Pānui #008
Morehu Wilson Hura Kōwhatu Unveiling
The unveiling for Morehu Wilson took place on Sunday 2 April 2023. Many Ngāti Paoa and others attended to pay their respects to Morehu, his whānau, and to celebrate Morehu’s life and work. The Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution Morehu made to Ngāti Paoa as an iwi. In 2011 the iwi appointed Morehu (and Hauauru Rawiri) to negotiate a Treaty settlement for Ngāti Paoa with the Crown. From then Morehu and Hau worked tirelessly and at great personal sacrifice. Among his many virtues, Morehu was a scholar and a writer – the Ngāti Paoa deed of settlement’s historical background and ‘statements of association’ for Ngāti Paoa cultural redress sites can be directly attributed to him.
Heoti anō e te whānau Wilson, nei noa te mihi kāmehameha ki a koutou katoa mō te hinganga o tō tātou tōtara pū a Morehu. Nō reira, moe mai takoto e te kaiurungi o Ngāti Paoa, kia au ai te moe.
Mokoia Pā Kōiwi Reburial Update
Mokoia Pā at Panmure is of the upmost importance to Ngāti Paoa and to our hapū Ngāti Hura in particular. As many of you will be aware, Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust negotiated a mitigation package with Auckland Council to offset damage to the pā caused by the construction of a new bridge across the Tāmaki River. Part of the package is an agreement to create a reserve that recognises the historical and cultural importance of Mokoia, and to commemorate the loss of life that took place there in 1821.
During construction of the bridge, kōiwi were unearthed that need to be reburied. To address this, Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust asked Ngāti Hura whānui to decide where and how the kōiwi should be reburied, and also to advise on the design of the reserve.
We are pleased to report that very good progress on this kaupapa has been made. Ngāti Hura resolved for the kōiwi to be re-buried close to where they were unearthed, and that the best place for that is at the new reserve. Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust supports this outcome. At the time of writing, final arrangements are being made, led by Ngāti Hura representatives, and particularly Puhi Thompson who has also been working closely with Auckland Transport on the design of the reserve. When a date is set for the re-burial a pānui will go out, so those who are able to attend can do so.
Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust would like to acknowledge Ngāti Hura whānau who were involved in decision-making on this important kaupapa. We also acknowledge the vital role Puhi has taken as lead representative to assist with the location, reinterment and protection of the kōiwi, and to ensure that Ngāti Paoa tikanga is followed with the support of Ngāti Hura whānau.
NPIT Office Opening 15 Queens Road, Mauinaina
Before dawn on 6 April at the newly-leased Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust office at 15 Queens Road, Panmure, a Karakia Tūwhera was conducted by Ngāti Paoa tohunga. It was a special day for Ngāti Paoa.
We would like to acknowledge all those who came to support, including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Papa Atawhai, Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, Panmure Business Association, Auckland Council, AUT, local health and social services, schools and businesses, the local board, and iwi from across Tāmaki.
The office is situated strategically in Mauinaina by Maungarei, and gives the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust physical presence in our Tāmaki heartland.
Importantly, we are sharing the building with E Tipu E Rea Whānau Services, who are expanding their social service operations into Panmure and neighbouring areas. Zoe Witika-Hawke, who is Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Hako, is the Chief Executive of E Tipu E Rea and is working closely with us as an accredited provider.
Our free te reo Māori programme, Me He Kuaka Reo o te Kāinga is also based at 15 Queens Road, contact drinaparatene431@gmail.com if you wish to enrol. Classes start on 9 May.
Finally, we acknowledge the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company for their support.
Ngāti Paoa Treaty Settlement Update
The Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust’s board has taken the time recently to consider our Treaty settlement arrangements in their totality, and in particular the redress offered by the Crown through the Marutūāhu Collective deed, which Ngāti Paoa is yet to sign.
The trustees recently met with the surviving Marutūāhu Iwi negotiators (3 of the 10 having passed away), to discuss the Marutūāhu arrangements, rebuild relationships, and have a good conversation about the
settlement process. It was a constructive hui. As a trust, we need to make a decision to support the Marutūāhu arrangements, or not. To inform of our decision-making we will hold a series of wānanga and hui with the Ngāti Paoa community. This will likely happen in June and/or July. When plans are in place we will tell you more, including dates and locations.
