The Office • Whānau Development • Whenua Development • Mahinga Kai • and more… Do you have a cultural project that you, your whānau or marae wish to run? Get in touch with us to see how the Ngāi Tahu Fund may be able to help. Applications close Friday 27 September. Call 0800 942 472 today and find out how to apply. email funds@ngaitahu.iwi.nz. Or visit www.ngaitahufund.com
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The Ngāi Tahu Fund is available to Ngāi Tahu whānau, rūnanga and hapū to help revitalise, strengthen and grow Ngāi Tahutanga in particular: • Whakapapa • Te Reo me ōna Tikanga • Mahi Toi
Ngāi Tahu Conservation Wānanga, Te Rau Aroha Marae, Awarua “From Aoraki south to Te Ara a Kiwa the Department of Conservation controls the cradle of our creation myth and our Ngāi Tahu identity.” – Tä Tipene O’Regan, Ngāi Tahu Conservation Wānanga.
staff (including national office representatives, Joe Harawira (Te Kaihautū Pūtahitanga) and Taute Taiepa (Te Kaihautū Kotahitanga) and Kara Edwards, Dave Taylor and Barney Thomas (Pou Tairangahau working in Te Wai Pounamu) also attended most of the wānanga sessions.
Ngāi Tahu has a bigger connection with the Department of Conservation (DOC) than any other iwi in New Zealand, on account of the extensive conservation lands that lie within our tribal takiwā. The National Parks that make up Te Wāhi Pounamu World Heritage Area alone, cover almost 10 percent of New Zealand’s total land area – it is therefore no surprise that conservation is a key kaupapa for Ngāi Tahu whānau and that the iwi’s relationship with DOC is of particular significance. The Ngāi Tahu Conservation Wānanga hosted at Te Rau Aroha Marae on 12 – 14 April provided an important opportunity for Ngāi Tahu to come together to discuss regional and tribal conservation priorities and aspirations. The three-day wānanga was attended by Ngāi Tahu Conservation Board representatives, Rōpū Kaitiaki members, Papatipu Rūnanga and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu staff. The DOC’s Kāhui Kaupapa Atawhai
It was clear from the outset that there is much work to be done in the conservation area. While Ngāi Tahu attendees widely acknowledged their positive relationships with individual DOC staff, all agreed that overall communication and resourcing have deteriorated in recent years. Particular concern was expressed at the lack of consultation with Ngāi Tahu regarding recent structural changes within the department, the ramifications of future planned re-structuring and the tension between ‘commercial’ versus ‘conservation’ kaupapa. In response, Kāhui Kaupapa Atawhai staff acknowledged the frustrations and explained the structural changes, which they believe herald an exciting new era for the department in terms of understanding the aspirations of iwi, hapū and whānau – there is a new focus on innovation, creativity, building
Omaui field trip field trip guide Dean Whaanga briefs group, whānau discuss history and conservation opportunities.
Omaui field trip; from left: Kyle Davis (Oraka Aparima) discusses archaeology of umu with Toitü te Whenua staff Philippa Lynch, Andy Spanton and Richard Ball.
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