Maniapoto around Aotearoa and Australia are giving feedback on the iwi’s draft five-year strategy, Te Kawau Rukuroa, in a series of 15 hui.
Te Nehenehenui (TNN) Group CEO Sam Mikaere said it was about moving into the next stage after a 30-plus year settlement process.
“It’s another step forward for us as we make our way towards achieving mana motuhake [self-determination].
“Everything we do now is about taking our people forwards; ensuring that there are no further impediments to the progress and the independence of our people.
“It’s been something that’s been burning now since 1840, and 1904, through the mid-80s when the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) was created.”
Yesterday, Sam and a group of TNN leadership and trustees travelled to Pōneke (Wellington) for a hui there.
But the tour was not the significant thing.
“This isn’t about us as the trustees or as kaimahi going around the country,” Sam said.
Instead TNN’s goal was to follow up on commitments made in 2022, when the MMTB conducted similar hui around the initial drafting of the five-year plan.
“We asked our whānau some specific questions about what they would like to see Maniapoto do in the coming future.
“Today we’re going back to deliver that feedback, which has helped shape the strategic plan for the next five years, with a view on 2050.
“We came back to seek their view on how we’ve done, and if it’s hit the mark.”
Te Kawau Rukuroa would need final touches before its online publication, based on that feedback.
“We can’t put it out there just yet, because what we’re also doing is taking on board any final pieces that might be recommended to us through our mahi,”Sam said.
“We’re taking notes as we go around, and we’ll assess all those once we get back together at the end of this process and make some final tweaks to it. [After that] we’ll publish our confirmed strategy.”
The current hui reflected “a lot of positivity.”
“Some of the key focus points that we do notice are coming through are just making sure we’re strong on housing [and] making sure we’re strong in the health and well-being of our people, not just physical but mental.
Another theme in the hui relatesd to ways of keeping iwi members together, especially those who did not live locally.
As a result, there would now be an annual social event recognising Te Rangiwaituhi, combined with the existing Kawenata awards.
There would also be a new tribal online platform, where whānau could sign up and connect to get access to whakapapa and other online information.
Lastly, Sam said the iwi would now have a reference group, Ngā Aka Whawhau, intended to help those living outside of the rohe stay connected, and also have a forum to provide advice to trustees.
The 15 hui were being held in-person in both countries, as well as being livestreamed.
He said the process allowed whānau to feel confident that TNN was doing what it had committed to in the past.
“Our people need to have that reach out and connection point.
“Some people don’t respond as well to technology as others, and in general it’s been a known medium for us to be able to go out and share [in-person] and have the opportunity to meet with our whānau.”