As mentioned in the last Pānui, the Ngāti Paoa Claims Settlement Bill was introduced into Parliament in December 2022. We are hopeful the Bill will be “read” for the first time in the next few months, and at least before Parliament breaks for the election. As soon as we know a date for the first reading, we will let you know. The first reading can either be attended in person or watched online.
After the first reading, the Bill will be passed to the Māori Affairs Committee for consideration. Ngāti Paoa and other people can make submissions on the Bill. The Māori Affairs Committee considers submissions then reports back to Parliament, at which time the Bill is “read” for a second time. A third reading is then held, after which the Bill should be passed into law.
Pare Hauraki Collective Update
The Pare Hauraki Collective Redress Bill was introduced into Parliament on 19 December 2022. Ngāti Paoa is one of twelve Pare Hauraki iwi and will share in collective Treaty settlement redress provided through the Bill. This includes a 16% share in the Crown Forests of Hauraki, as well as joint ownership with other Pare Hauraki iwi of important cultural sites such as Moehau and Te Aroha maunga. It is unknown when the Pare Hauraki bill will receive its first reading, but we will let you know when it is scheduled.
Otakawhe Bay Update
Under the Ngāti Paoa Deed of Settlement the Crown will return whenua known as Pokai Wawahi Ika to Ngāti Paoa, which is at end of a peninsular at Otakawhe Bay, Waiheke Island. The whenua includes an historic pā site. It is immediately adjacent to a marine reserve and includes an established two story building.
Pokai Wawahi Ika will be an important stopping-off point on the Ngāti Paoa ‘waka highway’ and will help Ngāti Paoa presence on Waiheke’s south-east coast. Until the Ngāti Paoa Treaty settlement legislation is passed and the whenua transferred, the Department of Conservation has been managing the site.
Frustratingly, the dwelling at Pokai Wawahi Ika has been found to be unsafe, and very likely needs to be demolished. From our perspective, under the Ngāti Paoa deed of settlement the Crown committed to provide both the property and a usable building on it.The Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust is currently in negotiations with the Crown to ensure a replacement whare is built that can serve the needs of Ngāti Paoa. We will keep you updated as these negotiations progress.
Photos below were taken during a site visit with the Department of Conservation on 13 March.
Invasive Seaweed Caulerpa in Tīkapa Moana
Caulerpa brachypus and Caulerpa parvifolia are two types of invasive exotic seaweed which have been found around Aotea (Great Barrier Island) and Ahuahu (Mercury Islands). These species spread rapidly, forming vast, dense beds or meadows on the sea floor. They upset whole ecosystems as they compete and smother other species. Put simply, they are an environmental disaster for our moana.
Ngāti Paoa ki Waiheke have been concerned about Caulerpa and its likely future impact on Waiheke for some time, and wrote to Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust seeking support. The Iwi Trust has now engaged with Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea to prepare a joint letter to send the Minister for Biosecurity, asking government to take urgent action to fund the eradication of Caulerpa. Trying to only “contain” Caulerpa is a recipe for defeat. We anticipate elimination will be an enormous undertaking, and you are likely to see reference to Caulerpa in the general media as we fight to secure proper funding.
The Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust acknowledges the initiative taken by Ngāti Paoa ki Waiheke. Working closely with our whanaunga, Ngāti Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea, also aligns with Ngāti Paoa values as kaitiaki and mana moana of Tīikapa Moana.
Relationship with AUT
A meeting was held with AUT at their North Shore campus on 22 March 2023 to discuss relationships, spatial planning, and research and capacity support. Herearoha, James and Tui attended for Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, and Janine Williams attended with her expertise in public art and design.
Drawing on earlier relationship work by Tania Tarawa, the meeting was very positive. Among other things AUT have said they wish to build a lasting relationship with Ngāti Paoa focussed on the “AUT North” campus. There are likely opportunities for Ngāti Paoa art and design principles to be developed and incorporated into the built environment there and, we hope, work for Ngāti Paoa artists. Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust sees AUT as a cornerstone partner in the North Shore area, which is an important part of the Ngāti Paoa rohe.
