Ae MarikaAe Marika February 2011 Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi Magazine Issue 23: February 2011 Ngāpuhi - This Is Our Time: Settlement Process Begins • Where Does Responsibility Lie for Our Reo? • The Internet Chef Barbies Some Mussells • Ngāpuhi on New Look Auckland Council IN THIS ISSUE THIS IN • Tia Taurere Writes for us from Canada 1 CONTENTS Ae Marika February 2011 Contents Tūhoronuku - Settlement Process Begins ................................................................................................................ 3 - Settlement Gets Ngāpuhi Leaders Blessing ................................................................................ 5 - Next Steps for Tūhoronuku: Seeking a Mandate ....................................................................... 6 The Internet Chef In this Issue Bridget Barbies Some Mussells .................................................................................. 7 The Newlook Auckland Council - Māori Statutory Board Gets Some Unwanted Attention ........................................................ 9 - Ngāpuhi to the Bone: The Unlikely Councillor .........................................................................10 - How Auckland’s New Council Works ............................................................................................11 Waitangi Day Celebrations - Hokianga Commemorates the Treaty .........................................................................................13 Who’s Responsible for Our Reo: An Indepth Look at the Issue - Te Reo at Crisis Point: Waitangi Tribunal .....................................................................................14 - What the Waitangi Tribunal Found Out About Te Reo .................................................... 15-18 - The Māori Language Strategy: The Government’s Response ............................................19 - A Local Perspective ............................................................................................................................20 New to Ae Marika: Photo Essays - Kaumatua-Kuia Ball 2010 .................................................................................................................21 Letter from Overseas - Tia Aurere in Canada .........................................................................................................................22 News Briefs: 2010 Māori Sports Awards - Basketballer Reuben Te Rangi and Swimmer Cameron Leslie ............................................23 2 ISSUE 23 Te Tiriti o Waitangi Settlement Process Begins An historic comprehensive Ngāpuhi Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement came a step closer last month with Government Ministers endorsing Te Rōpu o Tūhoronuku’s strategy to seek a mandate from Ngāpuhi iwi. The endorsement letter (on page 4) is signed by the settled, and see the progress they have made, there is Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples and no question that every year delayed is a year of wasted the Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon opportunity for our iwi. Christopher Finlayson. “In terms of WAI 1040 Te Paparahi o Te Raki, Te Rōpu Te Rōpu o Tūhoronuku is a group created in 2009 o Tūhoronuku strongly supports claimants having a to represent the interests of all Ngāpuhi in Te Tiriti o platform to air their grievances. We do not support Waitangi negotiations with the Crown. It is financially the traditional elongated process associated with the underwritten by Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi to Waitangi Tribunal process. We believe the hearings advance settlement for all Ngāpuhi. must proceed with some semblance of order, driven by Ngāpuhi, not dictated or coordinated by lawyers as is In a letter to Te Rōpu o Tūhoronuku Project Leader, currently the case. Lorraine Toki, the Ministers said the strategy was “sound” “We have written to the Waitangi Tribunal asking for and they were confident the proposals in the strategy the allocation of a set number of weeks for Ngāpuhi to “were in line with Crown criteria for a robust and present tangata whenua evidence, prioritise the issues, transparent mandating process”. then set a number of weeks for these issues to be heard. Said Ngāpuhi leader Sonny Tau: “This mandate strategy endorsement from Ministers is a significant milestone in “Te Rōpu o Tūhoronuku is open to working with those our journey towards Treaty settlement. who are committed to Ngāpuhi moving forward,” said Mr Tau. “It is only three years ago that our Kaumatua and Kuia told Ngāpuhi leadership to get on with settling our The Ministers’ endorsement of the strategy comes after grievances against the Crown. Since then we have three leading Northland MPs – Hone Harawira, Kelvin been consulting with our iwi throughout Aotearoa and Davis and Shane Jones – issued statements late last year Australia. Overwhelmingly, they have told us to settle in which they supported a comprehensive Ngāpuhi and move forward as a people. settlement. “Non-settlement is holding back Ngāpuhi … and The strategy is posted on www.tuhoronuku.com and Aotearoa. When we look at other regions that have Ngāpuhi are invited to provide comments. Te Rōpu o Tūhoronuku members (left to right) Rāniera (Sonny) Tau, Titewhai Harawira and Hone Sadler. 