Katene Rahui: Rodney District Council Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Katene Rahui: Rodney District Council Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 21 July 2010. Volume:665;Page:12551. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 During the select committee process associated with the Auckland Council law reforms Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara referred to a historical request from 1860 from the rangatira Paora Tuhaere. The rangatira issued a plea for unity between Maori and the Crown in governance. It was a plea that appears to have fallen by the wayside in recent months but not for want of trying. I believe that this Rodney District Council Bill is an expression of the effort made by both local government through Rodney District Council and mana whenua by merit of the work undertaken by Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara. 
The purpose of this legislation is to constitute Rodney District Council as a unitary authority. The Maori Party takes as a starting point that a unitary authority must by its very nature ensure the authority of mana whenua. Our approach to the Rodney District Council Bill is similar to any bill in the local government policy framework in that Te Tiriti o Waitangi provided at a minimum that tangata whenua should have an equitable say in the decisions that affect them via Treaty-based representation. But in the case of Rodney it would appear that a unitary authority for the local authority is a concept that mana whenua have already been working with and alongside of. We know as a result of a memorandum of understanding that Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara has already consolidated with Rodney District Council that both authorities often work together. This partnership is demonstrated in practical ways to ensure the best outcomes in terms of water infrastructure with projects linked to wastewater water conveyance and stormwater. 
As mana whenua the iwi the hapu and the marae have indicated consistently that they will not willingly abdicate their responsibilities regarding kaitiakitanga and as such have advanced a particular role in relation to co-monitoring. This has been evidenced in the Environment Court. In essence it is observed in means such as facilitating consent. I hasten to add of course that the emphasis towards kotahitanga to work together in the process of pursuing a single intent has been demonstrated by Ngati Whatua through the south Kaipara takiwa for other than the council process alone. I am thinking particularly of a partnership that evolved between five mana whenua marae in south Kaipara and a primary health organisation aimed at improving the health of Ngati Whatua whanui. That way of working is destined for success and it has been recognised in the New Zealand Health Innovation Awards. 
We also understand that Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara is a key part in the council’s social well-being strategy. This is the whariki the foundation upon which we respond to this bill. We know that the die is cast already and it is highly unlikely that the bill will proceed through the House but I think it is important for the record to note that Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara have recognised the benefit of the memorandum of understanding they negotiated with the Rodney District Council. It is the basis for a relationship of goodwill between the two parties. 
The Rodney District Council is the only council out of three others that sit within that tribal rohe that has established this form of relationship with Nga Rima o Kaipara. As such it has been of great value to the people. The key question now is inevitably around the new Auckland Council’s capacity to engage with the iwi and hapu of Ngati Whatua o Kaipara ki te Tonga. We have been advised that Naida Glavish the chair of Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara has indicated that they would engage reluctantly with any advisory board of the Auckland super-city. We are apprehensive that the relationship established under the memorandum of understanding will continue with the new Auckland Council when the council comes into effect. We would not want to place at risk the level of input that Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara currently holds in regard to the decision-making process around issues relative to Rodney District. We support this bill at its first reading to provide a forum for discussion about how to best invest in a unitary authority that brings mana whenua alongside.