Ngāti Paoa papakāinga at Omaru, Point England
First steps to progress Ngāti Paoa papakāinga and marae planning at Omaru, Point England
The Ngāti Paoa Treaty settlement provides an extraordinary opportunity for Ngāti Paoa to build a modern papakāinga and marae-based community in our Ngāti Paoa heartlands in Tāmaki. As many of you will know, a 2.0 hectare area will be returned to Ngāti Paoa for papakāinga housing (Hine-nui-o-te-paoa), and a further 2.0 hectares will be returned for a marae complex (Paoa Whanake). Both sites are near each other in the larger Omaru Reserve (currently Point England Reserve), which will also be returned to Ngāti Paoa ownership. While Auckland Council will administer the reserve, this will be done under a plan developed jointly with Ngāti Paoa, which is effectively co-governance.
The opportunity to build a papakāinga and marae complex will only be realised once the Ngāti Paoa Treaty settlement legislation is passed in Parliament. Unfortunately, that will likely take around two years. On the positive side, this gives us an opportunity to do much of the required planning work, so that construction of the papakāinga and marae can begin as soon as possible after legislation is enacted.
This is a focus for the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust right now. We have begun to engage with key government agencies such as the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, Te Puni Kōkiri and Kāinga Ora to secure both funding and build the relationships required. We are also in close communication with the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, who are very supportive of Ngāti Paoa aspirations. Auckland Council will also play an important role.
We will report back to you on this kaupapa in future pānui. When we have secured the funding we need, you can expect to be invited to wānanga and hui to discuss design principles, and how this exciting future for Ngāti Paoa can take shape. Ultimately we want to create a place where Ngāti Paoa whānau wish to live and grow their families, underpinned by Paoa tikanga
Housing opportunities for Ngāti Paoa
Kupenga - Build to Rent Apartments
(Stage 1 Ready to View and Apply Now)
Kia ora koutou,
Delivered by Simplicity Living, the Kupenga Apartment build on Torino Street, Point England, is now complete, with 69 new houses ready for its first residents.
A number of these rental apartments will be more affordable and available for whānau to view and apply online. The apartments are a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units, offering private carparking and secure bike storage on beautiful grounds close to handy transport routes and amenities.
Applications are now LIVE, and you can book to view a unit before you apply.
Rental prices of the apartments are listed below:
1 Bedroom rental range $415pw-$425pw (without carpark) OR $450-$460pw (with carpark)
2 Bedroom rental range $515pw-$540pw (without carpark) OR $550-$575pw (with carpark)
3 Bedroom rental range $590pw-$600pw (without carpark) OR $625-$635pw (with carpark)
If you or your whānau are interested, then we encourage you to book a viewing as there are limited rental apartments available in stage 1. (Stage 2 will provide a further 42 apartments to follow in a few months.)
Application forms are available online, so click on the website link below to book a viewing and to apply for the unit of your choice. https://www.simplicityliving.kiwi/listing/kupenga
An overview of each apartment is available on the website and includes information on:
The number of bedrooms and bathrooms
Floor plans for each unit
Rental rates - with and without carpark rental
FAQ
If you have any queries or are interested, we have Simplicity Living key contact Simon Harrison who is available to answer any questions you or whānau might have.
Simon Harrison
Community Manager
09 303 2483
simon.harrison@simplicityliving.kiwi
Or feel free to contact Selina Patia in the TRC Affordable Housing team: homes@tamakiregeneration.co.nz
Paoa in the Media
Te Ara Awataha hopes to see the return of ecosystem to Northcote | Te Ao Māori News (teaomaori.news)
SunLive - Coromandel scallop fishery to remain closed - The Bay's News First
New mural in Glen Innes creates controversy | Te Ao Māori News (teaomaori.news)
Autumn health check for Hunua Ranges kauri begins - OurAuckland (aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
Ko te kai a te rangatira, he kōrero: Ngāhue Reserve
Below is the Ngāti Paoa ‘statement of association’ for Ngāhue Reserve, taken from the Ngāti Paoa Deed of Settlement (Attachments Schedule). The ‘statement of association’ is referred to in the ‘statutory acknowledgement’ the Crown is providing Ngāti Paoa over the reserve. Given updates in this pānui about Mokoia Pā and the steps being taken to progress Ngāti Paoa papakāinga and marae planning at Omaru, Point England, it seemed appropriate to include this kōrero written by Morehu Wilson.
