen to be a perfect place for Maori rebels from Ngati Porou"

Gosh! what an interesting history we have!

SO ! HOW DEEP THE PUTEA OF PEACE AND COMPENSATION?

How deep is the putea for compensation already dished out? What has been given so far - to the aggrieved party? What deals will still be done to protect a now well entrenched myth?

I already know Steve has been busy in this area !
Have you been given the official nod by the Treaty Office have you , Steve? What about the rest of us?

How long will the teat be kept ready for milking?

Now the sensitive, emotionally and politically correct amongst us might say

'That's cruel and crass Evelyn, !

Really ? Its the truth!

What's happening to Chatham Maori is a fiscal scandal ! Would you prefer I was silent? to be lead like a lamb to the slaughter?

How come Crown gave 6 million dollars to a small sector of our island community to find peace and refused to fund $100,000 to do a feasibility study that would bring economic benefit to the whole Island, stimulate growth and bring employment?

When over $300,000 was spent on research & development and included reports from the Crown Research institute, Ag Research and initial niche market research reports, that Crown preferred to walk away from innovative economic development initiatives from the farmers and to give $6 million dollars to Moriori to go find themselves ?

What are they trying to find? peace? a new brand for marketing the islands?

What about the local people who are responsible for the care of the primary resources, the land? For the Manaakitanga ? Kaitiakitanga? Our families ? Our schools.

Something is not right somewhere !

BUT IS OUR FUTURE ABOUT THE PUTEA?

Where we are at is the a result of where we have been. Actions of the past have created an economic climte that is making our families leave the islands for work , old people running the farms, social services running down and generally a tough time for all.

It did not have to be like this.!

We have the resources, you have the capacity to work . You need a vision for the future.

Part of the 2005 economic project plan was to grow a green model of development. You have all the ingredients to succeed.

To do that, all you need is a pen and paper and a group of committed people.

Watch this ! Our 70 year old Kuia & Kaumatua doing their own crutching.
Is this what you want for you or your parents when you or they reach 70 ?

Fire of Wharekauri

2009-03-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

' From The Nothingness, To The NIght, Into The World Of Light...'

2009-02-28T21:47:00.000-08:00

'...I te kore ki te po, ki te ao marama..'

Rangatiratanga (stewardship) and kaitiakitanga (custodial care) are commonly held notions of Maori lore, law and life. Underpinned by customary foundations and principles , they are essentially key drivers for the collective aspirations of Maori.
Within this world, whakapapa (genealogy) is the core transmitter of our spiritual, physical and elemental resources. The management of these resources and the inter-relationships within and between them, ensures the political, cultural and economic wealth and health of successive generations.
Fundamental to the balance of these resources, is Papatuanuku-Earth Mother, the feminine principle, nurturer, source of food and nourishment, te whenua- the land.
Traditional Maori tribal society is generally structured as whanau(family), hapu ( large kin groups of families) and the tribe or Iwi ( groups of hapu), all are linked through whakapapa to an eponymous ancestor/s)
Tribal settlement of the islands spans centuries and previous Polynesian migrations recorded in whaikorero, waiata and whakapapa, tell the ancient histories of the current mix of people who share ancestral links to tupuna from Hawaiki. The current descendants also trace whakapapa links to Taranaki.

As discussed earlier, the pressure of inter -tribal conflict, and wars and new settlors forced tribes to find new territory. The Chathams heke was lead by well known leaders with kin links to well known warrior leaders such as Toarangatira, grandson of Mutunga, Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeta ( second husband of Wi Naera' Pomare's mother) but it is the testimonies of Rakatau and Toenga at the 1870 Maori Land Court Hearings on the Chatham Islands, that give us an insight into the minds of the Taranaki leaders of the time.

" We have come from Taranaki to Kapiti in accordance with a previous arrangement that we should go and take possession of lands. Thence to Queen Charlotte Sound, thence to Banks Peninsula and Otago. Some of our party went in whale ships and returned telling about the place . And we held meetings and discussions. The question whether we should come here or not. We came to the Chatham Islands and took possession. I took possession of these lands,as was the custom..."

"I am the oldest man , I came from Taranaki. I formed a wish to come here. . i came from Taranaki to Kapiti. I took possession of Kapiti and then Wellington. Part of my tribe went south across the straits to Queen Charlotte Sound and that land was taken, and we came to the Chatham islands and we took possession of the Chatham Islands."

Despite the challenges to its validity in recent times, the conquest was defining in terms of the status and mana of Mutunga on the islands. As was the custom of conquest throughout the world, the conquered were absorbed into the new order and over the intervening 150 years, a peaceful co-existence was built. There are many testimonies of this phenomena.,the most significant one in recent times is that of Charles Preece. (see previous posting).
As land wars, settlor companies and new governing rules continued to bring changes , Mutunga continued to live in a world much larger then the Chathams. They had to keep up with the new government regulations ,political changes and to maintain political links with other tribes especially Taranaki.

" Te Whiti was well supplied with eels by his Chatham Island adherents. 2000 were caught in one small lake and hung up to dry. 5000 from another required 14 bullocks to drag them to the surf boat to be shipped in Hood's vessel, the 'Omaha'. Altogether the Maori exported 20,000in February alone, followed by huge quantities of grey duck and swan, then mutton birds and young albatross. Deputations of food and money regularly went from the Chathams to Parihaka taking gifts of food and money."

