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NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Māori role in new Northland water services company sparks concerns
The Northland councils must now work against the clock to put together a water services delivery plan, before the Government's September 3 deadline, despite their differences. FNDC councillor Tāmati Rākena. Kaipara District Council (KDC) axed its Māori ward and its mayor banned karakia from meetings, whereas FNDC promotes the use of te reo in meetings and Māori practices, and voted to retain its Māori ward. FNDC councillor Tāmati Rākena said he didn't look forward to working with KDC after it canned its Māori ward and other changes. 'KDC has thrown their toys out of the cot. They don't want to hang out with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi,' Rākena said. Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson said he disagreed, and he and his council had a good working relationship with Māori. Jepson said water belonged to all and creating the CCO was about equal access. Rākena said meaningful iwi and hapū partnership was not optional but foundational in what evolved in the new Northland water regime. Explicit commitment to Te Mana o te Wai and to upholding the Treaty of Waitangi in governance arrangements was needed, he said. Councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira said it appeared hapū and iwi were shut out of the discussion, as well as representation on the shareholder group. Far North mayor Moko Tepania. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said his councillors' concerns over Māori involvement, loss of democracy and rural communities getting left out of the picture would be addressed moving forward. Iwi and hapū leaders had a lot of power that councils could benefit from, he said. 'This is what I remind Kaipara,' Tepania said. Jepson said Tepania was entitled to his views and he looked forward to continuing their working relationship. WDC kick-started the Northland councils' move toward a regional three-council CCO on July 24. KDC voted for the joint CCO on Wednesday, July 30. Far North towns, including Kaikohe, will be served by a regional company rather than their local council delivering drinking water and wastewater services from 2027. An FNDC water model where it instead kept its drinking water and wastewater in-house was seriously considered by the council. This built on iwi and hapū submissions from Ngāti Korokoro Hapū, Ngāti Kopaki Hapū, Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, Te uri Taniwah, Te Rūnanga o Whaningaroa, Te Hiku Ngāti Kuri, Te Aoupouri, Ngāi Takoto and Te Rarawa (joint submission). But Tepania said the council's performance and standards would be under such close scrutiny with the new water regime, that option was untenable. The Far North council's challenges include the large amount of spending needed to make the council's waters infrastructure compliant with new quality rules. Eight of the council's 15 wastewater treatment plants were currently non-compliant with Northland Regional Council resource consents – two of those were majorly non-compliant. Seven had active abatement notices. Only five of the council's nine drinking water plants complied with bacterial standards and five with protozoa standards. Tepania said consumer user water charges under the restructuring would be lower with a regional CCO. By 2034 users would be paying $3400 in charges for drinking water and wastewater. This compared with $2046 under the cross-subsidised CCO model. He said the proposal still had off-ramps if the council felt too uncomfortable about what was happening. Far North Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford said her council was being forced into the regional CCO in a manner that wasn't comfortable. It removed local democracy, Stratford said. ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Jewel of the East Cape's coastline under review
conservation 16 minutes ago The jewel of the East Cape's coastline is under review for the first time in 25 years, with locals hoping the marine reserve will remain protected for many generations to come. Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, about 20 minutes north of Gisborne city, was created in 1999, with an Iwi condition that it be reviewed in 2025. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook went to visit.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sits atop a Burial Ground: What's making some locals unhappy with Mark Zuckerberg 'top secret' Hawaii compound
Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO , has reportedly expanded his $300 million Kauai estate by acquiring an additional 962 acres of ranch land, bringing his total holdings on the Hawaiian island to over 2,300 acres. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to a report in WIRED, the purchase, made through an LLC for an estimated $65 million, has intensified local concerns, particularly regarding the presence of ancestral Burial sites on the property. A key issue highlighted in the expansion, as per the report, has been the presence of burial sites at the compound. Around 2015, local islander Julian Ako contacted Zuckerberg's representatives to report that part of the compound contained the remains of his great-grandmother and her brother. After months of negotiations, Ako gained access to the site and registered the graves with Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources. However, Ako's attempts to locate additional ancestral remains on the property were unsuccessful. Hawaiian officials have since confirmed, based on oral testimony, a high probability of other burial sites existing on Zuckerberg's land. The identified burial site was reportedly 'fenced off and maintained' following its discovery, according to Zuckerberg's spokesperson, Brandi Hoffine Barr. What's worrying Hawaii locals living around Mark Zuckerberg's 'secret' compound Ako told Wired that workers at Zuckerberg's compound are 'bound by regulations that require reporting of inadvertent discoveries of Iwi' — or Hawaiian ancestral bones. And since they are bound by strict nondisclosure agreements, local residents fear that any future discovery of Iwi could be concealed. 'If all of the workers have signed these nondisclosure agreements, then basically they're sworn to silence,' Ako told the publication. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'If they uncover Iwi — or bones — it's going to be a challenge for that to ever become public knowledge, because they're putting their jobs in jeopardy.' The sprawling estate already includes two mansions with a combined floor area the size of a football field, a gym, a tennis court, guest houses, ranch buildings, saucer-shaped treehouses, a water system, and an underground storm shelter with blast-resistant doors and an escape hatch. Recent planning documents reveal plans for three additional large buildings, ranging from 7,820 to 11,152 square feet, with two featuring 16 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms in a motel-style layout, potentially accommodating over 100 people. These buildings are equipped with cameras, keypad locks, and motion detection devices, described by Hoffine Barr as short-term guest housing for family, friends, and staff. The land, previously owned by the Mary Lucas Trust Estate and used for sugar plantations and cattle grazing, is now part of Zuckerberg's Koʻolau Ranch, which focuses on cattle ranching, organic farming, and conservation efforts. Hoffine Barr noted that the majority of the land is dedicated to agriculture and endangered species protection, with prior plans for 80 luxury homes canceled after the purchase. Zuckerberg's growing presence on Kauai, which includes additional land purchases like 560 acres near Larsen's Beach and 110 acres encompassing the Kaloko Dam, has sparked mixed reactions. The report says that while his donations to local nonprofits and job creation have been welcomed, the scale of his influence and the potential disturbance of sacred burial sites continue to fuel unease among locals, who worry about the impact of billionaire land acquisitions on Kauai's cultural and natural heritage.
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Open Letter To New Zealand Regards: Co-Governance
This letter is written by P.L.U.G. on behalf of all citizens of New Zealand, who are concerned at the lack of information, the misinformation and fear about co-governance. What is co-governance? Co-governance in todays' context increasingly means the sharing of governance roles of elected (openly public elected) Councillors with local Iwi (Maori appointed ) people who then jointly make decisions on the long-term strategic directions for all to follow. Co-governance does not confer ownership but is sets requirements for Management to follow. Currently, Agreements at local and regional council level are mostly only about co-management (covered by JMA's – Joint Management Agreements) but it is not surprising that there is confusion, given what we believe is the almost indecent rush to try to enact 'Co-Governance' agreements before the implementation of the Resource Management Act reforms. How does co-governance relate to the Treaty of Waitangi? The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between some Maori tribes and the Crown for mutual benefit. There is no provision for co-governance made in the Treaty of Waitangi. We see some so-called elite Maori representatives looking to gain representation on local and central government controlled organisations in co-governance roles Some people are saying, that regarding and treating individuals with equal respect would be divisive. Yes, based on this fantasy view many of those pushing the co-governance agenda are using their versions of Treaty obligations. There has been some debate over the years about what, exactly; Maori believed they were signing in 1840 and did Maori cede sovereignty to the British Crown when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi or, as is now contended by some, did they not? Sir Apirana Ngata prepared an English translation of the Treaty in 1922 that argued that the Chiefs had 'cede(d) absolutely to the Queen of England for ever the Government of all their lands '. Indeed the standard translation used by the Waitangi tribunal in the early 1990's had been made by Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu. Sir Hugh and the Tribunal in this time were in no doubt that the chiefs had ceded sovereignty to the Queen. If ever there was a declaration that we are one people and that Maori have the same rights and duties of citizenship, surely it is Sir Hugh's translation of the Treaty? Efforts have been made to argue that some kind of 'partnership" exists between the Crown and Maori as a result of the Treaty signing, A simple reading of the Treaty document or Sir Hugh's translation