3 Te Tiriti o Waitangi Ae Marika February 2011 4 ISSUE 23 Te Tiriti o Waitangi Taitokerau MP Hone Harawira (above); Labour MP Kelvin Davis addresses a crowd recently; Hon Shane Jones (Labour) above. Settlement Gets Leaders Blessing Ngāpuhi members of Parliament and a prominent kuia are supporting a comprehensive settlement for Ngāpuhi. Te Tai Tokerau MP, Hone Harawira: not impede the overall progress that Ngäpuhi can make. I look forward to supporting the Ngäpuhi claims and will “A just and enduring settlement for Ngäpuhi must be encourage my colleagues across the House to act in a a priority for this government - to rectify the substantial similar fashion. breaches of the Treaty in the homeland of the Treaty, the land of Ngäpuhi, and to do so without delay. “Ko te Tiriti he taonga i whakakaupapatia ai ki te Tai Tokerau. Kua rite te wä me hohoro a Ngāpuhi ki te whakatutuki öna “A just and enduring settlement for Ngäpuhi will be one of take whenua, ngähere, moana, tangata, tikanga hoki. Me the most significant and important of all Treaty settlements. aro mai anō te Karauna kia ea ai ngā moemoeā” “A just and enduring settlement for Ngäpuhi will enable Labour MP Kelvin Davis: the people of the North to move into a phase where the development of potential stands alongside the redressing “All Ngāpuhi have the potential to achieve greatness, but of injustice. for this to happen we need to operate with the collective interests of all whānau and hapū that comprise Ngāpuhi iwi. “A just and enduring settlement for Ngäpuhi will enable the North to open the door to other possibilities. A just and “Settling our claims is merely a step in our collective journey enduring settlement for Ngäpuhi will be a blessing for the towards greatness as a people, it is not a destination in itself. whole nation.” “Settlement should be viewed as a tool for whānau and Labour MP Hon Shane Jones: hapū to achieve a greater vision. “Treaty settlements are an important part of Iwi “Once settlement has been reached Ngāpuhi whānau and development and the Māori position in our overall society. hapū must work together to develop the plans, projects It is important that the settlement of Maoridom’s largest and dreams that will energise and inspire our people. iwi, Ngäpuhi, proceed with pace. The North will definitely “Other iwi have led the way but Ngāpuhi have traditionally benefit from a settlement of this size. been the leaders, not the followers. “There may be internal challenges but such matters ought (continued on page 6) 5 Te Tiriti o Waitangi Ae Marika February 2011 settlement will provide the foundation for Ngāpuhi to Titewhai Harawira break new ground as indigenous leaders. Ngāpuhi kuia and leader Titewhai Harawira says Ngāpuhi “I envisage the day in the not too distant future where are ready to talk to the Crown about settling. Ngāpuhi whānau and hapū are the backbone of business, The 78-year-old matriarch has worked tirelessly over the past art, spiritual, social, scientific and cultural enterprise in Te two years to advance a comprehensive Treaty settlement Tai Tokerau, and are prominent leaders on a national and for Ngāpuhi. international level. “From my experience over the past years, I am confident “To fulfil that vision we need an enduring settlement to Ngāpuhi hapū and Ngāpuhi living in urban areas can be resource Ngāpuhi whānau and hapū to achieve our true involved in this process. Through Te Ropū o Tūhoronuku potential and destiny as described by Sir James Henare, that - the committee seeking mandate - all Ngāpuhi have the is to become truly great Māori.” opportunity to participate,” said Mrs Harawira. The Next Steps - Tūhoronuku to Seek Mandate in April and May Te Rōpu o Tūhoronuku hits the road in April and May, 4. Attend a hui – you can attend a Deed of Mandate hui in your area and place your vote in the ballot box holding 20 hui throughout Aotearoa and Australia (Sydney provided at the hui. and Perth) as it seeks a mandate to represent Ngāpuhi in Te Tiriti negotiations with the Crown. If you are unsure about whether you are registered, phone 0508 666 447. During the next month, all registered Ngāpuhi will receive a schedule of hui dates and venues in the post. These and If you are registered and did not receive a voting pack by much more information about the mandate process is also