Nevertheless, land loss, new governance and global economic readjustments over the years, brought great changes for whanau, hapu and iwi throughout Aotearoa. It resulted in tremendous shifts in the political, cultural and socio-economic life of Maori. and different relationships and management systems evolved as tribes adjusted to the significant changes wrought by history. The impact of these changes can be clearly viewed in the current political, social and economic environment of the Chatham Islands. It is a mess!
Evidence abounds in the Waitangi Tribunal and other forums, showing that since 1842, government administration of the Islands has been one of indifference and neglect.
But what can one do when a fundamental premise of service and priority of the governing system is based upon population. Chatham Island Maori is 1% of the NZ Maori population and 0.0% of NZ's total population so we ought not to expect that government or anyone else for that matter, will take much notice of any call for anything really!

But there is the matter of the $6 million pay out that remains a mystery.

However, what I know about change is that there is always opportunity for better things to come.

"A positive future cannot emerge from the mind of anger or despair"
~ Dalai Lama

History can be changed in a moment but it needs people to take responsibility for what is happening now - and we all must carry some responsibility.
It did not have to happen this way.
The past 30 years has has seen mega wealth produced from our waters - but what is there to show for it ? what was the return to the islands? Where did it go to?
As the global financial and economic crash continues , our islands ought to be a safe haven to nurture the tribe, instead of a hell for failing businesses and desperate & stressed whanau..

It will not take much to turn things around BUT we must do it as a team. No person can survive on their own on that Island in the current financial climate. No one person can make things happen on their own. You have to do it together as one tribal community.
Governments come and governments change, but communities are formed and made successful by people, not governments

" This achievement is larger than any individual. While individual projects can be completed, the sum is so much greater than its parts. Learn to see yourself not on where you have reached, but on the Path you are traveling. ..."

And so I can only do my part.

I started this paepae at the beginning of January, to communicate with you and others because I was concerned at the lack of information coming out to members of Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri.
I was also deeply concerned about the destruction of the Runanga, its assets and Treaty negotiations and the opportunities that were lost, for economic development and education services to the islands, because of internal political & economic ignorance, greed and ego. If you had picked up the option to build a meatworks, you would have been up and running now, with alternative power units in place - for $2 million dollars approx.

Dare I mention the $6 million 'Find me Fund " again ? where is it and what is it being used for? Does anyone know ?
Who gets the benefits and how many are on the register to justify such a huge a government handout ? Is that why they need the whakapapa of our Kuia Ngahiwi Dix to fill up their waka?That was just a little less then the $8 million government allocated to set up what is now the Enterprise Trust , back in the days of devoution. !

Anyway, back to the case:
The lack of skill and knowledge of those "controlling' others in charge of the organisations , on how to make proper financial and management decisions, coupled with the closed, rigid attitude against seeking skilled help when it is obvious things are going wrong, is a major factor contributing to the lack of growth within our whanau and Iwi. The case is an example of a bad decision made out of ignorance and egoism and the damage that it has caused, is probably irreparable.

Someone has to say it up front & you may hate me for doing so, but it needs to be said and faced. We are here to leave a legacy for our mokopuna, not a mess.

We have not inherited the world from our forefathers.
We have borrowed it from our children."~ Kashmiri proverb

I previously told you I would put the statement of claim for the case on the site ( " Evelyn Tuuta vs Te Runanga o Wharekauri Rekohu..") that is to be heard on April 1, in Wellington. [ If I knew how to do the technology, I would, but I can't . So if anyone can tell me - i would be grateful. I am no techie! Just email me at the blog e90249@gmail.com ]

What I can tell you is this.
This whole case did not have to happen. There has been two years of doing nothing based upon a statement that the Runanga was insolvent -it wasn't. I took a case for wrongful dismissal and won. They refused to sign off the settlement agreement , dragged out responding and still haven't signed it off. ; I had no choice but to challenge for such wrong doings and there are many. While doing the case I have had to go on a benefit because the impact has been so stressful. I have lost all my assets and have borrowed from 2 family members to help pay my bills. My car under threat and I am living with my daughter until I can find somewhere to stay while I do this case.

And now I see they want to negotiate an agreement on a settlement for this case. FOR WHAT?

So why have I told you all this about my situation?

Because real stories of history are about what happens to the people in the middle of the conflicts. it is not what the learned student writes , seeking information to expand their knowledge so that they may embellish their prowess in the famed halls of cerebral longdrops.
It's about those who are not clear and may have never even thought about visions for the future or simply don't care.

The world is abound with evidence of people in positions of power who control and make decisions that destroy the lives of families and communities - just like the Chathams.
Real stories of history are about ordinary people , families and communities having to survive against all odds ,the egoism and destructive power of individuals who seek to empower themselves. above the good for all people.

"So What do you think I should do - negotiate? '

"What would you do if you were me ?

Do you think they deserve to have a day in court to have a proper yarn about what went wrong ?

Who knows, we might all learn something and that maybe a good thing

If there was any other way of getting information out to you or if hui were being held to inform you of what has been happening, I would not be doing this . There is, however, no other way to inform you or seek your opinion on matters that affect your Iwi.

Please feel free to Email or write what you think in a comment section below.

Cheers

Evelyn
e90249@gmail.com