Ngahue Reserve (OTS-403-267)
Ngahue (Ngāhue) Reserve is of ancestral, traditional, cultural, spiritual, historical and holistic significance to the people of Ngāti Paoa.
The Ngāhue Reserve is located within the Kohimarama Block that was sold by Ngāti Paoa leaders on 28 May 1841, as part of Deed 207, Kohimarama Block, to the Crown. The Reserve is approximately 11.7 hectares in area and is bounded by College and Merton Roads. The Reserve is less than 200 metres from Te Tauoma, a former pā occupied by Ngāti Paoa in the mid eighteenth century through to the early nineteenth century.
Ngāhue Reserve is designated a recreation reserve and is governed by the provisions of the Reserves Act 1977.
Ngāhue is the name of a renowned Māori ancestor who, along with Kupe, was accredited with discovering Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the early twelfth century. Ngāhue, also known as Ngake, travelled to Aotearoa on board the canoe Te Tāwhirirangi on a quest.
Ngā-hue is also considered by Ngāti Paoa as a reference to the abundance of gourd fruit that were grown in the greater area of the Kohimarama Block. The fertility of the land was suitable for the propagation and growth of gourd fruit within the Tāmaki Block as a result of the rich volcanic soil and the warmth contained within the volcanic rock after prolonged exposure to the sun. The Hue were important in the early history of the Māori as they provided sustenance as a staple food source and once hollowed and dried out, were utilised as either water receptacles or musical instruments.
Ngāhue Reserve was well located for Ngāti Paoa ancestors as the nearby small volcanic cones provided steep slopes that offered excellent defensive capabilities in times of warfare, and the surrounding flat terrain offered rich fertile volcanic soils for cultivations. In 1820, Samuel Marsden, from the nearby vantage point of Maungarei / Mount Wellington, observed that the cultivations of Ngāti Paoa in the area were the largest he had ever beheld.
Ngāti Paoa traditionally lived within this block during the eighteenth century and occupied a great village called Mauinaina, as well as many other pā sites close by.
Ngāhue Reserve was a site among many that was a part of Ngāti Paoa's daily existence as a result of the iwi’s expansion into Tāmaki Makaurau. The chiefs involved with this expansion included Ngaromānia, Tokohia, Uehoka, Hikamokai, Te Mahia, Te Putu, Rongomaurikura and Ngarokiteuru. They came from the Ngāti Paoa hapū of Ngāti Kapu, Ngāti Hura, Ngāti Taurua, Ngāti Kaiwhakapae and Te Matekiwaho.
The Ngāti Paoa ancestor Ngaromānia lived within the area and is described in our traditions as a chief who to the displeasure of many demanded a levy in exchange for passage up and down the Tāmaki River.
Te Putu (the grandson of Ngaromānia’s brother) and his wife Te Kehu occupied Te Tauoma, a small pā to the east of the Ngāhue Reserve.
The Ngāti Paoa people who lived in the Tāmaki Block were met by travellers such as Samuel Marsden, Nicholas, Kent, Cruise and D’Urville. The accounts and recordings of these travellers and their meetings with these chiefs bequeath to us an eye witness account of the broad breadth and full extent of the villages, settlements, garden cultivations and population of Ngāti Paoa prior to the Musket Wars of the 1820s.
When Samuel Marsden visited the area, he met with the two esteemed Ngāti Paoa chiefs of the area – Te Hinaki and Te Tata. Having scaled what was considered to be Maungarei / Mount Wellington, Marsden estimated that four thousand inhabitants were living in a stretch of land of over 2 miles, and half a mile wide; while Te Hinaki, the paramount Ngāti Paoa chief of the pā sites, was adamant that there were seven thousand inhabitants and that others were away on an expedition to the lower North Island.
Te Hinaki and Te Tata were contemporaries and first cousins who lived in the Tāmaki Block at the time of Marsden’s visit in 1820. The food cultivated at this time in the history (1800 – 1827) of Ngāti Paoa at the Tāmaki Block was predominantly potatoes and kumara.
Ngāhue Reserve is regarded as an area that is momentous in terms of Ngāti Paoa’s ancestral interests and former occupation prior to the sale of the Kohimarama Block to the Crown in May 1841. The area still holds particular significance to Ngāti Paoa as an area of cultural and spiritual connection.