of that document quickly provides plain evidence that there is no mention whatsoever in either document which requires the provision of any type of partnership or co-governance role for Maori. Sir Hugh's translation of the Treaty surely rules out any special relationship/privilege for Maori or for their modern descendants over non-Maori. And since there was no such thing as a properly functioning democracy in New Zealand in 1840, the question of 'political rights' wasn't an issue at the time. We believe some people are just trying to re-write the Treaty to suit their current agendas? There most certainly was no implication of special rights, 'political' or otherwise for Maori. Their land was protected, but so was the right of Maori to sell that land on agreed terms. And Maori had the same 'rights and duties of citizenship' as non-Maori. What is the current situation in regard to co-governance? Racial harmony is currently one of the biggest issues for all New Zealanders and with approximately 200 different ethnicities, is it conducive to social harmony to accord special political status to those with a Maori ancestor or provide them with a co-governance role? The short answer being NO! Yet, currently it seems that decisions are being made by local and regional councils behind closed doors with the public excluded, in relation to the direction of JMAs and Co-governance, which are providing for the application of co-governance roles for Maori. In fact we believe the reality is that these extremely important decisions are being made in haste so as to be in place prior to the implementation of the RMA reforms which the coalition government has signalled will be ready late this year. No matter what view people hold, there can be no mature discussion about our future as a country until everybody accepts that the Treaty provided for the government to have final authority, with all citizens - no matter their ancestry - having equal rights as stipulated in the New Zealand Bill of Rights. In New Zealand we have one of the world's oldest democratic societies which we should rightly be proud of. It is time this current government under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, decided to 'Fully' implement their campaign promises to do away with all race based legislation and stop all talk of co-governance at any level. Race based governance has never succeeded anywhere and it would not be any different here in New Zealand if it was implemented. We can have co-governance without democracy. We can have democracy without co-governance. But we cannot have democracy and co-governance. Democracy will only prevail if we oppose any moves towards legislated race based co-governance policies. We need to oppose co-governance for Democracy to prevail.
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wintec Set To Become Independent Institution Once Again In 2026
Press Release – Wintec As we look to the future and start putting in place the processes and structures to support our future independence, we will draw on our values of Manawa nui, Manawa roa and Manawa ora and ensure our konga are always at the heart of everything we … Wintec welcomes Monday's announcement by the Minister for Vocational Education that it will become an independent institution once again on 1 January 2026, along with 9 other ITPs (Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics) across New Zealand that are currently part of Te Pūkenga. Warwick Pitts, Operations Lead for Wintec, is delighted to have had confirmation of Wintec's future path, saying that Wintec set its sights very early on, on once again becoming an independent vocational education provider for the Waikato community. 'After leading the sector as one of the first two ITPs to join Te Pūkenga in 2022 we are excited to be once again taking the lead in the first group of ITPs to stand back up as independent entities,' said Warwick 'We took early and decisive action to streamline and right-size the organisation, laying a strong and robust foundation for us to move forward as an independent institution responsive to the needs of our communities. 'We are extremely grateful to our kaimahi who have endured significant change over the past years and remained passionate and committed to our ākonga. 'For our ākonga, nothing will change. They will continue to receive the same high-quality education and training. 'For our Iwi, industry, employers, schools and other community partners, we look forward to engaging even more closely with them to support our regions with their workforce needs. Wintec has a long and proud history of serving the Waikato region, last year celebrating its 100-year anniversary of providing vocational education in the Waikato. 'As we look to the future and start putting in place the processes and structures to support our future independence, we will draw on our values of Manawa nui, Manawa roa and Manawa ora and ensure our ākonga are always at the heart of everything we do,' he said. About Wintec Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) is an institute of technology based in New Zealand's Waikato region. Wintec offers a wide range of degrees, diplomas and certificates. With a focus on practical, hands-on learning, Wintec is dedicated to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their chosen careers. Wintec is currently part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, located in region 2 of the national network.
